Postcard Prints : I am pleased to offer a set of high quality postcard prints featuring my Boldly Go illustrations. The ten designs will be on sale as a set for $50. Postcard prints will be 5 x 7 inches and on beautiful recycled paper stock, perfect for framing and making your own subtle gallery of nerd-art. 

Boldly Go
mixed media on vintage canvas
81 x 60cm (24 x 32 inch)
Watch the artwork being painted
Original artwork : I’m fond of this one and am keeping it for now.
Prints | Digital Download | Postcards

Red Shirt : Ensign Bonaparte
Mixed media on vintage postcard
10 x 15 cm (4 x 6 inch) paper
14 x 19 cm (5.5 x 7.5 inch) vintage frame
Watch the artwork being painted
Original artwork : I’m fond of this one and am keeping it for now.
Prints | Digital Download | Postcards

Still life with Combadge
Mixed media on vintage painting
51 x 61 cm (20 x 24 inch) canvas
68 x 78 cm (26.75 x 30.5 inch) frame
Watch the artwork being painted
Original Painting : Available
Prints | Digital Download | Postcards

A Stunning Bouquet : Still Life with Phaser
Mixed media on vintage painting
46.5 x 61 cm (18.25 x 24 inch)
63 x 79cm (21.75 x 31 inch) frame
Watch the artwork being painted
Original artwork : Available
Prints | Digital Download | Postcards

Birds of Prey
Mixed media on vintage painting
51 x 61 cm (20 x 24 inch) canvas
66.5 x 77 cm (26.25 x 30.25 inch) frame
Watch the artwork being painted
Original artwork : SOLD
Prints | Digital Download | Postcards

Tribbles with Still Life
Mixed media on vintage painting
51 x 63 cm (20 x 24 inch) canvas, unframed
Watch the artwork being painted
Original artwork : Available
Prints | Digital Download | Postcards

Alfa-177 Canine
Mixed media on vintage painting
40.5 x 51 cm (16 x 20 inch) canvas board
58 x 68 cm (22.75 x 27 inch) vintage frame
Watch the artwork being painted
Original artwork : Available
Prints | Digital Download | Postcards

Shipwreck : NCC-1701-D
Mixed media on vintage painting
48.5 x 51 cm (16 x 20 inch) canvas board
50 x 78 cm (22.75 x 27 inch) vintage frame
Watch the artwork being painted
Original artwork : Available
Prints | Digital Download | Postcards

Miniature Portraits : My Cat & I
Mixed media on vintage postcard
10 x 15 cm (4 x 6 inch) paper
14 x 19 cm (5.5 x 7.5 inch) vintage frame
Watch the artwork being painted – Reel coming soon!
Original artwork : I’m fond of this pair and am keeping them for now.
Prints | Digital Download | Postcards

Riker’s Souvenir
Mixed media on vintage painting
30.5 x 40.5 cm (12 x 16 inch) canvas in new frame
Watch the artwork being painted
Original artwork : Available
Prints | Digital Download | Postcards

Sketches & Studies : Before I start painting finished pieces, I like to study the subject matter. Not available as prints or digital downloads.
Original sketches on canvas : Available

. . . . . 

Thank you so much for your support on Instagram and TikTok as I’ve created this collection. I’m a firm believer that art should be fun, and definitely had a lot of fun creating these pieces while reminiscing over my favourite shows. Your comments and chats along the way are so appreciated, and encourages me to boldly go where I have not gone before as an artist. 

Till next time… Live long and prosper! 

–Heather

These are the droids you’re looking for!

I love the idea of droids sitting for their portraits like our ancestors would in the olden days. It requires a lot of patience to stand perfectly still while one is immortalized in paint… such a contrast to today’s selfie culture. Original paintings, prints and digital downloads on website : Upcycled Vintage Art

Droids Collection July 2023

Sixty Portions
mixed media on vintage canvas
81 x 60cm (24 x 32 inch)

Prints & digital downloads available

Watch the Reel of this being painted!

What if Rey sold BB8 for the sixty portions she was offered? Life on Jakku is a struggle… except for the wealthy! I imagined this painting hanging in on the walls of a wealthy scrapper’s ship… boasting to the less fortunate, that not only do they have exotic foods and flowers imported from a neighboring planet, but a state-of-the-art droid to amuse them over brunch.

This sort of still life painting can seem a bit cliche nowadays. But at their peak, these 17th-century Dutch still life arrangements were full of hidden meanings intended to cause the viewer to reflect on life and consumerism. The art ranged from indulgent spreads displayed on finery which was a way of displaying ones wealth, to more humble paintings featuring simple, wholesome local produce to show one’s morality. A partially eaten piece of food or a broken glass served as a reminder of mortality and the fragility of life. 

Original vintage painting by Geza (Gordon) Marich (1913-1985) It was a delight painting BB8 in the loose painterly style of Marich… the piece itself was lovely as it was, but this sort of style isn’t as popular anymore and often doesn’t fit in with modern decor. By introducing a new playful element, I hope to bridge that gap and encourage an appreciation of Marich’s work. 

“The Guardian : K-2SO”
mixed media on vintage canvas
28 x 35 cm (11 x 14 inch)

Prints & digital downloads available

Watch the Reel of this being painted

When I came across this vintage oil painting, I knew this little girl needed a guardian. K-2SO seemed like the perfect choice, being the perfect balance of sweet and sinister himself. So Cassian told him he had to! I love thinking of irritable K-2SO walking along the beach with this little girl, criticizing her choice in seashells, complaining about sand in his gears… and wondering what they are thinking as they look on the satellite tower on Scarif.  

Original vintage painting by American artist K. Scheffer.

I am not quite ready to part with the original of this painting just yet, so am going to enjoy it for a while longer… but it prints will be available on my website. 

“Thousands of Probe Droids Searching the Galaxy”
mixed media on vintage board
28 x 35 cm (11 x 14 inch) illustration board 
48 x 56cm  (19 x 22 inch) frame

$325

Original art, prints & digital downloads available

Watch the reel of this being painted

When I found this painting, I really liked how the artist had looked at the landscape and was true to what she saw. The branches on the trees aren’t uniform, you can tell she was wanting to capture that particular view in that moment. I enjoyed adding in this probe droid searching this beautiful corner of the galaxy for the rebel scum. 

Portrait of A Probe Droid
18 x 24cm oval watercolour on paper
33 x 23 cm oval vintage frame with domed glass

$250

Prints & digital downloads available

Watch the reel of this being painted

Portrait of a Droid : IG-11
18 x 24cm oval watercolour on paper
33 x 23 cm oval vintage frame with domed glass

$225

Prints & digital downloads available

Watch the reel of this being painted

Portrait of a Droid : K-2SO
18 x 24cm oval watercolour on paper
33 x 23 cm oval vintage frame with domed glass

$250

Prints & digital downloads available

Watch the reel of this being painted

Portraits of Droids Collection
pencil & paint drawing on antique paper in vintage frames

$45-55

Original art, prints & digital downloads available

Closeups on the reel

I drew and painted these sketches on antique paper sourced from a hundred year old photo album All but one of the frames were collected from local thrift stores… cleaned, repaired with new glass or backings. 

Can you spot the two non-Star Wars droids? There is Zane, the nindroid from Ninjago (when your kids ask you to draw a nindroid, you draw a nindroid!)… and a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica (Happy 20th Anniversary BSG2003 fans!)

Thanks for geeking out with me! –h

I’m happy to be sharing with you my new collection of art with a toadally amphibious flare! Original paintings, prints and digital downloads are now available on my website Upcycled Vintage Art.

Amphibious Collection July 2023

Snack Time
mixed media on vintage canvas
33 x 38 cm mixed media on vintage canvas
plus original vintage frame

$275 + shipping

Original painting, prints & digital downloads available

Watch the Reel of this being painted

Grogu has mastered the force to his advantage, floating Sorgan frogs towards his open mouth and growling stomach! 

This one was a challenge… I don’t know if I’ve ever spent so long painting one square inch of a canvas! You can see that Grogu’s face is thumbnail size! 

What I love about this piece is it is quite small, so at a glance what you first see is the landscape. You have to stand close to see the story within the painting… and getting in close also draws your attention to the textures and colours of the original artist’s work. 

At my next art drop, this piece will be available to collect, as well as digital downloads and prints. The hires scan has perfectly lit and captured every detail of this painting… in real life the painting has texture which will catch light and shadow. If you have Level 43 eyesight like me, you may prefer a print which is larger than actual size of the artwork. 

Vintage Painting by unknown artist. This little piece has a lot of nice texture, which I worked around with the floating Sorgan frogs. The canvas itself was loose and saggy in one area, probably where it had been leaned against… but I fixed that by spritzing the back with water, and it shrunk the canvas back to fit the frame. 

“Frog on a Log in a Bog”
mixed media on vintage canvas
13 x 18 cm mixed media on vintage canvas

Personal Collection

Prints & digital downloads available

Watch the Reel of this being painted

This sweet little painting was collected from a local thrift store… and once this song started running through my head, I knew exactly who needed to be added to it! For me, this little piece stirs up feelings of summer and childhood. My daughter asked me if we can keep this one… so this wee little painting is staying with us. 

Vintage Painting by L. Vandenbrink collected from Encore Thrift Store
This little painting is an example of a style that has fallen a bit in the grandpa / grandma art category, mainly I think due to the colour palette and style of frame… and I think it’s a shame, because it is very well done! Adding in a bit of fun I hope encourages an appreciation for the work and skill that went into this piece years ago. 

Bathing Beauty
10×14 inches mixed media on vintage canvas

Personal collection

Prints & digital downloads available

Watch the reel of this being painted

I have a soft spot for toads, and how they shift their colours to match their surroundings. I saw one with colours like this last summer, with fine white details to blend in with the reindeer moss. She was so pretty! 

Vintage Painting by E. Jalava : The Jalava family immigrated to Canada in the 1950’s, and they all were skilled painters. I’ve ended up collecting a few of their pieces, probably because they were popular locally so the pieces are easier to find, but I choose them because their vast blank spaces in the composition are perfect for adding in something fun. This is a really pretty little painting just as is, with no damage to the art or frame. Usually I wouldn’t upcycle something so pretty, but I purchased it knowing I wanted to do this with it for my own enjoyment. 

Ode to a Toad
10 inches mixed media on vintage canvas

Personal collection

Prints & digital downloads available

Watch the reel of this being painted

One of my very first upcycled pieces and still a fav in my collection. I found this little oil painting in a Brampton thrift store, and had intended to brighten up the colours, because in autumn, evergreens should stay green! However, once this giant toad was happily soaking in the lake, I decided to leave everything else as the colours just worked. 

This painting is displayed in my studio beside another, and together they are my Romeo & Juliet! I love that this rustic guy looks lovingly up all day at his beloved, who is bathing serenely in her softly coloured landscape. 

Vintage Painting by C. Peter, collected at a thrift shop. This artist has done similar landscapes in larger sizes… very much that style of art that gets discarded because it is a little too brown, or too old looking. So I enjoyed adding a bit of fun, and now it can be appreciated again. 

Evening Soak
3.5 x 2.5 feet including original frame

$450 + shipping

Original artwork available, no prints

Watch the reel of this being painted

I really love the idea of giant toads the size of hippos, wallowing in lakes and enjoying the warm afternoon rays of sun. This large painting is a very commanding piece, full of warmth and texture. 

Vintage Painting by G. Witman, Michigan artist prolific in the 70’s with landscapes for sale in department stores. This textured, very brown style of landscape was very popular in the 70’s… but not so popular now! I gave this painting a bit of fun by adding an oversized toad having a soak enjoying the amber sunset.

And last but not least…

A Handsome Toad
original watercolour

Personal collection

Prints & digital downloads available

Watch the reel of this being painted

For my early birds… an early look at my new works available to collect at my next art drop this June 18th! You may have already seen the work in progress for some of these in the Stories on my Instagram… more reels coming soon!

ORIGINAL ARTWORK AVAILABLE : 
When : June 16th 10am EST
Where : My Shop

For my early birds, you have the first opportunity to collect original artwork ahead of my art drop. To arrange to collect a piece, send me an email or dm through Instagram. On June 16th the art will be put in my shop and available to anyone. Prices are in US, shipping to be calculated. I retain all reproduction rights to the artwork.

PRINTS :  
When : Starting June 16th
Where : My Shop

I am offering PRINTS alongside my original paintings. Digital prints and print-on-demand options will be available.

Octopus Vs Ship Collection June 2023

Octopus Vs Ship :
“There once was a ship…”
mixed media on vintage canvas
2×3 ft vintage canvas + frame

Private Collection
Full Sized Prints Available at Art Drop

Watch the Reel on Instagram

Never take away an octopus’ toy! The kraken is not going to let this passing ship slip by quietly. I love how real octopus have control over every suction cup on every tentacle, each of them absorbing sensory information for the inquisitive creature. This one was a lot of fun to paint… I enjoyed taking the risk of not carefully drawing it ahead of time, but jumping right in with paint, which produced a more loose, carefree composition.

Originally purchased from The Art House in Toronto (not in business anymore?), I collected this painting from its original owner in the Simcoe area. The painting is in good condition, with minor fine cracking across the surface. The frame looks to have been finely splattered with dark paint, but I think it adds character. The artist did a fantastic job of this ship… though they forgot one mast, I had to add that in between the sails! There are a lot of amazing artists out there who enjoy replicating the masters, and this is a fantastic example of their mastery of the medium and attention to detail.    

Octopus Vs Ship :
“Octopus Vs The Harris…”
mixed media on vintage canvas
2×3 ft vintage canvas + frame

Private Collection
(I’m not ready to part with her just yet!)
Full Sized Prints Available at Art Drop

I have had this painting for close to a year now… collected it up in Burk’s Falls in my cousin’s gorgeous antique shop. This painting was also a bit of a turning point in my octopus paintings, as with it being so large, I could really delve into studying the skin and textures of the octopus to make it more realistic. And I learned some interesting facts… like the Giant Pacific Octopus has 280 suction cups on EACH arm! And each suction cup is individually controlled, and can touch, smell and taste! That’s like having over 2000 finger-nose-tongues… amazing and disgusting! 

This painting was a little dirty when I bought it… so much so that I couldn’t see the signature until I had given it a clean. Also discovered there was a fine rip developing, so I patched that. The frame had been painting a cream colour, so I gave it a coat of matte white paint to freshen it up a bit. 

A bit about the original artist : Edwin Harris was born in England and emigrated to Canada about 1906. Lived in Toronto till he passed about 1980. He was a hobby artist and copied other paintings. He was quite prolific, painting ships, cavaliers, flower still life, birds. He sold his paintings to friends and people he worked with at Bell Canada.

Octopus Vs Ship :
The Flying Dutchman
8×10 mixed media on canvas

Original : $250
Full Sized Prints Available at Art Drop

Watch this painted on Instagram

Octopus Vs Ship :
The Kraken Vs The Black Pearl
8×10 mixed media on canvas

Original : $250
Full Sized Prints Available at Art Drop

Watch this painted on Instagram!

Lego Fishing Village
8×10 mixed media on canvas

Original : $200
Full Sized Prints Available at Art Drop

Reel coming soon to Instagram!

cast off canvas
8×10 acrylic on canvas
This is the canvas I use to brush off excess paint as I work. So it has a bit of each painting in it. I like to mix abstracts like this in with my art for a pop of colour and interest.

$20

(Octopus not included!)

LAST ONE!
From my first Octopus Vs Ship collection!

Octopus Vs Ship :
Thaumoctopus Mimicus (Mimic Octopus)
8×10 mixed media on canvas

framed in reclaimed lobster traps beachcombed from Nova Scotia

Original : $375
Full Sized Prints Available at Art Drop

Watch the Reel of this being painted

***Early Bird discount, use this code in my shop to receive 20% off this painting : OCTOPUS20

Antique Ship Painting
by Unknown Artist

30 x 25 cm painting on board 
42 x 47 cm frame
Original : $225

This painting was imported years ago from Scotland. It was in very dirty condition, so I gave it a gentle clean to lift off food splatters. A specialist could restore it fully. The gorgeous detailed frame has some pieces missing. I think the tarnishing and damage to the frame are part of the charm.  

Antique Ship Painting
The Pengarian (?)
by R. W. Taylor 1914 

46 x 30.5 cm painting on canvas 
58 x 43 cm frame

Original : $225

This piece was also imported years ago from Scotland. It was in very dirty condition, so I gave it a gentle clean to lift off the yellowing varnish, and am happy with the brighter sky and sails. It had previously been repaired from a puncture which has been neatly fixed. A specialist could restore it fully. The frame is very sturdy. 

To celebrate May the 4th, my new Star Wars inspired artworks will also be available to collect as Limited Edition POSTCARDS. $10 each including postage (worldwide). 5×7 inches and printed on beautiful matte recycled stock. (Don’t be alarmed that there are no designs up in my shop yet… they’ll be live on ETSY from 12:01am May the 4th Toronto time!)

ORIGINAL ARTWORK AVAILABLE : 
When : May 4th 12:01am EST
Where : in STORIES on Instagram

POST CARD PRINTS :  
When : May 4th – 7th
Where : ETSY shop

“Mandolisa”
Ode to Bo-Katan Kryze 
mixed media on print on board
(60 x 90 cm , 78 x 108 cm frame)
PRIVATE COLLECTION

Watch it painted on Instagram

Available as POST CARDS
on ETSY May the 4th

“Pink Death Star Moon”
mixed media on vintage painting on canvas
(101×52 cm + original vintage frame)
SOLD

Watch it painted on Instagram

Available as POST CARDS
on ETSY May the 4th

Mini Winter Droid 
mixed media on paper print
(13 x 11 cm, 18.5 x 21 cm frame)
SOLD

Watch it painted on Instagram

“Winter Wander Droid”
mixed media on vintage painting on board
(50 x 102 cm, 70 x 121 cm vintage frame)
Private Collection

Watch it painted on Instagram

Available as POST CARDS
on ETSY May the 4th

Walking in a Winter Walker Land
Mixed media on vintage painting on canvas
37 x 25 inches, 41 x 29 inch frame
(94 x 64 cm, 104.5 x 75 cm frame)
SOLD

Watch it painted on Instagram

Available as POST CARDS
on ETSY May the 4th

Autumn Droid 
mixed media on vintage painting on canvas
8 x 10 inch , 12.5 x 14.5 inch frame
(25.5 x 21.5 cm, 37 x 32 cm frame)
SOLD

Watch it painted on Instagram

Autumn Walker
Ode to Star Wars | AT-AT Walker
mixed media on vintage painting on canvas
(41 x 31 cm, 53 x 43 cm frame)

PRIVATE COLLECTION

Watch it painted on Instagram

Available as POST CARDS
on ETSY May the 4th

Tie Fighters 
mixed media on vintage canvas by Stephen
20 x 16 inch, 21 x 25 inch frame
(51 x 41 cm, 54 x 64 cm frame)
SOLD

Available as POST CARDS
on ETSY May the 4th

When You Wish Upon A Death Star
Mixed media on vintage painting on canvas
8×10 inch, 13.75 x 13.5 inch vintage frame
(25.5 x 21.5 cm, 40 x 35 cm frame)
SOLD

Available as POST CARDS
on ETSY May the 4th

Fully Operational
mixed media on vintage painting on canvas
16 x 20 inch, 25.75 x 21.75 inch frame
(41cm x 30cm, 54 x 44 cm frame)
SOLD

A Galaxy Far, Far Away | Star Destroyer
mixed media on vintage print by R. Wood
26 x 18 inch, 29.5 x 21.5 inch frame
(66 x 47 cm, 75.5 x 55 cm frame)
SOLD

Watch it painted on Instagram

Available as POST CARDS
on ETSY May the 4th

Lone Walker
mixed media on vintage painting on canvas
16 x 12 inch, 21.25 x 17.x25 inch frame
(41cm x 51cm, 65.5 x 55 cm frame)
SOLD

Hi… it’s been a while!

My work and business practices have been evolving over the last several months. I’m thoroughly enjoying two streams of fine art, 1) expressionist painting inspired by local Ontario landscapes, and 2) playfully upcycling vintage artwork.

The way I share and sell my work has drastically changed… I am primarily sharing my artwork on Instagram. There I frequently share reels of my artwork being painted, talk about upcoming events, and post new art available to collect. I enjoy this less formal approach and it’s easier to chat with others about my art and process, and it is easier to arrange collecting my work through private sale.

With the time I have, I’d rather be painting than tending multiple online platforms… so I am going to be streamlining this website very soon to simply share the feed from my Instagram feeds.

Thank you for following my work, your support is so appreciated! If you are on Instagram I encourage you to check out my accounts below… otherwise, I will put a feed up here soon(-ish!)

Follow my expressionist landscape artwork here on Instagram : @heather_castles_illustration

Follow my upcycled vintage artwork here on Instagram : @upcycled_vintage_art

This October, I’m delighted to be joining the artists at Wall Candy NOIR, an upscale, two day fine art exhibition at the Horticulture Building, Lansdowne Park, Ottawa! 

IMPRESSIONS OF ALGONQUIN COLLECTION

I will be featuring my collection of acrylic landscape paintings inspired by Algonquin Park, including my newest pieces painted en plein air in the park this past summer. The paintings range from 4×4 inches to 4×4 feet. 

QCH SILENT AUCTION

At the opening night I will also be donating my painting, “Sheltered Point,” to support the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation’s Building Space Between the Walls campaign, which help build a comfortable, modern, full equipped space for 15 new bed bays at QCH.

Tickets

*Early bird pricing available now till Sep 11!*

October 21   |   6 pm – 10 pm
Opening Night Vernissage Event & QCH Silent Auction

The masquerade-themed vernissage is a great place to meet me and the many other artists at NOIR, while enjoying a live performance by Rebecca Noelle! 

October 22   |   10 am – 4 pm
Main Exhibition Day

Hope to see you there!

Psst… to have a sneak peek at my newest paintings in progress, as well as pieces coming to this show, follow me on Instagram @heather_castles_illustration

After a productive few months, I’m delighted to share my love of Algonquin Park through this original collection of paintings. In these, I play with the boundaries between realism in the trees and abstract reflections on the water below. Scroll down to access links to the time-lapse Reels of these paintings on Instagram. Contact me for prices and to collect.

My great-grandfather, Ralph Bice, was one of the first guides when Algonquin Park became a provincial park. His contributions were recognized in the naming of Ralph Bice Lake! He passed on his love of nature and the park and gave me my first paddle when I was thirteen. I now go on adventures into Algonquin Park with my own family and stay in the ranger cabin my great-great-grand- father built. 

During my time in the park I paint en plein air from the shore or canoe. Returning to my studio in the GTA, I create larger, fully realized paintings with the aim to share those quiet moments and the rustic beauty of Algonquin Park through my artwork. 

(A fun fact… in the early 1900’s, my great-grandpa was guiding in Algonquin Park at the same time Tom Thomson was guiding and painting in the park!)

Impressions of Algonquin Park collection

Drifting on McCraney Lake, Algonquin Park
4 x 4 ft acrylic on canvas
Watch it being painted on Instagram

The Narrows, Rain Lake, Algonquin Park
2 x 2 ft acrylic on canvas
Reel coming soon

Lilypads on McCraney Lake, Algonquin Park
2 x 2 ft acrylic on canvas
Watch it being painted on Instagram

Sheltered Point, Rain Lake, Algonquin Park
2 x 2 ft acrylic on canvas
Watch it being painted on Instagram

The Way Through, McCraney Lake, Algonquin Park
2 x 2 ft acrylic on canvas
Watch it being painted on Instagram

The Big Island, Rain Lake, Algonquin Park
2 x 2 ft acrylic on canvas
Watch it being painted on Instagram

This commissioned piece was wonderful to paint. Inspired by the views at Andrews Scenic Acres in Milton, and a love of dahlias, my aim was to bring the outdoors inside for the patron to enjoy.

I’m pleased with the movement in the clouds, and how rivers of flowers draws your eyes around field, while the patches of greenery and abstract paint give somewhere for your eyes to rest. I aimed to create a playful interaction between realistic detail and abstract painterly brush strokes. 

Work in progress

I take many photos and videos while I work as a way to involve the person(s) who commissioned the painting. Chatting back and forth and sharing the work in progress is a lovely way to feel connected to the art as it is being created.

I’ve included my favourite snapshots of the work in progress below… but if you really want to delve in, you can watch the full video of the time-lapse work in progress of “Dahlias for Laura” by clicking below on the embedded Youtube. You can also watch shorter Reels of my work in progress on Instagram (@heather_castles_illustration) …I post regularly there little sneak peeks at my newest paintings, studies, and early releases of paintings for sale.

This is one of my absolute favourite places to visit in Algonquin Park. After a 1km portage through the woods carrying a canoe through  27 mud puddles, the views and quiet and sounds are well worth the effort of visiting McCraney Lake. It is a shallow lake, so there are a lot of fallen trees bleached in the sun, carpets of lily pads, and squishy islands of grasses with hidden sundews and pitcher plants. I always take lots of photos while there, and it is so fun painting from them back in my studio to capture the feel of the place.

Day 1 : Watch Day 1’s painting session reel on Instagram here.

Starting off on a pure white canvas is a little stressful, as any rogue splashes of paint aren’t as easily worked into the final as when I completely fill the canvas. But I just took a deep breath and jumped in, and enjoyed allowing the paint to be loose and run off the canvas, encouraging it in some places and restrainging it in others.

I worked with just two colours… Liquitex Heavy Body pthalo blue and sap green. They work so well together, creating a range of colours. Watered down they ran and spread beautifully, giving the loose structure to the piece.

Day 2 : Watch the time-lapse reel on Instagram here.

On the second day I focused on selectively tightening up the silhouettes of the trees. I introduced white & yellow ochre to create more shades of green.

Day 3 : Watch the time-lapse reel on Instagram here.

I started adding in brighter details in the branches of the trees, introducing pthalo purple to create warmer tones by mixing it with the ochre and white.

Day 4 : finishing up

At this point I just went for it, adding the lily pads floating on top of the water, texture along the shore… again being careful to not add too much or cover the wonderful loose paint from the first layer. I’m really happy with the finished piece.

And that’s it… all done! It has been so overcast and terrible lighting for photographing this piece, but have done my best to capture it. It is now looking for it’s forever home… if you are interested drop me a line and we can chat about viewing it in person or via video chat.

I’ve set aside time over the next two months to paint more of the views in Algonquin Park. So check back, or follow me on Instagram @heather_castles_illustration to see my work as it is coming together.