“Canadian Reflection”
© 2021, Watercolour, 14.5” by 22”
This watercolour was inspired by Canada’s inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Sept, 2021 when many of us spent the day reflecting on what it means to be Canadian in light of the horrific revelations of the truths behind our Nation’s residential schools system that are only recently - and finally - coming into our collective National consciousness.
The painting is meant to be a literal representation of that reflective thought process. From above, a bough of maple leaves is reflected in the invisible water, but it is not an exact reflection. Instead of mirroring the green of the leaves, the turbulent water shows those leaves in the two colours associated with Indigenous advocacy: Orange and Red. (The former for NDTR and the latter in observance of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women). In fact, all four of the sacred colours of the medicine wheel are present.
What’s more, the water that is creating the reflection is made to look like it’s in a rolling boil. This is meant to symbolize the growing anger at the injustices that continue to be inflicted on First Nations,
even in today’s “woke” society.
Both elements of the painting are meeting in the middle though, symbolic of how we’re making steps towards reconciliation. You’ll notice how, where the green leaf touches the red one, the waters have begun to calm.
All profits from the sale of prints or greeting cards with this image will be donated to Indspire, a charitable organization that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
Canadian Reflection
Original Available
Frames
Prints
Reproductions of my art are available printed either on paper or canvas. Both formats are signed by me, the artist, and are high quality, full-colour prints of a high resolution scan or photograph of the original painting. All prints are inspected to ensure that the colours match the source and created using inks that are guaranteed to resist both fading and UV light.
Paper Reproductions
These are printed on high quality paper to give them the look and feel of the original painting. In terms of the dimensions listed, please keep in mind that they are approximate. Since I custom mat and frame the prints myself, I reproduce them at specific sizes so that when they are matted to standard matting dimensions, the mat-board borders are consistent widths on all sides. It’s because of this that I highly recommend that you upgrade to the matted version (seriously, go do it now).
Now, if you've ordered a print that is not a standard sized when matted, then I highly recommend that you go back and order it in a frame. As described in the sister section Frames, I do all my own framing using reclaimed wood and am affordable.
Stretched Canvases
If you want to avoid matting and framing altogether, then I suggest that you order the canvas option. I stretch the canvases myself using reclaimed wood and, with a profile that is an inch and a half thick, the art will make a strong statement on your wall.