Cabot Trail Watercolor Sketches

Cabot Trail did offer up a few sketch worthy scenes.  Take a look –

Reflect at Cape George Lighthouse

There was a lovely little bench next to the Cape George Lighthouse on the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.  I can imagine someone sitting on the bench, reflecting on one’s life, the choices one has made, or just the beauty of the day and the scene in front of them.

Livingstone Cove

Livingstone Cove is located on the Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia, just off the Northumberland Strait.  It’s named after Malcolm Livingstone, a true pioneer and someone with absolute grit, which translated into the village, dating back to 1800.  I loved the idea of the rugged settlers, and that spunk and determination passed down to the fisherman of today.

Enjoy!

Note:  These images are available in a variety of sizes and finishes on http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Deserted Buildings on the Cabot Trail

While we were exploring the Cabot Trail, we passed a few great deserted buildings – a house and a barn.  Take a look at some images that reflect the character of the places.

Clapboard House

While in the Atlantic Canada Provinces, I noticed that a lot of the older buildings had clapboard exteriors.  I really loved the look of the graying wood tiles!  Altho this house has regular plank wood siding, the front has that great clapboard – and the red really made everything pop!

Rusty Barn

This barn in Nova Scotia had a lot going for it, in terms of texture – the clapboard portions, regular slatted wood siding in other portions, and then the rusty metal on the side!  The red door molding just adds a great pop of additional color to the rust.

Clapboard Window

This window just really reflected a great difference in patterns.  The clapboard siding of the building is a sort of checkered pattern, with lovely shading.  Then, the window adds some lateral stripes in a bright color that really offsets things wonderfully.

Enjoy!

Note:  These images are available in a variety of sizes and finishes at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Watercolor Sketches of Peggy’s Cove

Altho most people seem to focus on the lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove, I found the charming village at the base of the lighthouse an inspiration for some digital watercolor pencil sketches!

Small Boat House

Depending upon one’s point of view, this small boat house at Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, is either waiting patiently for the return of fisherman or is the first welcome home for those fisherman.  I love the weathered look of it, and the spindly legs of the pier.  They look very fragile, but I cannot imagine the number of winter storms they have withstood.

Claire’s Hot Dog Stand

There is a lively entrepreneur at Peggy’s Cove – Claire, the woman who runs the hot dog stand.  I had to capture her chatting up some customers, while another is sitting in chairs she provides (and paints the Peggy’s Lighthouse on), enjoying both her food and the view!

Boat Ramps

Throughout the village, there are constant reminders that this is a fishing village, in addition to being a tourist destination.  Altho the boat in the foreground of this sketch seems to be a sightseeing boat for tourists, the ramps and boathouses in the background tell the other side of the story.  It’s a very simple, yet complex little village.

Enjoy!

Note: These pieces are available in a variety of sizes and finishes on http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg. 

Paintings at Peggy’s Cove

There were many wonderful sights at Peggy’s Cove.  It’s known for its lighthouse, but we found there was so much more.  The small village at the lighthouse is mostly a tourist location today, but it also seems to still be a fishing village at heart.  These image paintings focus on that part of the village.

Peggy’s Cove Boat House

This boat house speaks to so much history.  Its siding worn from facing so many storms and wintry weather, yet the dock still stands to welcome home a weary fisherman.  And, the sun warms the entire scene.

Lobster Traps and Fisherman

I don’t know who the marvelous artist was who created the fisherman on the right, but it’s a lovely counterpoint to the rustic lobster traps sitting next to it.  Needless to say, this fisherman wasn’t fishing for lobster!

Peaceful Cove

This is such a peaceful, sleepy scene in Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia.  I love the bright colors – green grass will last but a season, but the blue water, red  boat house and orange canoe will last year ‘round!

Red Boat Reflection

This is a lovely fishing village scene at Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia.  Red boat, turquoise doors of the boat house, and more red in the chairs set up on the far shore.  I can just imagine people sitting and watching the fishing boats come and go.

Enjoy!

Note:  These images are available in a variety of sizes and finishes at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Hubbards Church

While in Hubbards, Nova Scotia, Jeff and I camped close to a church that had a cemetery in front and alongside of it.  The day I photographed it happened to be a rather overcast day, so the church and cemetery took on a rather earie tone.

Hubbards Church

Due to the overcast day, the sky contributed to the earie feeling of this image.  One can almost imagine some ghosts or spirits rising from their graves to communicate with the living.  You’d never know it was a summer day by the look of this image.

Neighborhood Church and Cemetery

I like the look of this image with the emphasis on the headstone monuments, and the church playing a supporting role.  The windows of the church mirror the shape of the monuments, too.

All in a Row

One of the things that struck me about the cemetery in which these graves are located was that they are so very different.  On the one hand, they are all lined up perfectly, but each monument is so different from the others.  I can’t help but wonder if they reflect the different personality types of those lying under the stones.

Enjoy!

Note:  Each of these images is available in a variety of sizes and finishes at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Harbor and Shore Watercolor Sketches

While we explored along Digby Neck, Long Island and Brier Island, in Nova Scotia, we came across several scenes that were just perfect for converting into digital watercolor sketches….

Seaside Village

While traveling down the route, we had to take 2 different ferries to get down to Brier Island, and back.  We had an opportunity to see several small seaside villages, and this sketch represents all that is charmingly typical of them.

Along the Pier

As I walked along the shore of one of the villages (while waiting for the ferry), I saw several scenes like this – a pier that looks rather lonely waiting for the fishing boat to return.  If you look closely, you can see 2 seagulls perched on two pylons next to each other toward the outer portion of the pier.

Waiting for the Ferry

This pier scene has almost the opposite feel to it.  The bright colors, both on the pier building and the buoys in the lower left corner, add some festivity to the scene.  The chairs have a sense of excitement about them, like they are eagerly awaiting the ferry which is passing in the straight.

Barn on Country Road

Away from the water, driving the road that dissects Long Island, we saw this barn.  I wasn’t certain if it was deserted or not (all the buildings look rather weathered on the islands).  I did love the way it sort of nestles in the trees, and the way the telephone poles mirror the curve of the road.

Enjoy!

Magical Moments along the Way

While exploring Nova Scotia, my husband and I happened to see this abandoned boat on the shore of an area known as Sandy Cove.  I loved the look of the weathered wood, frayed rope and solitude of this boat.  It wasn’t clear why it was left on the shore to slowly decay and eventually return to the sea in tatters, but it certainly made for a lovely photo opportunity!

Ashore at Sandy Cove

It was a picture perfect lighthouse scene on Brier Island, in Nova Scotia.  The seagulls glided, dove and swarmed around this lighthouse on a tiny patch of land just off the island, known as Peter’s Island.  With the lighthouse on the island, and all the seagulls, there would hardly have been room for poor Peter!

Peter’s Island Lighthouse

Along several of the small harbors on our drive, one could always finds boats that didn’t go out to sea on that day.  This digital watercolor sketch of one of those harbors was one of those peaceful idyllic scenes.

Boats in Harbor

It was always the perfect touch when I would see one of the fishing boats leaving the harbor as I watched the day evolve from the shore.  It made me think of how a day that was so special and different for me, was truly just another work day for someone else.

Headed Out

While waiting for the ferry to transport us from one island to the next in Nova Scotia, I noticed this incredibly colorful supply building sitting on a pier, and the chairs sitting on the end of the pier, seemingly inviting someone to just come, sit and reflect on the water, when the next ferry would be passing, or just life in general.  The old buoys on shore added to the lighthearted feeling of the scene.

Colorful Pier Perch

Old deserted cabins or houses are some of my favorite subjects.  This old house, along the road on Long Island, in Nova Scotia, wasn’t any different.  I especially was drawn to how I could look thru two windows at the same time.  Buildings like this always make me wonder about the people who once called this home.

Through an Old Window

When windows are broken in an old abandoned house, it somehow strikes me more than if the window was gone or intact.  It truly emphasizes the fact that this building, which was once home to, most likely, a family, is totally unloved and is a sad statement.

Broken Window

Enjoy!

Note:  Each of these is available in a variety of sizes and finishes at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Cape d’Or Lighthouse Windows

While at the Cape d’Or Lighthouse, I couldn’t help but notice the windows at the lighthouse visitors’ center.  The finish of the building was very weathered and it added some lovely character to the building.  Take a look –

Window of Building

Thru a Lighthouse Window

Enjoy!

Fundy Trail Parkway Treasures

The Fundy Trail Parkway had lots of wonderful views, but there were a couple of treasures that made it to this blog.  There was something differently special about these two pieces.

Butterfly on Bloom

It was great to have lunch at a spot where we could look out over the water and see Nova Scotia (see my travel blog for more on that!).  But, when I looked down, I saw another treasure – a butterfly that gently flit from bloom to bloom.  I was able to capture it with my camera, and then converted the photo image to a watercolor pencil sketch.  It just captured the feeling of that gentle creature kissing those blooms…..or so it seemed!

Old Window

When we came back from a lovely day’s exploration, we turned onto the drive into the campground and I suddenly noticed a deserted building of some sort.  I don’t know what it was originally – part of it reminded me of a church, and another part of an old barn.  The thing that struck me the most was this window.  It looked like it had always been rather rustic, but the light sconce spoke to something a bit finer.  I loved the contrast of the two, found in this one building!

Enjoy!

Three Doors

When I saw these three doors lined up together in an old deserted building, if you look, the doorknobs are all in slightly different locations on the doors, but otherwise, the two panel doors seem remarkably alike.  I wondered why anyone would do that – perhaps to allow a carriage to enter thru the two panel doors?  It didn’t really appear that large to me to allow for that, but it intrigued me enough to capture the image.  I carried the theme of three throughout the piece – 3 rings and 3 sets of trees.  I guess the mystery of the three doors will always be.

Three Doors

Enjoy!

Note:  This piece can be found in a variety of sizes and formats at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Beach and Harbor Pencil Sketches

At St. Martins, New Brunswick, we stayed at a campground that was literally steps from the beach and a short drive to a charming fishing village.  Some of the images I took from this area just begged to be converted into digital watercolor pencil sketches – how could I refuse?

One of the nice things about the campground where we stayed in St. Martins was that it was practically on the beach.  There was this footbridge that crossed over a small water channel to the actual beach, and it made for a lovely sketch.  Looks rather inviting!

To the Beach

The harbor at St. Martins is very close to an old no longer used covered bridge.  I love the bright colors that the fishing boats are often painted, and the boat in this sketch is no different – a bright aqua color!

St. Martins’ Harbor

This wider view of the harbor at St. Martins, in New Brunswick, shows two fishing boats in for the day.  Their bright color is in sharp contrast to the weathered wood of the surrounding dock and old covered bridge.

Seaside Village

There are actually two covered bridges in St. Martins, NB.  One is no longer in use, but this one is still used, altho it’s only a one-lane bridge, so cars have to be polite and take turns going over it!  It’s a charming touch to this small village.

St. Martins’ Covered Bridge

Enjoy!

Note: Each of these images is available in a variety of sizes and finishes & can be purchased at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Minister’s Cottage

In 1791, Reverend Samuel Andrews bought the island upon which this cottage stands.  He built this cottage, and the island was named after his calling, and today is known as Minister’s Island.  The island is off the town of St. Andrews, in New Brunswick, Canada, and can be reached by driving across a bar of land that becomes available during low tide.  I visited this island on a misty day when the fog hung low to the ground.  Looking at the cottage in this setting, in this weather, I could almost feel the minister inside looking out on such a day.

Minister’s Cottage

Enjoy!

Note:  This image is available in a variety of sizes and finishes via http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.