Tuesday 14 February 2012

Cold cold snow and warm pools from Charlene

Upper Hot Springs swimming pool by Charlene

Charlene says this is the pool where she learned how to swim.  It's above Banff  (not of course our original Banff, in Scotland - hypothermia would be the result there!  but it's namesake in Canada) . The water is 40C, which she feels is the only temperature to swim in  .   Warm water in the snow - amazing.

I remember seeing a film of monkeys in Japan lazing in hot pools in the snow - with blissful faces :>)   - it must be a heavenly experience, swimming in nice warm water and seeing that view.

Charlene's marks are kept so simple and uncluttered - but the grandeur of the scene and the activity of the swimmers comes across so effectively.

Thank you Charlene :>)

9 comments:

Making A Mark said...

How incongruous! What a great place to learn how to swim. I bet it must be difficult getting out though.

Love the steam that Charlene has indicated in the painting

Alison Staite said...

Wow - Yes this is wonderfully effective! I especially like how Charlene has established the snow laden pine trees.
Must be a great place to visit!

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

Oh, I would LOVE to have this experience! And of course your sketch "donne envie"..makes ne want to do it even more.
Ronelle

Bridget Hunter said...

This has always been an ambition - to wallow in a hot natural pool outside in the snow. I didn't realise they had them in Charlene's part of Canada. I really like the way the watercolours have been used - direct and clean.

Cathy Gatland said...

That is a strange but beautiful sight - I'd love to swim there too, but how do you get out!?

Pat said...

Ok, this is a place I would love to try. Charlene, were you able to sit in the water and paint or is it too cold to have any part of your body out of the water?
great painting of place and atmosphere.

Charlene Brown said...

Pat, I'll admit I didn't even get into the pool this time -- sketched in the spectator area, with gloves on, while I waited for the kids. In the old Fahrenheit days we used to be able to tell the (somewhat variable) pool temperature from there... If everyone was thrashing about, it was <100F, but if they were sitting around with just their feet in the water, it was at least 104.

Pat said...

So Charlene is there always snow around for you to paint? Just in the monuntains? I know you garden, how long is your gardening months?

Robyn Sinclair said...

Charlene's paintings are always such a showcase for the beauty of her country. Mountains and lakes so beautifully captured in prisms of colour and light.