Ontario
‘Ontario’ was where all of her influences came together and was also the location of her home of many years on a rural property in what was to become the City of Mississauga. Evangeline’s home was surrounded by a forest and the elements found in the surrounding landscape gave her much of the subject matter that she painted. The home, which was largely built by her husband, Arthur, was designed by architect, Bill McBain, who was deeply influenced by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, so there were huge beams that made up sections of the roof, walls made out of the natural Credit Valley stone and large windows that let in the light and allowed the surrounding forest vista to enter the home. Evangeline filled the house with paintings and while she was at it she synthesized the elements of her style by painting her surroundings and whatever subject matter that caught her attention. Her series of paintings of a much loved basswood tree in different seasons and light qualities was one of her favourite subjects and trees that looked suspiciously like the basswoods even appeared in some of her fantasy work.
