Blog

Algoma – Following in the footsteps of the Group of Seven

Day 4 - September 19, 2000

On this cool but bright and sunny day we were free to paint any of the wonders in and around Willisville.  There were so many to choose from.  I decided to stay in camp and paint some of the local sights. Initially I pulled out my pastels and went up to the point and painted the channel and rocks.

We will have to make due with a photo, as my pastels were not very kind to me that day.

 This was followed by an invitation to lunch in a nearby town, never one to turn down a lunch date away went the pastels and out came the wallet.

Bearing in mind everything was still limited due to Covid restrictions we were fortunate to find anything open. An interesting drive along Highway 17 (couldn’t get enough of that highway in September) brought us to the lovely town of Little Current where we were able to find a nice restaurant that was open and could sit six of us inside as it was a little chilly to eat outdoors.   Our intent was to eat and then explore the town, which we did in short time as most things were still closed due to Covid.   I did manage to purchase a great map “The Complete Map of Manitoulin Island, North Channel, North Shore” with historical notes. This map contains so much more detail than you can find on the Ontario Road Maps.   I was able to purchase this from a neat shop in Little Current called Turners.  You can see some of their merchandise at www.turners.on.ca.  Then it was back to Willisville and our cabin for more painting.

I managed to get in another pastel painting that afternoon of the cabin across the channel from us.  It was just lovely sitting there in the sunshine making art.

We all gathered at Margaret Ferraro’s cabin late in the afternoon to compare and/or critique works that we had completed that day.  We also managed to turn this into happy hour.  Everyone was pleased whether or not they painted that day or did other things.

Pat Watt, Bonnie Dillion and myself returned to our cabin for a quick supper, donned our PJ’s followed by a crazy game of cards then off to bed so we could begin the next leg of our journey (Sault Ste Marie) early the following morning.

Algoma – Following in the footsteps of the Group of Seven

Day 3 of my September trip to Algoma following in the footsteps of the Group of Seven.

We headed off early in the morning on a boat tour of Frood Lake, Cranberry Lake and with hiking up (and I do mean up) to Grace lake.  We left from Frood Lake (much painted by yours truly and the Group of 7) on a pontoon boat, went through the narrows on to Cranberry Lake and then it was up hill on foot (a well used portage trail) to Grace Lake where we spent the rest of the day painting.

The Narrows

On our way through Frood Lake we passed a cottage that Carmichael and others of the Group of 7 used on some of their painting adventures here. It is still owned and used by the descendants of Carmichael.    

I did manage to get a small watercolour of this cabin done after I returned.

  Our portage straight uphill was amazing for those of us who love to be in the bush, there were rocks and creeks to cross.  We started at the bottom a bit chilly in the early morning but by the time we reached the top we were removing our outer layers. Once we emerged at the top and came out of the dark and shady bush, the sun was shining and there were these great wonderful rocks to sit on and enjoy the sunshine and spectacular views. You could not have asked for a better painting location.  All this was inside the boundaries of Killarney Provincial Park. 

Painting at the top looking out on Grace Lake

We spent at least 3 or 4 hours painting at Grace Lake.   Somewhere between 3 and 4 in the afternoon we started our hike down to Cranberry Lake.  We were picked up in our luxury pontoon boat and returned safely to our cottages.  Although you couldn’t have asked for a nicer day nor better scenery the painting gods were not with me and I have nothing to show for my time spent at Grace Lake.  That may mean I will have to go back and try again!

Stay tuned for day 4 of this painting adventure.