From Netflix to Fine Art: Newfoundland Inspires

Newfoundland has been capturing attention on screens and stages for years. From the hit musical Come From Away, which tells the story of the planes diverted to Gander following September 11, 2001, to the recent Netflix series Below, this remarkable corner of Atlantic Canada continues to inspire stories that reach far beyond its shores.

During my own exploration of Canada’s Atlantic coast, I was fortunate enough to spend a month in Newfoundland on two separate occasions over the course of two years. Those experiences gave me time to immerse myself in the landscape, the culture, the people and the character of the place. The result was more than twenty finished paintings, each expressing my impressions of this extraordinary part of Canada.

When I settled in to binge-watch Below this week, I found myself transported back to those months spent getting my Newfoundland on. The Jiggs dinners, the bologna, the unmistakable accents and the familiar expressions of the b’ys brought it all rushing back. Having been so warmly welcomed into the community during my time there, I could almost feel those familiar hugs and the bite of the brisk Atlantic winds again. Even the giant squid that plays a central role in Below brought a smile to my face, reminding me of the giant squid sculpture in Dildo, a nod to the area’s own history with these remarkable creatures.

Much of the series was filmed around Brigus South, an area I grew to love for its distinctive purple-toned rock, scattered with bright yellow lichen. The landscape has a character all its own, with unexpected colour combinations that feel almost made for a painter. Filming also took place in Pouch Cove, the community where I spent time during my artist residency. These are places I came to know not simply as picturesque destinations, but as landscapes with their own stories, textures and personalities.

Spending meaningful time in a place changes the way you see it. What begins as an unfamiliar landscape gradually becomes part of your own visual language. The colours, the conversations, the weather and the people find their way into your memory, and eventually, into your art.

I may have arrived in Newfoundland as a come from away, but after two extended stays, I find myself thinking of a return visit as something closer to a come home year. There is a particular warmth to Newfoundland that stays with you long after you’ve left, and watching Below reminded me just how much this place has become part of my own story as a Canadian artist.

The paintings that emerged from my Newfoundland experiences are among the most meaningful works in my ongoing exploration of Canada, its landscapes and its cultural identity. They are not simply records of places I visited, but interpretations of how those places made me feel.

Newfoundland Inspires

Below, I’ve shared a selection of my favourite paintings created during my time in Newfoundland. These original works are available through the James Baird Gallery in Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, a place that remains an important part of my artistic journey.

Sometimes inspiration arrives through travel. Sometimes it finds its way back to you through a story on a screen. And sometimes, all it takes is a familiar Newfoundland accent to bring an entire landscape rushing home.