Behind the Studio Door: Summer in the Life of a Canadian Artist

Summer in Canada is fleeting, wild, and full of light. Conditions that stir the senses and spark creativity in ways no other season can. Behind the studio door, this time of year brings a shift not only in palette, but in pace. It’s a time to explore new ideas, collect inspiration in the field, and bring fresh energy into the studio.

Whether I’m painting in Victoria, sketching in a remote part of Newfoundland, or photographing the skyline at dusk, summer offers a rare invitation: to step into the landscape, to listen more closely, and to respond more freely. Summer slows my brush and allows for introspection.

Chasing the Light

Long days and golden hours make summer the season of chasing light—literally and creatively. I find myself drawn to working later into the evenings, when shadows stretch and the land glows with colour. This is often when the most striking compositions emerge, especially when I’m travelling across provinces and collecting reference material for future work.

Behind The Studio Door: The Studio as a Gathering Place

Even when I’m not on the road, my Victoria studio becomes a hub of activity in summer. There are canvases drying, edges being painted, and photography from recent travels pinned up for inspiration. It’s also a time for reflection and taking stock of what the year has brought so far, and preparing for what’s next.

Some days, the work is quiet and meditative: layering glazes, varnishing, watching artist biographies and reading. Other days, it’s loud and messy: music turned up, large brushes flying, paint on the floor (and probably on me).

Seasonal Influence on the Work

There’s something about summer that seeps into the work itself. My colour choices become bolder. Themes of connection, movement, and wide-open space begin to surface. This summer, I’m finding myself returning to imagery of people in the landscape and dramatic portraits with distinctly Canadian visuals that hold memory, myth, and meaning.

On the Horizon

This season, I’m also working on a big commission, a painting for an Arts fundraiser, and one for a competition. This means balancing the solitude of studio work with the excitement of sharing new pieces with the world. I’m experimenting with smaller formats, and continuing to evolve my visual language and what I call “pop modernism”, to reflect a changing Canada. I also write a top 25 Canada Art Blog, which you can read here.

An Invitation Inside

Art-making is often a solitary pursuit, but I believe in bringing others into the process. Through posts like this, I hope to offer a glimpse behind the canvas and into the rhythms, rituals, and revelations of a Canadian artist in summer.

If you’d like to see what’s coming out of the studio in real time, follow me on Instagram  or sign-up for my monthly newsletter. There’s much more to come, and I’m grateful to have you along for the journey.