When I was a kid, I was obsessed with a book in my Grade 4 classroom extolling the virtues of our Canadian Natural Wonders in full colour. I loved all the big glossy photographs of the Arctic, the Rockies and Niagara Falls, but it was Percé Rock in the Gaspé region of Quebec that I considered really cool – a giant rock with a huge hole in it! And you could walk out to it when the tide was out – what could be cooler?!!

I never got to see it in childhood. But 45 years later, when we were planning a summer road trip, I immediately thought of Percé Rock. My husband wasn’t familiar with it so I regaled him with all my grade 4 knowledge, and how I was obsessed with it as a kid. (And about how I named the rock I use in my studio today to flatten my art, Percy, because it’s shaped like it!) So, it was decided we’d motor off to the Gaspé to see my favourite Canadian Natural Wonder… and it didn’t disappoint.

We enjoyed the town of Percé and I did a lot of sketching. I missed the tidal schedule to walk out to it. But it was such a great little town and what was most important to my inner 10-year-old self, I finally got to be with the Rock for a few days!

I have wanted to make a proper painting of this moment, and this proved the year to make it happen – as my Canadian pride was surging!

It has been amazing to me how many people who saw this painting at my shows this year had no idea what Percé Rock was/is. Come to think of it, many of the people we met in the Gaspé that summer were not Canadian, but European. At the time, I remember being proud that so many people from around the world had come to see the Rock. I hope that more Canadians have ventured out to see it, especially this past summer! It truly is a National Wonder.

And I think I need to donate a few Canadian Natural Wonders books to elementary school libraries!

Oh, and here’s a little peek into my sketchbook from that road trip of my Rock adoration – done sitting on the shoreline in the retreating light of a few summer days.

At the time of this post, the painting is still available. For more information about “Percé Boardwalk”, complete the Contact Form below.