Driving on this road north holds many good memories. 12″ x 36″ acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas – SOLD
Anyone who lives or who has lived in Elliot Lake, Ontario at any time is very familiar with Highway 108, the 30 km stretch of highway that leads into the town from the Highway 17 turnoff. But not everyone has driven it to its’ most northern tip beyond the city where the highway ends and merges into Highway 639. At this point, you can still see part of the old road that turned off to right towards Quirke Mine, which no longer exists.
Comments from a Facebook post featuring the painting:
“I seen this painting and in my heart I knew it was E.L you’ve got the big whispy white pines perfectly (I live in AB now but grew up in Elliot Lake. I knew right away it was the 108!).”, and
“Absolutely stunning! I am familiar with that area. My brother worked in the mines. Really captured well.”
You would travel on Highway 639 on your way to Mississagi Provincial Park, or Laurentian Lodge, a beautiful log home with rental cottages on Flack Lake, or up to meet Highway 546 on your way east to Wilderness Lodge, or west to follow the Little White River, all the way around to Iron Bridge which brings you back to Highway 17! We still call this route along the river, “The Little White River Road”.
If you were a miner you would regularly travel along this highway back and forth at all hours on your shifts to Denison, Quirke 1 & 2, Panel, or Stanrock Mines.
This stretch of highway still holds on to many of its characteristics of earlier days like the old guard rails. The asphalt gives way to a more compressed gravel and it’s seems to get narrower the further you go.
We’ve driven this road many a time, often in the spring and most definitely in the fall. The views and the vistas from the high elevations are absolutely breathtaking! There is bush as far as the eye can see, and the colours in the northern fall forest are stunning! Mother Nature is an awesome artist!
After a long winter, Elliot Lakers often get a yearning to go somewhere! When they aren’t in the mood for a highway drive east or west to the larger cities, they will often drive the road north. The breathtaking beauty of the scenic nature here has a way of rejuvenating us.
Last summer, I was approached by a relative who asked me to paint a picture to hang over their couch in their new home. Sure, I agreed, though at that time I had no idea what and when I would ever paint it.
One benefit of all this homestay during this Covid-19 lockdown has been my ability to focus on painting. Painting grabs my attention completely and the time that passes is of no concern. It is a wonderful and rewarding escape from reality!
Morning Calm on Dunlop Lake – 48″ x 32″ acrylic on canvas – Commissioned
We’ve spent many good times together at the cottage that sits behind this view on Dunlop Lake. On this particular morning, the lake was quite calm and left you with a feeling of peace and serenity. What a perfect image to hang in the home in the city many miles and worlds away from this scene.
I hope it brings them a sense of calmness, and memories of all the wonderful times spent there for many years to come.
We often go walking or snowshoeing on the hiking trails that surround the Sheriff Creek Wildlife Sanctuary just on the outskirts of Elliot Lake. The trails and the scenery are beautiful no matter the season.
Cattails and Beaver Dams 20″ x 24″ acrylic painting – SOLD
Cattails are a pretty common sight in this area. These cattails border a large bog that is also home to a beaver dam or two.
If bird-watching is your thing this is the place for you, as a local group of volunteers: the Penokean Hills Field Naturalists, have birdhouses and feeders erected on many of the trees. I captured a hungry little chickadee enjoying a mid-winter treat in my painting titled “Chickadee Snacktime”.
Bears have been spotted on the trails too, so beware!
This painting combines some things that I’m pretty fond of…. summertime, sunsets and sunrises, being out on the lake canoeing or kayaking, and my son!
Evening Paddle, 18 x 24 acrylic on canvas
The inspiration for this painting came from a photo taken when my son was on a camping trip to Algonquin Provincial Park with some of his buddies several years ago.
The sunset ranks among the most colourful I’ve ever seen. It seems like the sky was on fire!
A nice aspect of living here in Northern Ontario, particularly Elliot Lake, is the abundance of nature trails. If you like getting out for regular walks in the bush, you’ve got it made here. There are extensive trails throughout the area that would appeal both to the novice and the more experienced hiker.
Here you’ll find an easy walking trail through the bush, field, over boardwalks, and along a lake. There are many bird feeders and feeding stations that cater to the local birds such as this little chickadee caught chipping away at some sap on a birch tree stump.
Chickadee Snacktime 12 x 16 acrylic – $225
White birch and cedar trees are found all over our forests, so this would be a very familiar sight. Chickadees can be found year-round here. Like us, they brave the winter’s cold.
I haven’t painted many birds but really enjoyed painting this little guy!
Summers on the lake are not complete without the thousands of water lilies blooming in shallow waters. When we were young, my siblings and I would paddle to the end of the bay of our cottage, and pick armloads of waterlilies! Nowadays we know they won’t last very long and pick only one to admire in a glass bowl on the table.
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These adorable mugs feature Elliot the Bear, the sweet black bear peaking out from behind a tree seen on one of my banner designs hanging from several lamp posts along the downtown streets of Elliot Lake and along the highway. Each mug makes a great souvenir or gift.
Only $20 each. Contact me via email at studio@corneliasvela.com
There are 2 designs. Mug #1 features the bear on both sides. Mug #2 includes the following text:
Notecards!
Order these attractive blank notecards, handy for everything from a personal thank you note to birthday greetings. A nice gift idea as well!
$4 each or 3 for $10.00 Add $2 to cover mailing costs. Contact Cornelia at studio@corneliasvela.com with your request today! More designs now available.
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you’ve got the big whispy white pines perfectly (I live in AB now but grew up in Elliot Lake. I knew right away it was the 108!).”, and 
