Snowbound-Canadian Rockies

I've spent much of my time in the mountains, staying sometimes in tents, lean to's, under the stars.....and in rustic back country cabins. The painting "Snowed In" was painted after a stay in a back country wardens cabin in Banff National Park on New Years Eve. That day 6 of us skied in and it was -30c! We had a pulk (sled) we pulled with food, wine and all the essentials to survive in a very cold environment. When we got to the cabin it was iced over and deathly cold, but once we got the stove going, cleared a path to the frozen river for water and dried out our gear it was heaven. Later in the evening after dinner we went for a ski in the light of a full moon, and a white owl soared above us looking for its evening meal.

"Snowbound" is a haven, a place where you are safe and warm, with family and friends, celebrating the Holidays.

I thank you for following my Posts these past few months. I look forward to showing you my paintings in the New Year.

Merry Christmas, and have a healthy and Happy New Year!

Bob Krysak

Pemberton Valley Sunset

In the early 90's I lived in Whistler, B.C., after spending a few years in Vancouver. Even in those days Whistler was a busy place, and to get away from it all I would travel down the road to the Pemberton Valley. The valley was flanked on each side by towering peaks, and there were many farms and acreages. On many trips to a secret natural hot springs I would pass this farm with an old barn at the edge of the field. One day on my way home the sunset was spectacular, and I had to capture it on my canvas. The sunset helped me focus on the barn, the rows in the field, and in the end my natural surroundings. Now at sunset, I stop what I'm doing and focus on the world around me.

9"x7" $150

Houndstooth Alpenglow-Canadian Rockies

I have to admit I find it challenging doing commissions for people. I like to paint...if you like it, great, if you don't, that's OK. A while ago I had a commission to paint one of my favorite places, a cabin in the Bugaboos. In prep for that painting I created a few quick little paintings to test color, composition, and created Houndstooth Alpenlgow. From this I have created/sold many cards and have found that this simplest of paintings has been one of most widely accepted pieces. I guess it is true that good things come in small packages.

4" x 5" Collection of the Artist

Numa Pass-Rock Wall-Canadian Rockies

Living in Banff I am so fortunate as there are hundreds of peaks in all directions to explore. About an hour and a half drive from Banff is the trail head to Floe Lake. After a 10 km uphill hike to Floe we climbed higher to Numa Pass and spent the afternoon exploring the area. As the sun began to set the mountains were on fire with color and light. This painting of Numa Pass tries to capture that "fire in the sky" or "alpen glow" that can only be experienced in the alpine of the mountains.

9.5" x 7" $150

Mount Robson-Canadian Rockies

Mount Robson is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, towering 12,972 feet (3,954m) above Berg Lake. Berg Glacier, a massive ice river that drops into Berg Lake, is one of the few living (or advancing) glaciers in the Canadian Rockies. When we hiked into Berg Lake the temperature was 32c, so we did a quick dip into it's icy waters to cool down.

This area of the Rockies is special to me, and one day I hope to take my son Robson there.

30" x 22" Sold

Seabright Sunset

We travelled this summer to the East Coast of Canada and stayed at a cottage on the shores of St. Margaret's Bay. Visiting friends, sailing, swimming and walking the beaches filled up our days. The locals kept apologizing for the weather, but I found it offered a variety of moods throughout the day. This painting is at days end, where the dark clouds are softened by the vibrant color of the setting sun.

14"x10.5" $300

Solitary Tree

I spend a lot of time in the outdoors, and one of my favorite pastimes is wandering in the forest. Everything is up close and personal, with many choices for subject matter. Solitary Tree was painted in the Valhalla's, across the lake from New Denver, B.C.

9.5" x 7" $150

Spar Peak-Canadian Rockies

One of our favorite places to hike in the summer/fall is the Alpine area around Sunshine Village West of Banff. At times you walk from Alberta into British Columbia and back again. This painting is of Spar Peak, located in B.C. I was trying to capture that moment in time where the light changes, the sky/clouds/mountains are in a shroud of color...Alpenglow.

10.5 x 14.5 Sold

VERMILION AUTUMN-CANADIAN ROCKIES

The days are getting colder in Banff, new snow covered the peaks this morning.

On a walk yesterday morning the grass crackled like broken glass, it was coated with dew then frozen in the early morning air. Eventually the sun warmed the valley, the colors of autumn bursting from every corner. At Vermilion lakes, in the shadow of Mt. Rundle, the waters were still, alpenglow painted the sky and everything is calm before the arrival of Winter.

11" x 7" $150

Mt. Assiniboine in Autumn

One of my favorite times in the mountains is in the Fall. The air is crisp, there is new snow on the peaks. The contrast of the rich autumn colors to the cold rock and ice is striking.

This painting is from a trip to Assiniboine in late September.

14.5 in. x 10.5 in.

$300

Mt. Assiniboine

Mt. Assiniboine

The Matterhorn of the Rockies.

I first stood in the shadow of Mt. Assiniboine in the late 70's. I had cross country skied in and had to carry a pack with all my belongings. I have also stood in the shadow of the Matterhorn in Switzerland. Both are powerful mountains.

This painting of Mt. Assiniboine was in the early morning, the sun just coming up, the air cold and crisp, not a breath of wind. Painted in Sepia, it offers great contrast of morning light and cold dark rock surrounded by glaciers.

10 x 14 Sold

Mt. Edith Cavell

Located south of Jasper in Jasper National Park, Mt. Edith Cavell rises 11,033 ft./3,363m above Mt. Edith Cavell Lake. Both are named after Edith Louise Cavell, a World War 1 nurse who helped many prisoners during the war.

The base of the mountain is a place of power, with the mountain towering above you and the calm waters of the lake reflecting all around it. I painted this piece in sepia, hoping to catch the simple but powerful energy of this place.

10 x 14 Sold

Bugaboo Storm

A few years ago I began painting only using the color Sepia. The effect is monochromatic, and people have said my paintings look like old black and white photos. By adding more paint, or different amounts of water, you can create very dramatic moods and tones.

This painting in the Bugaboos, one of my sacred ground areas, was done during a dramatic storm. The main peak in the foreground is Houndstooth/Marmolata, a massive granite wall that jumps out of the glacier.

18 x 24 Sold

Cabin Lake

One of my favorite places to hike is in Mt. Assiniboine Park West of Banff. One day I came across this lake which was not on any topo map. The reflections of the surrounding area and the transparent views below inspired me to paint Cabin Lake.

10 x 14 Sold

Fleet's In

I've been to the East Coast of Canada a few times now, visiting the Seabright area near Peggy's Cove. The weathered buildings with the contrasting brightly painted boats and roofs caught my eye, and inspired me to paint Fleet's in.

10 x 14 Sold

Rock Medley

In 2000 I travelled to the East Kootenay's of British Columbia to spend a week with a painter named Les Weisbrich. In that week, I learned much about art, nature, painting.....I also learned a lot about myself.

Les has left us now and I'm sure he helps to create the magnificent sunsets we have in the Rockies, but from him I gained a true appreciation for water. Les was hired by Parks Canada one year to travel the country and paint water in the varied National Parks across our country.

I enjoyed painting Rock Medley in the company of Les.

9" x 7" $150

Rock Pond

Water. It is such an integral part of our life.

70% of our bodies are water.

70% of the earth is covered in ocean.

Water.......

My next series of posts will focus on images of water, from my perspective, from stagnant ponds, to eddies in a river, to flowing streams, to snowfields...water. It is part of our soul, our , makeup, our existence. This is why I love to paint in WATERcolor so much. It is a part of me.

This image is of a pond full of rocks. Simple, clear, ....water.

Rundle Corner

Living in the mountains and seeing them everyday, you begin to have your favourites. Mount Rundle is one of mine. Named after a missionary in the 1,800's, it rises above Banff and can be seen from all corners of the valley. One of my favorite views is from the Admin grounds in Banff, where Rundle fills the sky as it towers above the Town.

9" x 9.5 " $150

Mount Rundle In Winter-Watercolor Painting

Mount Rundle In Winter
10 x 14
SOLD

Here is another watercolor I did years ago of Mount Rundle in the winter. The scene again is from the fantastic view of the mountain from the Vermillion lakes in Banff.

I never get tired of painting this beautiful mountain. It has many wonderful personalities throughout the seasons of the year.

I hope that you enjoy this watercolor as much as I enjoyed painting it.

Vermillion-Watercolor Painting

Vermillion-Watercolor Painting

10 x 14

SOLD

First let me welcome you to my blog, and invite you to come back often and visit, as I share my watercolor paintings with you and invite you into my world of Watercolor Painting.

I am a watercolor artist living and working in beautiful Banff, Alberta Canada. As a self taught watercolor artist, I am inspired by the magnificant landscapes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and the joy and the wonder that they provide in this beautiful environment.

This watercolor is of Mount Rundle in the fall, with the Vermillion lakes in the foreground. Mount Rundle is perhaps one of the most photographed mountains in the Banff area, and is one of my favorites in terms of subject matter.

It is a joy to paint this mountain in winter, spring, and summer.

I hope you will sign up for regular updates to my blog, and come back and visit often, as I will be posting my watercolors for sale on an ongoing basis.