Postcards 

January 27, 2025

Two Red Chairs in A Lake, 2025, Acrylic on paper, 4 inches by 6 inches.

Red Chair in The Clouds, 2025, Acrylic on paper, 6 inches by 4 inches.

Canada has a tradition of leaving red lawn chairs in its national parks, trailheads, and viewpoints for visitors to sit and enjoy the sights. Alberta has dozens of these chairs, while Canada has hundreds. As an active hiker and explorer, I have found and sat in many of these chairs, and many of their locations hold a special place in my memories. 

I have a collection of postcards from Canada's national parks, and some of these postcards depict the famous red chairs. So, for this postcard project, I wanted to paint scenes with these chairs. 

Combining my love for landscape postcards and Canada's red viewpoint chairs led me to paint red chairs in two different scenes. Part of my artistic practice is working with collage and abstract design. I like creating ominous images by combining random items that may not have gone together, such as whales in the sky or succulents under the ocean. Painting a red chair in the clouds or two chairs suspended over a lake is perfectly on brand with my artistic practice. 

"The red chairs in Canada’s national parks are part of Parks Canada’s Red Chair Program, introduced in 2013. These iconic Adirondack-style chairs are strategically placed in some of the most scenic and serene locations within national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas across the country. The purpose of the program is to encourage visitors to connect with nature, take a moment to relax, and appreciate the stunning landscapes Canada has to offer." (Parks Canada website).

Check this out --> https://parks.canada.ca/voyage-travel/experiences/chaises-chairs