Whaler - CONSIGNMENT Artist Proof #8/10

It has been twenty-eight years since my introduction to the west coast of Vancouver Island in 1980. During my years in Tofino, so many good things happened. I became a passionate steelhead fisherman, I built Eagle Aerie Gallery, and my career took a turn for the better and has remained on a continuous upward curve. I could see myself as a contemporary artist and create images inspired by the rain, wind, and sun. It has been a great satisfaction to be inspired by my relationship with nature. Some of the most powerful images to come during my Tofino years have been those of the whales. The gray whale, the orca, and the humpback have always been exciting to see and have always thrilled me. I’ve had whales come so close to my boat that they touched it. I’ve fallen asleep to whales’ loud breathing nearby, and I’ve been thrilled by the sound of the whales’ songs surrounding me during scuba dives. I’ve enjoyed the faces of those who have seen whales for the first time. I’ve been overwhelmed with sadness at the sight of a dead beached whale on Whaler Island near Tofino. One of the most exciting happenings in the waters around Tofino has been the return of the humpback. In the early 1980s, one would have to take a long trip offshore to catch a glimpse of a humpback whale. When one of my staff showed me a picture she had taken of a sunset through the beach grass on Whaler Island, I was inspired to create this image of a humpback whale spyhopping.

Thank you, Adrienne for inspiring WHALER.