Bert Smulders

In 2012 we enjoyed an amazing holiday in Turkey with my brother and his wife. We had heard from many friends about their travels in Turkey and the one most frequently mentioned “must do” was the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, that rise up from the valley floor just as the sun comes up. Both my wife and sister in law are a little uncomfortable with heights so we weren’t sure how the “Balloon Ride” was going to go. As it turned out, they bother so awed they completely forgot their fear and were hanging off the side vying for photos as the sun came up and the balloons emerged from the valley. Cappadocia is an amazing and spectacular landscape that has been sculpted by erosion over thousands of years. These cave like dwellings and rock-hewn sanctuaries date back to the Byzantine period, possibly as far back as the 4th Century. Today what is left are these amazing cave dweller villages, underground cities that once contained human habitat and beautiful valleys that go for as far as the eye can see. Again, being “detail” oriented, I found myself choosing this view to work with!

Original: Acrylic 24” x 24”

We are fortunate that we have many eagles frequent our beach, and we have a nesting pair in our neighbour’s tree we love watching. We particularly enjoy the annual arrival of the new eaglets. We have often witnessed the eagles catching fish and on a few frightening occasions have witnessed one catch a fish that is so heavy it cannot lift it, and since they do not want to release it they must  “swim” to shore, often arriving on the beach utterly exhausted but triumphant! I particularly enjoyed that challenge of the light in the downy little heads!

Pastel 13” x 19”

We recently returned from a true “trip of a lifetime” through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Our first stop in Zimbabwe was to a Houseboat on Lake Kariba.

Lake Kariba is the world’s largest reservoir and manmade lake. During the filling up phase of the lake, the water was high in nutrients coming from decomposing, inundated vegetation, creating a thick layer of fertile soil on land that became the lakebed. Inhabitants of Lake Kariba include Nile crocodiles and hippopotami. Gamefish (particularly tigerfish, which was among the indigenous species of the Zambezi river system), now thrive on the kapenta, which in turn encourages tourism. Fish eagles, cormorants and other water birds patrol the shorelines, as do large numbers of Elephants and other big game species including Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards, Cape Buffalo and a myriad of smaller plains game species. The southern Matusadona National Park was once a haven for Black and White Rhinoceros, but recent poaching activity has dramatically reduced their numbers. Both Zambia and Zimbabwe are now attempting to develop the tourism industry along their respective coasts of Lake Kariba.

It was the vast number of elephants both on the shore and/or walking through the lake at sunset that caught our attention. The trees that are visible are normally well under water, but the recent years of droughts have lowered the water levels so dramatically that they are facing even greater power shortages in Zimbabwe once there in no more water going over the dam, something we were told was just weeks away.

Acrylic 18” x 36”

We have always traveled extensively so when we arrived in the storied Santorini, we expected to be impressed, but nothing we had seen or read had fully prepared us for the breathtaking beauty of the island! We visited Santorini while on a Mediterranean cruise, and as we were sailing in it seemed from a distance that the houses and the island were covered in snow. Little did I know what was instore for me! We scrambled up and down stairs, followed winding streets, lanes and even dead ends! We wandered into and out of shops and restaurants and we could not get enough of it. The twisting streets, the magnificent churches, the beautifully tended flowerpots at the doorsteps. This was my largest canvas to date and it took me a lot longer than anything else I had done up until then. Again, the precision required to capture the details appealed to me!

Acrylic 48” x 36”

We were in Chobe National Park in Botswana and our guide told us this young male and his brother had seemingly been kicked out of their pride and as such were forced to do their own hunting (a job usually for the females). This majestic guy was actually keeping watch over their recent kill and was not concerned about our presence. Apparently, Chobe is known for the large lion prides that hunt the elephants. There is a frightening over abundance of elephants in the region, so it seems Mother Nature is doing her thing, keeping the balance of nature, but it was sure hard to see the crumpled body of a baby elephant stuffed into the nearby bush.

This big guy was captured by the amazing wildlife photographer Christine Richard Orlick on a visit to Northern BC and Alaska a few years ago, and I was given her blessing to attempt to paint him! We have our share of bears here on the Sunshine Coast, but fortunately they are black bears and are relatively shy and more likely to steal your garbage can, or pick your fruit tree clean than intentionally confront you. The grizzly is renowned for being much more aggressive, and as such is much more dangerous. This guy had just come out of the river was finishing the salmon he had caught. This was my second attempt at using pastels, and I was very pleased with the outcome!

Pastel 18” x 24”

This painting was inspired by a photo my wife took a number of years ago, on a chilly January day in Smuggler Cove Provincial Park. The sun was up, but there was still a soft blush of frost on the water of the marsh, creating the illusion of snow. The park was originally an abundant source of seafood for many of the local first nation people living here. The name however comes from it’s history as a hiding place for smugglers along the coast in need of secluded, calm anchorage when smuggling foreign immigrants into Canada. The marsh was created by the industrious beavers and is still home to many of them, as well as to numerous ducks and seabirds. There is a lovely boardwalk that winds through the marsh, leading to pristine beaches and coveted campsites. I particularly enjoyed the freedom this painting gave me to “interpret” what I was seeing, rather than duplicate it.

Acrylic 46” x 36”

We are blessed to live on the waterfront on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of BC and we never tire of the everchanging views. The sunsets and sunrises are never the same, but of course, some are more spectacular than others! This painting is inspired by one of the hundreds of photos my wife has taken of the sunsets we enjoy. This is of the view from our home looking across to Vancouver Island in the middle of winter. The sun is lower and much further south at this time of year and it shines right through the house! The seas are also quite often calm at this time of the year. The sea lions on the White Islets, the seals popping up in our bay, the eagles fishing and the countless seabirds never cease to entertain us. 

acrylic 24” x 66”

The constantly changing views here never cease to entertain us. This is my wife’s favourite view from our front room. We have large leather chairs that face each other across the coffee table, and it is my habit to sit in the one that looks east, while she sits in the west facing chair. I enjoy the morning sunrise and she enjoys the evening sunsets. If it’s a particularly beautiful sunrise or sunset we both move to the chairs by the window. But, wow, I just realized that this makes us sound like really old geezers!  

Acrylic 18” x 36”

I am not a great fan of the fall, it always makes me a bit sad that summer is actually over and winter is soon to be upon us, so my attraction to the “fall colours” of this work still surprises me. This is the first large piece that I had ever done. It was almost two years ago and was inspired by a visit to a friend’s home in Vancouver. I admired a painting hanging there and for some reason, still unbeknownst to me, I decided that I could paint something like that! I went to the art store on Granville Island the next day and bought a 36”x 36” canvas and a selection of acrylic paints and brushes. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but three days later I had created my first real painting! I was encouraged and energized by the flattering comments I received from friends who had seen it hanging in our kitchen, and then (thanks to my wife, and greatest fan) on social media. I was inspired to learn more!

Acrylic 36” x 36”

Italy has always been one of our favourite holiday destinations. The people, the history, the scenery, the wine and of course, the food! Venice and the islands in the Venetian Lagoon hold a special place in our hearts. The island of Burano is most famous for it’s lace but it is the brightly coloured homes and boats on the island that appealed to my wife’s “inner photographer”! 

Legend is that the fishermen painted their homes in the bright colours to help them find their way home in the frequently fog shrouded lagoons. Burano is slightly less at risk for the flooding that is becoming increasingly frequent and damaging as the floods in Venice. 

In 2016 Burano was second on the Forbes list of most beautiful cities! It is as part of the Venetian Lagoon, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Acrylic 36” x 48”

This was one of my first commissions and was done for my sister as a surprise for her partner for Valentine’s Day. The image is taken from a photo taken by the talented Mark Benson and was used as inspiration with his blessing. I must admit I have always loved Arbutus trees, I love the peeling bark and the multiple colours of the trunk, the branches and the leaves. My love affair with them has waned a bit since we have had a few plant themselves in our yard, and I must say they are a very messy tree, but they are also an endangered tree, many being affected by a fungus, and others possibly by the changing climate. The arbutus tree still plays an important role in the lives of First Nation people, where the bark is used for medicinal purposes. 

Acrylic 22” x 26”

We have a favourite heron that spends countless hours fishing (quite successfully) on the beach in front of the house. We have nicknamed him Harry and he seems to be okay with that. The great blue heron is a common bird in the Pacific Northwest, but we have often seen them in our travels. I’m pretty sure Harry’s twin brother lives in Vondel Park in Amsterdam, where I have watched him from my sister’s home on the park.

Pastel 9” x 12”

We have a glorious yellow rosebush right down on the waterfront. It gives us an abundance of gorgeous roses in the summer and we thoroughly enjoy them. These beautiful roses however surprised us our first winter here with a late bloom in early December!

Acrylic 9” x 12”

This is a painting of one of our grandsons. He’s an avid (and dare I say talented) young baseball player. He aspires to follow in my footsteps and become a dentist, and in spite of striving to excellence in his academics he is driven to be the best he can be in whatever sport he takes an interest in!