Shielded Painter Jacqueline A DeGavia - Excerpts by Patricia Herlevi, columnist, Skagit Valley Herald, July 2008

''The Canadian Shield," referred to in Wendell Ferguson's song "Rocks and Trees" and in Margaret Atwood's novels is probably best known for inspiring the Canadian Group of Seven painters. The Canadian painters had transformed an abundance of rocks and trees into spectacular art, thus giving Canadians another source of national pride. That national pride filtered down to new generations of artists, who have forged their own unique paths.

Skagitonian/Anacortes painter Jacqueline DeGavia also garnered inspiration from the Canadian Shield and thus the Group of Seven painters, especially Tom Thomson. DeGavia was born in northern Ontario where she resided until her mid 20s. Growing up in the North Woods with few amenities left its beauty mark on DeGavia's watercolor and oil landscapes. According to the artist, "My love for nature compels me to recreate segments of its quiet mysteries..."

DeGavia took what she learned from the Shield and The Group of Seven painters and applied those techniques - wide brush strokes, and earth tones - to the landscapes found in the Skagit River basin and the rugged North Cascades, with spectacular results!!!

Kirkand Lake, Ontario, also referred to as the "Mile of Gold" of the Canadian North, continues to attract geologists, miners, tourists and adventurers of the North. Brother Ed, retired geologist and founder of Exploration Services, Rouyn Quebec, continues to participate in the informal education of geology! He resides in Bancroft Ontario, Canadian capitol of geology... Twin brothers, Paul & Denis, lifetime assayers for Northern Mines, continue their careers in the local community of Kirkland Lake. Jacqueline's younger sister, Helen, world traveler and member of the nursing staff at the Logan Lake Clinic, B.C. Her "Health & happiness" formulas - always appreciated!! Hunting, Fishing & Water Safety - Early Childhood Survival Basic Training - preceded our formal careers....beneficial to this day!!