By: Jennifer Prevost
8 minute read
1504 words
The Rideau Canal has become more than just a subject in my paintings—it has become a lifelong muse. There is a quiet intimacy in standing at its edge with my easel, watching the water mirror the sky, reflecting fleeting moments that shift with the seasons. Some days, the canal is a deep, glassy blue, its surface rippling with golden light. Other times, it is frozen solid, transformed into the world’s largest skating rink, filled with laughter and movement. Every painting I create of the canal is an attempt to capture not just a scene, but a feeling—the essence of Ottawa’s heart.
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A Canvas for Every Season
Over the years, I have painted more than fifty interpretations of the Rideau Canal, each offering a different perspective on time, color, and mood. The changing seasons dictate the palette—spring’s first greens and soft pastels, summer’s vibrant blues and lush foliage, autumn’s fiery reds and golds, and winter’s crisp whites and cool shadows. Each painting tells a different story.
Deep Dive into Selected Works
Autumn Radiance on the Rideau
This piece is a love letter to the fleeting warmth of fall, a moment where summer lingers in golden light but the crispness of the coming season whispers in the air. The sky is awash in a lavender and orange sunset, a dramatic interplay of soft pastels and fiery warmth. This glow blankets the Parliament buildings, standing in majestic silhouette at the heart of the composition, grounding the scene in a sense of place and history.
The canal’s water mirrors the spectacle above, creating a shimmering tapestry of reflected sky and foliage. The trees lining the banks are painted in rich crimson, amber, and gold, their colours intensified by the warm evening light. Their reflections ripple on the water’s surface, blending seamlessly with the lilacs and oranges of the sky. This dynamic interplay of colour creates a sense of movement and depth, a reminder that the landscape is never static—it is alive, shifting, and evolving.
What makes this painting special to me is its emotional resonance. The soft glow of sunset evokes a sense of nostalgia, the kind of light that makes you pause and take a deep breath, savouring the moment before darkness falls. The canal, in this fleeting season, becomes a bridge between the past and the future—just as it has for generations of Ottawans who have walked its pathways, skated its ice, and gathered along its shores.
Rideau, Skating into Sunset on the Rideau Canal
In contrast to the quiet warmth of Autumn Radiance on the Rideau, Skating into Sunset on the Rideau Canal captures the exhilarating energy of winter at its most iconic. The scene is electric—bathed in the vivid, fiery hues of a setting sun, the sky is alive with bold streaks of magenta, orange, and deep violet. These colors clash and blend, creating a dramatic backdrop that transforms the cold, crisp air into something almost electric.
The frozen canal stretches into the distance, its icy surface reflecting the sky’s intensity in shimmering streaks of pinks and purples, melting into deep sapphire blues. Skaters carve their way down the skateway, reduced to dark silhouettes gliding effortlessly across the ice. There is something universal in their faceless forms—a reminder that this moment could belong to anyone. Perhaps it is the thrill of a first-time skater, the daily ritual of a commuter, or the joyful play of a child wrapped in winter layers.
The lights that line the canal glow warmly, flickering against the encroaching twilight. They illuminate the snowbanks that frame the scene, their light creating a visual rhythm that leads the eye through the composition. The snow itself is rendered in deep, almost violent blues, a stark contrast to the fiery sky above. This interplay of warm and cool tones intensifies the feeling of winter’s grip, heightening the drama of the moment.
Painted with bold, expressive brushstrokes, this piece is not about capturing precise detail—it is about capturing a feeling. The rush of cold air against flushed cheeks, the scrape of blades on ice, the quiet hum of the city in the distance. This is winter in Ottawa—raw, beautiful, and alive.
Lunar Glow Above Parliament Hill
Lunar Glow Above Parliament Hill, Ottawa captures the Rideau Canal at its most serene—bathed in the quiet glow of a full moon. The scene is hushed yet radiant, with the Parliament buildings standing tall, their golden lights shimmering against the vast ultramarine sky. Stars punctuate the darkness, their cool brilliance creating a striking contrast against the warm glow of the city below.
The full moon, a symbol of reflection, cycles, and quiet power, takes center stage in the sky. It casts a silvery light across the landscape, illuminating the canal in a way that feels almost otherworldly. The moon’s presence in this piece evokes a sense of timelessness—as though this moment, this view, has been witnessed for generations and will continue to be long after we are gone.
The water mirrors the night’s beauty, distorting the lights of Parliament and the moon into soft ripples of gold, silver, and deep indigo. Though the city is still awake in the distance, the canal itself feels untouched, wrapped in the stillness of the night. This painting is not just a depiction of a place—it is an invitation to pause, to breathe, and to experience the quiet magic of Ottawa under moonlight.
The Poetry of Light
Beyond the seasons, the shifting light of day brings its own poetry to the canal. Morning light is soft and hazy, casting long, delicate shadows that stretch across the pathways. Midday brings crisp, high-contrast reflections that dance on the water’s surface. Sunset bathes the scene in a dreamy radiance, where purples, oranges, and pinks blend seamlessly. And then there’s nighttime—when the canal transforms into a world of deep blues and inky blacks, punctuated by the golden glow of streetlights. This nocturnal transformation is what inspired my latest collection, Nightfall in the Capital.
One particular painting in this series captures a moonlit winter night, the ice reflecting the warm lights of the city. The distant hum of traffic and the soft sound of skates gliding across the ice create an atmosphere of tranquility. It’s in these quiet, liminal moments that the canal becomes something more than just a body of water—it becomes a symbol of connection, of nostalgia, of home.
A Symbol of Ottawa
The Rideau Canal is more than just a scenic landmark; it is a symbol of Ottawa’s spirit. It has witnessed centuries of history, from its early days as a military waterway to its current role as a beloved gathering place. In winter, it unites the city as thousands take to the ice, skating from one end to the other. It is a place of childhood memories, of first dates, of daily commutes and weekend adventures. The canal is both constant and ever-changing—just like my artistic journey in painting it.
A Vessel for Color Exploration
Painting the canal has also become a way for me to experiment with color. The water’s reflective nature allows for unexpected and dynamic combinations—gold against deep navy, fiery orange melting into cool lavender, emerald greens juxtaposed with steely grays. Each painting is an exploration of how color can evoke emotion, from the nostalgia of warm sunset hues to the crisp clarity of winter’s blues and whites. The canal provides an endless playground for this exploration, challenging me to see beyond what is there and into the realm of possibility.
The Journey Continues
My journey with the Rideau Canal is far from over. It remains the single most painted subject of my career, and I know that no matter how many times I return to it, there will always be something new to discover. With each brushstroke, I seek to capture not just the physical beauty of the scene, but the feeling of being there—the stillness of dawn, the joy of a bustling winter day, the romance of twilight reflections.
If you’d like to see how I’ve interpreted the Rideau Canal under the spell of night, I invite you to explore my collection, Nightfall in the Capital. Perhaps you, too, will find a piece that resonates with your own memories of this beloved Ottawa landmark.
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As an Ottawa-based artist, I am dedicated to painting the vibrant world around me, capturing the essence of our beautiful city and its rich landscapes. Join me on this artistic journey by subscribing to my monthly newsletter, where you'll receive exclusive updates on my latest works, insights into my creative process, and invitations to upcoming exhibitions.
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