{"product_id":"blue-before-the-storm-36-x-48","title":"Blue Before the Storm | 36\" x 48\"","description":"\u003c!-- ============================================================\n     BLUE BEFORE THE STORM — 36\" × 48\"\n     ============================================================ --\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/VisualArtwork\"\u003e\n\n  \u003cmeta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Blue Before the Storm\"\u003e\n  \u003cspan itemprop=\"creator\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\"\u003e\n    \u003cmeta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Richard Cole\"\u003e\n    \u003cmeta itemprop=\"sameAs\" content=\"https:\/\/colestudio.net\"\u003e\n  \u003c\/span\u003e\n  \u003cmeta itemprop=\"artMedium\" content=\"Oil\"\u003e\n  \u003cmeta itemprop=\"artworkSurface\" content=\"Canvas\"\u003e\n  \u003cspan itemprop=\"width\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/QuantitativeValue\"\u003e\n    \u003cmeta itemprop=\"value\" content=\"48\"\u003e\n    \u003cmeta itemprop=\"unitCode\" content=\"INH\"\u003e\n  \u003c\/span\u003e\n  \u003cspan itemprop=\"height\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/QuantitativeValue\"\u003e\n    \u003cmeta itemprop=\"value\" content=\"36\"\u003e\n    \u003cmeta itemprop=\"unitCode\" content=\"INH\"\u003e\n  \u003c\/span\u003e\n\n  \u003ch3\u003eAbout the Artwork\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n  \u003cp itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBlue Before the Storm\u003c\/em\u003e is a 36\" × 48\" oil painting on canvas by \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/richard-cole\"\u003eRichard Cole\u003c\/a\u003e (b. 1968), presenting a Prairie landscape in which a field of blue and pale violet blossoms extends beneath a layered sky of pale blue, white cumulus cloud, and a dark teal-blue storm band above the horizon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eThe sky is more open than in Cole's storm-series canola works. Pale blue covers the upper register, with thin diagonal streaks of cloud visible near the top edge. White cumulus formations occupy the middle sky, their rounded forms soft and well-separated. Below these, a band of dark teal-blue cloud sits above the horizon — less heavy than the near-black storm cover in works like \u003cem\u003eEdge of the Gathering Sky\u003c\/em\u003e, with more of the underlying sky colour remaining visible. A narrow pink-mauve band runs along the horizon line where the sky meets the flower field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eThe field below is rendered as a broad continuous mass of blue and pale violet blossoms distributed across a dark green ground. Individual blossoms are visible in the foreground with short, precise strokes in blue, pale violet, and white, their yellow centres distinct at close range. The handling is looser than the daisy foreground in \u003cem\u003eBreaking Through\u003c\/em\u003e — blossoms are less individually separated, giving the field a denser, more continuous character. Long grass stems are visible between the blossoms in the lower canvas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cp\u003eRichard Cole studied oil painting at the Alberta College of Art and Design, graduating in 1991. Born in Edmonton, he has developed a sustained body of Prairie landscape work alongside his better-known Northwest Coast subjects. His paintings are held in corporate and private collections worldwide. \u003cem\u003eBlue Before the Storm\u003c\/em\u003e is among his Prairie works to present a blue-flowering field, its palette distinct from both the canola series and the white-flowering \u003cem\u003eBreaking Through\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003ch4\u003eDimensions and Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n  \u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eBlue Before the Storm\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/richard-cole\"\u003eRichard Cole\u003c\/a\u003e (b. 1968)\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 36\" × 48\" (91.4 × 121.9 cm)\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oil on canvas\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDisplay:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gallery-wrapped canvas with finished dark edges, ready to hang unframed\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n  \u003ch4\u003eAcquisition Enquiries\u003c\/h4\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBlue Before the Storm\u003c\/em\u003e is offered through West End Gallery. At 36\" × 48\", the work carries substantial wall presence suited to open residential or commercial spaces. The blue-violet flower field and relatively open sky give this work a cooler, lighter character than Cole's canola storm paintings, making it a distinctive counterpoint within his Prairie series. Collectors interested in this work are invited to contact the gallery directly to enquire about availability, arrange a private viewing, or discuss acquisition terms. Shipping is quoted by location; local delivery within Edmonton is complimentary. Layaway options are available upon request.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n  \u003cdetails class=\"citations\" aria-label=\"Source citations\"\u003e\n    \u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCitations\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n    \u003col\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eCanada House Gallery, \u003cem\u003eRichard Cole — Artist Biography\u003c\/em\u003e, canadahouse.com, accessed 2026.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eCole Studio, \u003cem\u003eThe Artist\u003c\/em\u003e, colestudio.net, accessed 2026.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ol\u003e\n  \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n  \u003cdetails class=\"accessibility-description\" aria-label=\"Accessibility description for artwork\"\u003e\n    \u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccessibility Description\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThe painting is horizontal in orientation, wider than it is tall. A straight horizon line runs across the lower third of the canvas. Above the horizon, the sky is pale blue at the top edge with thin diagonal streaks of white cloud near the upper corners. White cumulus formations with soft, rounded forms occupy the middle sky. Below these, a band of dark teal-blue cloud sits above the horizon, its lower edge uneven. A narrow pink-mauve band runs along the horizon line where sky meets field. Below the horizon, a field of blue and pale violet blossoms extends across the full width of the canvas. Individual blossoms in blue, pale violet, and white with yellow centres are visible in the foreground, rendered with short precise strokes against a dark green grass ground. Long grass stems are visible between the blossoms. The flower field becomes denser and less individually articulated as it recedes toward the horizon, reading as a continuous blue-violet mass in the mid-ground. The canvas edges are dark and finished, and the work is displayed without a frame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n  \u003cdetails class=\"provenance-details\" aria-label=\"Full provenance information\"\u003e\n    \u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFull Provenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eProvenance information is not currently recorded. Please enquire for updates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n  \u003cdetails class=\"disclaimer\" aria-label=\"Disclaimer\"\u003e\n    \u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDisclaimer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThis description has been prepared by West End Gallery using original documentation and current scholarship. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, minor variations or additional information may emerge through ongoing research. Prospective purchasers are encouraged to contact us to confirm any details critical to their acquisition decision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Richard Cole","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49933537673464,"sku":null,"price":4500.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0122\/3104\/9278\/files\/C26008BlueBeforeStorm36x48-16.jpg?v=1783619908","url":"https:\/\/westendgalleryltd.com\/products\/blue-before-the-storm-36-x-48","provider":"West End Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}