The Canadian landscape offers no shortage of inspiration, but for Randy Hayashi, it is the constant change within familiar places that keeps the subject fresh. A mountain seen in morning light can become an entirely different painting at sunset, while changing seasons, weather, and colour can transform even the most recognizable scene.

With a background rooted in spending time outdoors, Randy brings a personal connection to the places he paints. His work balances recognizable landscapes with expressive brushwork, thoughtful composition, and an interest in capturing the feeling of a particular moment.

We caught up with Randy to talk about the places that inspire him, the role of light and colour in his work, and how painting has changed the way he sees the world around him.

The Canadian landscape is central to your work. What continues to inspire you about painting the places around you?  

I feel fortunate to live in Alberta, where mountains, prairies, badlands, lakes and rivers are all within reach. Hiking, biking, skiing and canoeing have given me a personal connection to these places that naturally finds its way into my paintings. 

Banff and Jasper in particular have become year-round playgrounds, and even after visiting them many times, they never feel quite the same. The changing seasons, weather, and light continually make familiar places feel new. I’ve only scratched the surface of Canada and look forward to exploring more of it, especially the East Coast. 

As much as I enjoy painting different subjects, I think I’ll always return to the landscape. There’s a grandeur and mystery to it that I can never quite fully capture, and perhaps that’s what keeps me painting it.

When you begin a new painting, what usually comes first? a specific place, a memory, a colour palette or a particular feeling?  

I like to think of those four things as a Venn diagram… place, memory, colour and feeling. Somewhere in the overlap is the painting, but most often, I begin with a sense of place. Sometimes it’s somewhere very specific and iconic, like Lake Louise or Moraine Lake. Other times, it might simply be a cluster of rocks and trees with interesting shapes that somehow are asking to be painted. 

I like the idea that a viewer might look at a painting and think, I know where that is, or even, That reminds me of a place I’ve been. I’m especially interested in how light can transform and describe an otherwise ordinary scene. It reveals the shapes and structure of the landscape, and I’m always looking for those sculptural qualities, the way light can turn rocks, trees and mountains into more pronounced forms. I think that is the fun and challenge of painting: to translate on the canvas the idea that those are weighty rocks or that river looks so transparent and in motion.

Your paintings balance recognizable landscapes with a very expressive approach to paint. How do you decide how much detail to include and how much to leave suggested?  

That’s a tough question, and I think it’s an ongoing struggle for many artists. Looking at where my work is now and where I’m trying to take it, I’m increasingly interested in painting as economically as possible. I’m always asking myself: How little do I need to say in order to describe what I’m seeing? What combination of marks, shapes, and brushstrokes will communicate an area without overworking or over-explaining it? 

I want there to be enough information for the landscape to feel recognizable, but also enough left unresolved that the viewer can participate in the painting. For me, the challenge and the fun is finding that balance between describing something clearly and simply suggesting it. Fortunately and unfortunately, I think it’ll take a lifetime.

Are there particular seasons, weather conditions, or times of day that you find yourself returning to?  

I definitely gravitate toward morning and evening light. When the sun is low, it creates longer shadows and brings out the sculptural qualities of the landscape. The shapes of rocks, trees and mountains become much more pronounced and interesting to paint. 

As far as seasons go, I enjoy them all. Returning to the same place at different times of year can make it feel like an entirely new subject. Snow simplifies shapes, summer brings richer colour, and spring and fall each have their own character. I think that constant change is part of what keeps landscape painting interesting for me. Even a familiar scene can present itself in a completely different way depending on the season, weather, or time of day.

After spending so much time observing and painting nature, has it changed the way you experience the landscape when you’re not working?  

Yes, definitely. I’m always looking at the world with a painter’s eye. Even when walking around my neighbourhood, I can’t help but notice how a scene might be composed, the shapes, the light, or how one element relates to another. I even catch myself doing it while watching television, noticing how a shot has been framed or lit.  

The funny thing is that when I’m out in nature, I sometimes have to remind myself to turn off the work part of my brain and simply enjoy being there. I have to be intentional about experiencing a place without immediately reaching for my camera or thinking about how I might turn it into a painting.  

At the same time, I’m grateful that painting has taught me to see the world this way. Wherever I am, there’s always that possibility of noticing something and thinking, that could make a great painting. I think it keeps me curious and attentive to my surroundings and always wondering where the next painting might come from.

For Randy Hayashi, painting the landscape is as much about looking closely as it is about interpreting what is seen. Familiar places continue to offer new possibilities through changing light, seasons, and perspectives, while the process of painting encourages a deeper appreciation of the world around him.

The result is a body of work that celebrates the character and atmosphere of the Canadian landscape while leaving room for the viewer to bring their own memories and experiences to each scene.

Explore Randy’s collection at Mountain Galleries and discover more of his work online.