10 Aug

Posted at 18:30h in Blogs Only
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My eyes bulge as I peer through the slightly distorted window of the plane. A flight filled with dramatic landscapes is coming to an end in the community of Arctic Bay in Baffin Island's northwest corner, where incredible 600 foot high red cliffs rise from the west shore of the bay. About 750 people call this beautiful, mountain-lined hamlet home. Six weeks of my nine-week-long Into The Arctic painting/filming expedition have now passed, and fresh anticipation of exploring another Arctic jewel with my canvases propel me off the plane. I'm met at the airport by Clare Kines, Arctic Bay's economic development officer,...

07 Aug

Posted at 16:44h in Blogs Only
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Out for another boat trip today, this time it's a half an hour ride to the Harbour Islands, south of Naujaat. Beyond them, the ice is still keeping us from reaching Ukkusilsalik National Park, but these islands contain fascinating whaling history, and I'm excited to explore them first hand. The sky is blue, the temperature mild, and with the quiet waters it's a beautiful boat ride to the islands. As we enter their sheltered waters, we find 3 swimming polar bears, a mother and 2 very large cubs. In the morning light, their creamy white coats glow against the rich blue...

06 Aug

Posted at 19:50h in Media
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Lonely Planet India Magazine article from the August 2015 issue in GLOBETROTTER: Anything to Declare? section: "I WANT TO REIGNITE WONDER AND AWE" Going back to nature can bring peace, says Cory Trepanier From an interview with Cory Trépanier The Canadian North has always fascinated me. It offers me a completely different landscape to paint, with a palette of colours different from any I'd used before. Then, there are the incredible shapes of the mountains, and the challenge of trying to capture on canvas scenes of such a grand scale that they are hard to comprehend. And, of course, there is that sheer joy...

05 Aug

Posted at 16:30h in Blogs Only
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I'm on the water at last! But we"™re not heading south to Ukkusiksalik National Park as the ice is still blocking our way. Instead, we are heading west from Naujaat toward North Pole River. There, with David leading the way, we should be able to connect first hand with some incredible early Arctic exploration history"¦ John Rae's old stone house from around 1850 when he wintered over on the raw Arctic landscape. We anchor in the bay, deploy the small zodiac from the top of the boat, and cruise into shore. Our hike is interrupted when David stoops over to pick...

02 Aug

Posted at 15:56h in Blogs Only
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Ice conditions are still holding tough - way too much out there to go into the park and no change in the immediate future. This is an unusual amount of ice for this time of year. Only now are locals finally able to get their boats in the water and go out hunting for narwhal. After 10 months of ice, there's a sense of relief and elation in the community. I'm land-bound for now, so I strategize to explore what can be found around Naujaat. Fortunately, I've been supplied access to a vehicle while here, which allows me to see so...

01 Aug

Posted at 18:36h in Blogs Only
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The wind is stiff as I board the plane at Rankin airport eager to get to Naujaat, a step closer to Ukkusiksalik National Park. We"™ve been planning a 9 day trip there with parks staff for months, but due to ice conditions hanging tough, I know we"™ll be waiting out our departure for a bit in Naujaat. That will give us time to explore the landscape offerings around the community. A few miles from the community, we drop below the clouds and I get my first look below at Hudson Bay. The ice stretches on for mile after mile, the open...