"Sunday Afternoon Dundonald Inn,"

 

Introducing "Sunday Afternoon Dundonald Inn," a captivating canvas print of a digital painting that measures 20 x 30 inches. This artwork offers a vibrant, impressionistic view of a charming, large, old-style house with a prominent gabled roof and chimneys. Set against a strikingly blue sky with textured clouds, the scene exudes an inviting warmth. 

In front of the house, a vintage car painted in bright colors is parked on a reddish-pink dirt road, leading viewers right into the comforting, nostalgic atmosphere of the setting. The landscape surrounding the house is lush with greenery and punctuated with yellow foliage, providing a beautiful contrast that enriches the overall composition. The bold colors and dynamic brushstrokes bring the scene to life, making the artwork feel alive and expressive.

Inspired by historical Louisbourg, this piece captures the essence of time gone by with a touch of modern vibrancy. The unique process of digitally painting and then transferring the work onto canvas allows for a richly textured and detailed visual experience that feels both classic and contemporary.

Perfect for anyone who cherishes historical architecture and vibrant artistry, "Sunday Afternoon Dundonald Inn" is sure to become a cherished addition to any art collection.

"Echoes of Louisbourg"

 

 

"Echoes of Louisbourg"

 

"Echoes of Louisbourg" is a captivating 18 x 24 painting that transports the viewer to a bygone era. This stylized piece portrays a charming, rustic street scene that feels both intimate and monumental. At the heart of the artwork stands an impressive grand archway, adorned with decorative elements and a roofed top, which commands attention and anchors the scene with a sense of historical grandeur. Lining the cobblestone street are quaint, old-world buildings, each with its own unique rooftops and architectural details that add to the painting's nostalgic charm.

A lone soldier dressed in a vibrant red outfit walks along the path in the foreground, providing a striking contrast to the muted tones of the surroundings and drawing the viewer's eye through the scene. The artwork beautifully captures the serenity and historical essence of the 1758 Fortress of Louisbourg, evoking a powerful sense of calm and nostalgia. This piece is a testament to the artist's skill in blending historical inspiration with a stylized, evocative presentation.

Stella Maris Old Town at Louisbourg

 

HomeStella Maris

Stella Maris

Gary LeDrew

Stella Maris
Old Town at Louisbourg

Nestled against the backdrop of the majestic Fortress Louisbourg, lies the historic Stella Maris Cemetery. It was once home to the grand Stella Maris Roman Catholic church, which stood proudly from 1891 to 1968, serving the close-knit communities of old Town, West Louisbourg, and the Town of Louisbourg. However, with the reconstruction of the Fortress, the church, along with its accompanying glebe house and numerous homes, were removed. Today, the cemetery remains as a final resting place for the families who once called this place home, as well as other beloved members of the Old Town community. However, the gravesites only represent a fraction of those who were laid to rest here. Some do not have markers, while others have been lost to time, with only wooden crosses and field stones to mark their resting place. Yet, their stories and legacies continue to live on in this sacred ground.

 HomeThe Old S & L ( slow & lazy ) train station

The Old S & L ( slow & lazy ) train station

Gary LeDrew

The Old S & L ( slow & lazy ) train station

 at Louisbourg

Canvas on board

For anyone who is interested in learning & seeing first hand about trains & train station's of the past this would be a great stop, you can visit the museum and see many interesting items from old lantern's to a little nook where the train master slept, lots of reading of things that happened years ago also go inside an old passenger train & even purchase items they have for sale...... years ago when the train was running we used to call it the old slow & lazy because of its initials S & L........

 HomeLouisbourg Lighthouse 1947

Louisbourg Lighthouse 1947

Gary LeDrew

 This was the lighthouse when I lived on it. We lived at the lighthouse for 3 years. I was 5 when we left in 1947 but I still have some vivid memories. I often played outside by myself and was told not to go near the cliffs.

We had a telephone but no power a well and a chemical toilet.

My father was the assistant light keeper to William Covey.. Mr. Covey loved to terrorize my mother with stories of the ghosts of headless Frenchmen. She got even with one day when she filled a pair of coveralls with rags and placed it behind his car, so it looked like he had run over somebody in the dark. Then she told him he must have run over a hobo.

One very calm day at low tide my dad saw a cannonball in a tide pool. He recovered it with the help of a rope and bucket and a clothesline pole. I sold it for a hundred dollars a few years ago.

In the winter I would walk around with my father to check the rabbit snares. the second Xmas my father bought a phonograph and 3 albums. The 78 albums had 4 two-sided records. One was Bunk Johnson and the other was Spike Jones 'The Nut Cracker' the third was Strauss waltzes and we played them over and over.

I remember a fishing boat hitting the rocks. the men were saved but the next morning they phoned and asked my mother to see if there was any of the boat left to salvage. I went down to the stormy sea with Mother and we saw it had broken up and pieces of the boat everywhere, in choppy 3 and 4 ft waves. strangely a 2 by 6 piece of the boat floated into us with the boat's alarm clock just sitting on it. - Gary LeDrew

A Canvas print is available

Title: Big Fiddle

 HomeSydney Big Fiddle

Sydney Big Fiddle

Gary LeDrew

 

Title: Big Fiddle

The impressive fiddle, created by Cyril Hearn, towers at an astonishing 60 feet, capturing the awe of visitors and incoming cruise ship passengers alike. Constructed from solid steel, this monumental sculpture is known as FIDHEAL MHOR A’ CEILIDH, translating to “Big Fiddle of the Ceilidh” in Gaelic – a fitting name that celebrates the essence of a gathering. This artwork beautifully encapsulates the harmony between nature and urban life, while celebrating a cultural icon with grandeur and elegance.

WINTER LIGHTHOUSE 47

 

HomeWINTER LIGHTHOUSE 47 Louisbourg

WINTER LIGHTHOUSE 47 Louisbourg

Gary LeDrew

 WINTER LIGHTHOUSE 47

Louisbourg 

Christmas on Louisbourg Lighthouse 1946

We lived on the Lighthouse for 3 years. My dad took the job as assistant lightkeeper to Wilfred Covey. We lived in a duplex with the Coveys. We had no power and relied on kerosine lamps. We did have a phone so that we could report

problems. They took shifts tending the Light. the light had to be wound up by hand every 4 hours. it was a dangerous climb up the steel ladders

It was lonely for me My sister was too young to play with and Covey's daughter was too old and mentally challenged.

My dad was a machinist for Cann's Marine Repairs during the war but now work was scarce and we lived poorly like a lot of Cape Bretoners. We had snares out for rabbits and such. It was difficult to get to the lighthouse in those days it was not much more than a wagon track. My dad used the abandoned rail line to walk to town.

We would occasionally get a tourist who would drive the difficult path. There was a sign in front of the ruins of the old lighthouse that everybody liked to photograph.

"This is the site of the first fireproof lighthouse in North America. Erected 1734 Destroyed by fire 1758."

It did not mention It was destroyed by cannon fire.

My dad had been raised by his Uncle, Al Bussey of Big Lorraine on  calm Sundays during the summer. Roy Bussey or Ernest would row in a dory over to the lighthouse and take us back for dinner in Big Lorraine.

So it was a big deal on Christmas in 1946 when Dad brought home a windup Victrola record player for Christmas. We had 3 78 albums which contained 4 records each 16 songs in all. First was Bunk Johnson's New Orleans Jazz Strauss Waltzes and the Spike Jones. They were played to death. I added to the entertainment with my dance of the yellow curtain to a Strauss waltz.

What is amazing I also had a sled and a toboggan. As I look at the lighthouse I wonder where I used them, most of the hills run down to the cliffs.

My uncle Bert my dad's twin brother was discharged from the Army and joined us. There was not much to do the following year and my Dad and Uncle made a little play village for me around Kenelley's pond. (it was much smaller and further inland then. they built me boats and little fishing shacks and docks and a lighthouse and a boardwalk around it. They had a complete workshop in the foghorn building. Unfortunately it was found out by kids from town and they were taking things so Dad and Bert dug a small pond near our house and moved everything there.