Blues, purples and reds swirl into one another on John Hartman's canvas. His watercolour scenes of the shore near Lunenburg are vibrant and full of life, but a tragic story inspired their creation. Hartman's exhibit for Studio 21 is a collection of landscapes, many of which are recognizable Halifax scenes like the MacKay bridge and grain elevators. A huge oil painting of the city from above is especially intricate. He also went to East Point Island last year after hearing a story about the Mason family, who lived on the island in the 1930s and lost two sons to the sea when they drowned rowing home one night. Hartman depicts the Mason family sitting around their table, just waiting for the boys, in the sky of one painting. The artist's beautiful colours and impressionist style disguise a lot of emotion, but it's worthwhile to take some time with these.
October 4-31, Studio 21 Fine Art Gallery, 1223 Lower Water Street
