Kissing The Shoreline, Paintings 2022-2023

Beginning in the spring of 2022 Mark began painting from his sea kayak journeys along the wild coastal areas of Nova Scotia. These small 6x8 inch oil sketches are the principle body of work that will be used to paint larger pieces that attempt to record the wild coast of the province in contemporary times. This work is a testament to the remaining coastal wilderness of Nova Scotia but also a voice calling out for its protection as the marine environment experiences significant change through human encroachment and climate change.

“During my kayaking trips I have experienced breathtaking natural moments in nature that have given me pause to consider the incredible intrinsic value of the marine ecosystems, meaning that what I come to understand is that these places have a value unto themselves, they are important because they are simply there. Much work has been undertaken to limit species loss in Nova Scotia through a growing network of land based protected areas and I feel that the frontier of this work lies now in protection of coastal areas. My work here looks to express both depth of experience and also the fragility of the marine environment as I understand it.”

Mark Brennan

February 2024

This work will exhibit publicly in November 2024 at Argyle Fine Art, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Above: 6x8 oil sketches