Painting en plein air is a love affair with nature’s fleeting moments—the dynamics of light and colour in real time. It’s exhilarating, even when nature throws in heat, rain, or tides that force you to abandon your work. Still, there’s something irreplaceable about being outside in the wild, chasing that perfect scene.
Yet, as much as I long to be out there with my easel, serving as part of the Alberta Society of Artists’ executive has taken up much of my creative time for two years. My creative self sat quietly… until the Federation of Canadian Artists’ (FCA) plein air retreat took me to Bamfield.
An Artistic Escape: Rediscovering A Creative Passion
This year’s FCA plein air retreat took place on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The area’s raw beauty and remote wilderness have always captivated me, but this was my first trip to Bamfield. The Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC), where we stayed, is administered by five Canadian universities, and during our retreat, we shared those facilities with students studying marine biology and environmental sciences. https://bamfieldmsc.com/
Getting There: The Journey to Bamfield
“Getting there is half the fun,” they say. I’m still waiting to meet “they.” After an easy flight from Lethbridge to Nanaimo, I opted to take the Westcoast Express bus to Bamfield—a decision I’d soon regret as we jolted along the rugged forestry roads in what felt like a motorized coffin bound for the Westcoast Trail. And, I hadn’t considered the logistics of the final kilometre or so from the bus stop to BMSC itself. It was an adventure just getting there.
Capturing the Wild West Coast at Ross Islets
We were a group of about 45 artists, instructors, and FCA staffers. For the next four days, we explored and painted the striking landscapes around Bamfield Inlet. On the first day, BMSC shuttled our “Green” group to the Ross Islets arriving at low tide. Charlie Easton, our instructor that day, shared his artistic philosophy, emphasizing the importance of capturing personal focus from the landscape. After his talk, I found my spot captivated by the striations of fractured rock, kelp and tide lines, contrasting in colour and value with the dense trees above.
I set up my easel, totally immersed in my vision. Not long after I began sketching, Charlie came over with a word of warning, that I would be standing in sea water soon. Caught off guard by the rising tide, I had to abandon my viewpoint. Though I left the oil sketch unfinished, I took photos and hope to return to it in the studio.
From Brady’s Beach to the Bamfield Boardwalk
The next day, we trekked to Brady’s Beach—an incredible stretch of sand punctuated with rocky sea stacks and wind-swept trees. Led by Brent Lynch, (a favoured artist of mine) I focused on soaking in as much of the environment as possible. Despite the long, challenging walk, I completed three oil sketches that day.
On day three, “Green Group” painted along the Bamfield boardwalk across the inlet, near the Coast Guard station, an idyllic, character-soaked location. Maria Josenhans, our third instructor, led us through her approach—massing to simplify the intricacies of atmosphere. Logistics were tricky, but I managed to capture two sketches: one of the docks and another of the point of the peninsula from the opposite shore.
Final Day on Pachena Beach: Facing Nature’s Challenges
Our final day took us to Pachena Beach, the northern end of the famous Westcoast Trail. We arrived to cool, foggy morning weather—perfect for a moody, atmospheric sketch. Though the fog eventually cleared, the temperatures stayed cool and the sea-wind rose. I completed two pieces and focused my last effort on a sheltered view of sea grass from my vantage tucked in the lee of driftwood.
While the painting opportunities were incredible, there were definitely physical challenges. Getting to and from the docks at BMSC was no easy feat—the steep gravel slope tested everyone’s stamina, especially with a heavy backpack of supplies. The walk to Brady’s Beach was long and taxing. But for the chance to capture such breathtaking, raw coastal landscapes and the sense of community, I’d do it again in a heartbeat—and I probably will, as one of next year’s FCA retreats is planned for Nova Scotia. Check it out. https://artists.ca/
As I reflect on the experience, I realize how crucial it is to carve out time for these immersive artistic retreats. Balancing my responsibilities to the Alberta Society of Artists (ASA), a personal life and my creative work is always a challenge. But it’s these moments—standing in nature, completely absorbed by fleeting light and colour—that feed my passion.
Have you been to an outdoor painting retreat? How do you balance your professional and artistic lives? Let me know in the comments below!
Some of my Bamfield sketches: https://bevmazurick.com/portfolio/paintings/nggallery/album/bamfield-plein-air-retreat