AdventuresNW
Sculpted landscapes emerge above the shimmering sea. Whether dappled in sunlight or tucked inside fog, the San Juan Islands are as magical as the waterways that flow between them. The trees, water, and rocks are alive with personality.
Stella Blue is my floating studio. She’s a 27-foot-long sailboat, 52 years old, and decorated with accidental dabs of oil paint, a few coffee stains, and lots of dog prints.
My morning starts at sunrise with paint, canvas, and coffee. I bundle up, wipe off the dew, and set up my “studio” in the cockpit. Madronas perched upon the sandstone reflect their wobbly trunks on the water below. Loosely painted shapes of color capture the harmony and balance of the composition. Patterns in the sky and reflections on the water create movement. Light and shadows add depth and form to the ripples, rocks, and trees. The boat swings and bounces. Brushes drop. Coffee spills. The cockpit gets more character. The painting continues to emerge.
Unannounced, Gilligan, our Portuguese water dog, pops out of the cabin eyeballing our transportation to the island. We cast off in our kayak, paddle along cliffs, explore narrow waterways, and admire the otherworldly forms of sandstone topped with twisted trees. We land on the beach for a swim, and a run, then wind down the paths as the light sparkles across the water and through the trees. The inspiration is endless. I want to paint it all!
Rugged and majestic with miles of trails, the islands capture our souls and fill our hearts. I carry these experiences back to my studio in Bellingham, where larger canvases come to life. Taken from juicy piles of paint on the palette, energetic brushstrokes of color land on the canvas. The painting transforms into a moment, a place, and a feeling that expresses my deep admiration and appreciation for this magical place in the Salish Sea.
Lorna Libert’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the continent. Her paintings are found in public and private collections worldwide. She resides in Bellingham, WA, with her husband, Jimmy, and dog Gilligan. Her studio is open by appointment as well as during the Whatcom Artists Studio Tour. Learn more at www.lornalibert.com.
