One of my favourite things about exploring the Rideau is spotting a cabin from across the water and wondering about the people who call it home.

You see it for only a moment between the trees. A roofline. A glimpse of a wall. Maybe a dock tucked into the shoreline. From a distance, it feels like a secret hidden in plain sight.

This painting was inspired by those moments.

The cabin sits quietly at the edge of the pines, protected by rock and water. It's not the centre of the landscape, and that's exactly what I love about it. The trees, the shoreline, and the lake all play an equal role. Together they create a place that feels settled and timeless.

When I paint these cabins, I often think about how many years they've been part of the shoreline. Long before I ever passed by in a boat, families were likely spending summers here. Generations have probably watched the same sunsets, listened to the same loons, and gathered around the same kitchen table. The cabin becomes a witness to all of it.

What drew me into this scene was the relationship between the water and the shoreline. The broad expanse of blue lake creates a sense of distance, while the cabin tucked into the trees creates a sense of belonging. It feels like a place you discover rather than a place you arrive at.

That's often how the best places on the Rideau feel to me.

Across the Bay is part of my ongoing Rideau Canal Cabin Bunkie Series, inspired by the real cabins, cottages, and shoreline retreats I've sketched while travelling the Rideau Lakes. These small places often occupy only a tiny piece of the landscape, but they become the backdrop for a lifetime of memories.

Keywords: Rideau Canal painting, Rideau Lakes artwork, Ontario cottage painting, lakeside cabin art, Canadian landscape painting, waterfront cottage artwork, Rideau Lakes artist, original acrylic painting, island and shoreline cabins, Ontario lake life, cottage country artwork, Canadian fine art.