Summer Art Trip – Painting Waterton Lakes, Alberta

It was August 2020, a summer of cautious optimism as travel opened up after pandemic shutdowns and quarantines. I seized the chance for a road trip from Manitoba to British Columbia, a journey that promised both adventure and inspiration. One of the most memorable stops along the way was Waterton Lakes, Alberta — a hidden gem cradled by the Canadian Rocky Mountains, bordered by a serene lake, and sharing its southern edge with the United States.

Now, in 2025, I find myself returning to the photos and sketches from that trip, unlocking memories and moments that have quietly matured in the corners of my mind. Art has its own sense of time — ideas often take root long before they bloom on canvas. Five years after my first encounter with Waterton’s striking landscapes, the timing feels right to transform these impressions into paint. With the exciting news of joining the artist roster at Gust Gallery in Waterton Lakes, I’ve been immersed in creating a series of small paintings for my 2025 debut with the gallery.

Waterton Lakes is where the prairies of Alberta dramatically collide with the towering peaks of the Rockies. It’s a place of bold contrasts — clear lakes reflecting cloud-dappled skies, thundering waterfalls carving through ancient rock, rainbow-colored streams winding over vivid red stone, and fields of wildflowers dancing in the summer breeze. Despite its compact size, Waterton packs a powerful punch, drawing hikers, sightseers, geologists, and filmmakers who come to study and capture its unique and ever-changing geology.

During my summer visit, the landscape was alive — wildflowers painted the meadows in bright hues, and deer wandered close enough to feel like quiet companions on the trails. I hiked Bear’s Hump, where layers of sedimentary rock led to a panoramic view of the entire park. The trek to Red Rock Canyon revealed a world where glacial teal waters tumbled over iron oxide-stained rocks — a striking clash of color and texture. A boat ride across the lake brought another perspective, momentarily crossing into U.S. waters and offering a fresh view of the limestone cliffs and rugged mountains that frame the lake.

Beyond its daytime splendor, Waterton Lakes holds another distinction — it is an International Dark Sky Park, protecting the natural nightscape from light pollution. Designated in 2017 as part of the world’s first trans-boundary Dark Sky Park with Glacier National Park in Montana, Waterton offers a mesmerizing canvas of stars, unspoiled and boundless. Programs and thoughtful initiatives ensure that the night sky remains as breathtaking as the mountains beneath it.

Painting Waterton Lakes Alberta

For my debut collection at Gust Gallery, I’ve created five paintings — each capturing a distinct facet of Waterton’s charm. From the rocky lakeshore, where water meets stone in a quiet conversation, to the wildflower-strewn fields near Red Rock Canyon, each piece is a visual poem. One painting delves into the dramatic vibrancy of the red rocks, while another takes us back to the heart of Waterton town, where the human presence subtly mingles with nature’s grandeur. And the final painting celebrates the provincial flower of Alberta, the fragrant Wild Rose.

These paintings are more than landscapes — they are cinematic snapshots of a place that left a deep imprint on my artist’s soul. Each brushstroke is a reflection of what I saw, felt, and carried home from Waterton Lakes. I am thrilled to share these works with the community and visitors through Gust Gallery, hoping they inspire others to seek their own stories within the wild and wondrous beauty of this corner of Alberta.

See more paintings from this road trip across Western Canada.