There are certain islands on the Rideau that I find myself returning to again and again.

Not because there's a cabin on them or a dock to tie up to. In fact, sometimes it's exactly the opposite. They're untouched. Just rock, pine, water, and sky. Places that have looked much the same for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

I've always been fascinated by these small islands. They seem insignificant on a map, but when you're out on the water, they become landmarks. You pass them every summer. You recognize their shape from a distance. They quietly become part of your experience of the lake.

This painting was inspired by one of those moments near the end of the day when the sun begins to drop and the landscape takes on a different character. The granite starts to glow with warm colour, the pines catch the last light, and the reflections become almost as important as the island itself.

For me, the reflection was really the subject of this painting.

I wanted to capture that feeling when the water becomes a mirror and the boundary between the island and the lake begins to disappear. The movement of the brushwork in the reflection contrasts with the stillness of the trees above, creating a sense of calm that I often experience while sitting in a boat at the end of a summer day.

What I love about islands like this is their resilience. The pines bend and twist with decades of wind and weather, finding ways to grow from cracks in the granite. They aren't perfect trees, but they are strong trees. In many ways, they define the character of the Rideau landscape.

The Last Island Before Sunset is part of my ongoing Rideau Lakes Series, a collection inspired by the islands, shorelines, waterways, and quiet moments that make this region such a special place to explore. These paintings are less about documenting a specific location and more about capturing the feeling of being there.

That moment when the lake goes quiet, the light turns gold, and you find yourself lingering just a little longer before heading home.

Keywords: Rideau Lakes painting, Rideau Lakes art, island landscape painting, Canadian landscape artist, Ontario lake painting, pine island artwork, Rideau waterway art, original acrylic painting, Canadian wilderness art, Ontario cottage country, lake reflection painting, large Canadian landscape painting.