Leaving Beechey

20″ × 40″, oil on linen (2019) Beechey Island, Northwest Passage, Nunavut, Canada

From the INTO THE ARCTIC Project

Beechey Island is often associated with the graves from the Franklin expedition. On this particular morning, though, I could only focus on the dramatic cliffs before us. They tickled the clouds as the sun warmed the creviced rocks, creating endless texture and a feast for the eyes. We lingered under their towering presence and then it was time to go. As Randy pulled our boat away, my gaze remained fixed on the island as it faded away, to become but a speck on the horizon.