Where Light Refuses48" x 60"

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About the Artwork

Where Light Refuses is a 48" × 60" oil painting on canvas by Richard Cole (b. 1968), presenting a wide Prairie landscape in which a canola field in full bloom stretches beneath a layered storm sky of cumulus cloud and dark mid-level cloud cover.

Cole again positions the horizon low and unbroken, running level across the lower third of the canvas. At this scale — 48 inches tall and 60 inches wide — the sky commands the full weight of the composition. The cloud formation here differs markedly from Cole's other Prairie works: large, volumetric cumulus formations in white and pale grey occupy the upper register, their rounded forms rendered with soft, blended edges and visible internal shadow. Below these, a dark band of near-black and deep teal cloud presses down toward the horizon, its lower edge irregular and heavy. Between the two cloud layers, pale blue-grey light holds in a narrow band, separating the billowing upper mass from the darker lower cover.

Beneath the horizon, a broad, even band of bright yellow stretches across the canvas, painting the canola field. As the eye moves into the foreground, the handling becomes more intricate. Long grass stems are rendered with directional brushstrokes, their forms leaning consistently across the lower canvas, suggesting the wind across an open field. Yellow and yellow-green blossoms are scattered individually and in small clusters across this green ground, each carefully articulated with short, precise strokes. This detailed foreground occupies a substantial portion of the lower canvas, and the intricate detail extends across the entire 60-inch span.

Richard 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. At 48" × 60", Where Light Refuses is among the largest examples of this Prairie series.

Dimensions and Details

Title: Where Light Refuses
Artist: Richard Cole (b. 1968)
Year: Not recorded
Size: 48" × 60" (121.9 × 152.4 cm)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Display: Gallery-wrapped canvas with finished dark edges, ready to hang unframed

Acquisition Enquiries

Where Light Refuses is offered through West End Gallery. At 48" × 60", this is a large-format work that commands significant wall presence — well suited to open residential or commercial spaces where scale and subject matter are both considerations. 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.

Citations

Canada House Gallery, Richard Cole — Artist Biography, canadahouse.com, accessed 2026.
Cole Studio, The Artist, colestudio.net, accessed 2026.

Accessibility Description

The painting is horizontal in orientation, wider than it is tall. A straight, unbroken horizon line runs across the lower third of the canvas, dividing the composition into a large sky above and a canola field below. The sky occupies approximately two-thirds of the picture plane. At the top of the canvas, large cumulus cloud formations in white and pale grey are rendered with soft, rounded forms and visible internal shadow. Below these, a dark band of near-black and deep teal cloud presses downward, its lower edge uneven. A narrow band of pale blue-grey light sits between the upper and lower cloud layers. Below the horizon, a broad band of bright yellow extends across the full width of the canvas, representing an open field in bloom. In the foreground, long grass stems are rendered with directional brushwork, leaning consistently to one side across the lower canvas. Individual blossoms and small clusters in yellow and yellow-green are distributed across the dark green ground. The canvas edges are dark and finished, and the work is displayed without a frame.

Full Provenance

Provenance information is not currently recorded. Please enquire for updates.

Disclaimer

This 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.

Where Light Refuses | 48" x 60"

About the Artwork

Where Light Refuses is a 48" × 60" oil painting on canvas by Richard Cole (b. 1968), presenting a wide Prairie landscape in which a canola field in full bloom stretches beneath a layered storm sky of cumulus cloud and dark mid-level cloud cover.

Cole again positions the horizon low and unbroken, running level across the lower third of the canvas. At this scale — 48 inches tall and 60 inches wide — the sky commands the full weight of the composition. The cloud formation here differs markedly from Cole's other Prairie works: large, volumetric cumulus formations in white and pale grey occupy the upper register, their rounded forms rendered with soft, blended edges and visible internal shadow. Below these, a dark band of near-black and deep teal cloud presses down toward the horizon, its lower edge irregular and heavy. Between the two cloud layers, pale blue-grey light holds in a narrow band, separating the billowing upper mass from the darker lower cover.

Beneath the horizon, a broad, even band of bright yellow stretches across the canvas, painting the canola field. As the eye moves into the foreground, the handling becomes more intricate. Long grass stems are rendered with directional brushstrokes, their forms leaning consistently across the lower canvas, suggesting the wind across an open field. Yellow and yellow-green blossoms are scattered individually and in small clusters across this green ground, each carefully articulated with short, precise strokes. This detailed foreground occupies a substantial portion of the lower canvas, and the intricate detail extends across the entire 60-inch span.

Richard 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. At 48" × 60", Where Light Refuses is among the largest examples of this Prairie series.

Dimensions and Details

Title: Where Light Refuses
Artist: Richard Cole (b. 1968)
Year: Not recorded
Size: 48" × 60" (121.9 × 152.4 cm)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Display: Gallery-wrapped canvas with finished dark edges, ready to hang unframed

Acquisition Enquiries

Where Light Refuses is offered through West End Gallery. At 48" × 60", this is a large-format work that commands significant wall presence — well suited to open residential or commercial spaces where scale and subject matter are both considerations. 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.

Citations

Canada House Gallery, Richard Cole — Artist Biography, canadahouse.com, accessed 2026.
Cole Studio, The Artist, colestudio.net, accessed 2026.

Accessibility Description

The painting is horizontal in orientation, wider than it is tall. A straight, unbroken horizon line runs across the lower third of the canvas, dividing the composition into a large sky above and a canola field below. The sky occupies approximately two-thirds of the picture plane. At the top of the canvas, large cumulus cloud formations in white and pale grey are rendered with soft, rounded forms and visible internal shadow. Below these, a dark band of near-black and deep teal cloud presses downward, its lower edge uneven. A narrow band of pale blue-grey light sits between the upper and lower cloud layers. Below the horizon, a broad band of bright yellow extends across the full width of the canvas, representing an open field in bloom. In the foreground, long grass stems are rendered with directional brushwork, leaning consistently to one side across the lower canvas. Individual blossoms and small clusters in yellow and yellow-green are distributed across the dark green ground. The canvas edges are dark and finished, and the work is displayed without a frame.

Full Provenance

Provenance information is not currently recorded. Please enquire for updates.

Disclaimer

This 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.