an ongoing journal of Canadian artist Helen Utsal

I get a lot of inspiration for paintings while trail running. I have favorite trees along the paths and I want to paint them all. Seeing the same woods in the changing light, and changing seasons fills me up. Being in the woods a few times a week puts me in touch with nature in a grounding way. I like knowing whats going on; the salmon berry have just started to flower, the frogs are ready for some sexy times and are loudly singing their songs. Whatever madness is going on in my life, these predictable cycles are going on and I know what comes next. Its reassuring.

  Last week the trails were matted with branches and debris.The usual romp turned into extreme trail running, as I clambered and jumped over logs on the path.
Powerful winds had blown down trees and many of the trails were impassable.
I was choked to see the damage, as many of the big trees looked healthy and thriving. The mossy tree marking different trails as you enter the park was lying down, uprooted and smashed. I had planned to paint it, and now it was a stump.

 I have been working on a series of paintings called 'Trees on Trails'

Two paintings from this series were recently exhibited as part of the group show Profusion - A Riot of Colour.

Here is SealBay Fern (48x36)


And ForestEdge (65x55)

'SeaCliff' (left) is a painting I was excited to exhibit in that show, and is also from the Trees on Trails Series.
At 96" tall it turned out to be 1 inch too big to fit in the gallery!

The powerful winds have changed the landscape, and this week the forest looks different. Animals that hunkered down and weathered the storm are out again, and happily getting on with the business of spring.