I’m primarily a figurative painter, but living as I do in the mountains on Canada’s west coast it would be a shame not to also paint outdoors. My hands-down favourite spot is the wetlands at the confluence of the Duncan and Lardeau rivers, at the top of Kootenay Lake. I’ve painted in this place literally hundreds of times, responding to its many moods and seasons. The current painting is not, however, a naturalistic plein air work but instead evolved from a graphic design commission that was etched in glass for the door of our community hall. In “Many Moons over the Lardeau”, from the (Western Painted) turtle’s eye perspective I sought to acknowledge the passage of time – with and without us – in this place that is, also, my own home.