Ink Lake sits along a route in Algonquin Park that winds through narrow channels and close tree lined banks, creating a feeling of moving deeper into the wilderness with every quiet bend. The water here is noticeably dark and can turn almost ink black on cloudy days, which makes the bright shoreline stand out even more. On this visit the path down to the lake was warm with afternoon light filtering through the tall pines, opening to a view that felt calm and untouched. I wanted the painting to capture that transition from forest to open water, and the sense of stillness that settles in as the lake reveals itself.