When I was looking through my husband’s photo album last week, I noticed he had photos of Georgian Bay in Ontario. “Georgian Bay?” I thought. “Where have I heard that before?”

Then I remembered that some of my favourite Canadian artists, the Group of Seven and Tom Thomson, had painted this area. In 2001 I travelled to Ottawa to visit my sister and spent hours at the National Gallery of Canada. It was then that I fell in love with their beautiful paintings of Canadian landscapes. I could look at their work for hours. There’s so much movement and colour, I can feel the wind and water spray.

This memory sent me on a little journey down memory lane and through a beautiful book I received a few years ago – The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson, by David P. Silcox.

Just for fun, I compared my husband’s photos with some of these paintings, and I can see why the artists were inspired to capture the light and atmosphere of this beautiful region of Canada. I hope you enjoy this little vision of Georgian Bay through the paintbrush and the lens.

First, my husband’s photo of Georgian Bay at sunset – I love the contrast of the silhouetted foliage with the bright orange sunset and soft blue clouds and water.

And now Arthur Lismer’s painting, Evening Silhouette – I’m struck by the way he’s enhanced the sunset colours, clouds, and silhouetted foliage.

Then a playful photo of my husband and family enjoying swimming in Georgian Bay – very soft, muted colours and similarity between water and sky.

And now J.E.H McDonald’s painting, Fine Weather, Georgian Bay – looks like it might have been a warmer, clearer day, but I love the similarity between water and sky here too.

And last but not least, another vivid sunset glistening on the water and streaming through the clouds – I love this moment my husband captured on film.

And now here’s a vivid sunset view by Tom Thomson – bright colours glistening on the water and moving through the clouds, a feast for the eyes. If you’d like to see more Group of Seven paintings, you can find a good collection on this website. Until next time, dear readers, take care, and have a wonderful week!