I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Doris at one of her many speaking engagements where she proudly showed her slides of her Northern trips to see the ice burgs. I had seen her work at the McMichael Gallery, and was totally amazed at her ability to translate her images to very large canvases. The experience was very real. The most compelling thing to me that has stayed with me to this day was the turquoise she used when showing the base of the ice burgs just below the surface of the water. It seemed so peaceful and yet electric.
There was the time when I drove down to the entrance to her Scarborough Bluffs home and just didn't have the guts to go in, just had to sit there in my car, feeling totally intimidated by this living icon of Canadian art.
She made an impression on this artist for certain.
Rest in Peace Doris McCarthy. We will miss you but your work remains with us all.