ICEBERG ALLEY

Chinese Brush PaintingLandscape Art
Written By Laura Beaton

I painted Iceberg Alley specifically for The Gallery on the Pond, located across from the lovely Fogo Island Inn situated on a tiny island of Fogo at the northeast coast of Newfoundland. This painting was created using Chinese Inks on washi (Japanese paper) paper and measures 38”x28” (framed).

I was humbled and honoured when notified of winning an Award of Excellence in November 2022 for the 11th Annual International Chinese Calligraphy & Ink Painting Society (ICCPS) in Tokyo, Japan.

In keeping with the traditions of this art form, the lighthouse leaves the paper.   There is a majesty in the night, watching the stars, the aurora borealis dancing above and the merging of manmade structures and Canadian nature at its finest.  Oh Canada!

Iceberg Alley Chinese Ink on Washi. Painted by Laura Beaton. It shows the lighthouse illuminating the icebergs at night with the Aurora Borealis doing its nightly dance.

Iceberg Alley, as on sale via The Gallery on the Pond, Fogo Island, Joe Batt’s Arm, NL & Labrador

Laura Beaton

I am a Toronto-born, international award-winning visual fine artist whose work fuses the traditions of Sumi-e, Chinese Brush Painting, and Western mixed media. Through my art, I explore and celebrate the differences and similarities among cultures—particularly Japanese, Chinese, and North American.

Though my roots are in Scottish bagpipes and English tea, a chance encounter with a Chinese brush painting on an antique tea wagon sparked a lifelong artistic journey. That early moment ignited a creative curiosity that led me to explore what it truly means to live, and create, in a multicultural society.

My art honours centuries-old techniques while looking to the future. I transform inks, rice papers, and layered textures into serene, imaginary worlds that are contemporary, yet grounded in tradition. Each piece whispers a quiet declaration: “I Am Canadian.”

Highlights of my career include:

• Election to both the Society of Canadian Artists and the Federation of Canadian Artists

• Multiple national and international awards, including Japan

• Serving as North American President for the International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society, representing artists from eight countries

• Exhibiting in China, with my work held in the permanent collection of the Chinese government

As a non-Asian artist mastering the philosophies and aesthetics of traditional Japanese and Chinese ink art while infusing Canadian narratives, I aim to reimagine tradition, transcend borders, and create space for new perspectives. My practice is a re-wilding of the social graces and an invitation to connect.

https://LauraBeaton.com
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