Sails Across the Harbour

About the Work

Sails Across the Harbour looks over Burrard Inlet from a sun-warmed stretch of the seawall, where the path curves like poured amber toward the water's edge. Across the teal chop rise the unmistakable white sails of Canada Place, flanked by the towers of the waterfront and backed by the deep blue wall of the North Shore mountains. Lampposts strung with '20 26' tournament banners march along the promenade, and a few strolling figures — one in host-city red — take in the view as gulls wheel overhead.

The painting is an ode to Vancouver's most photographed sightline, refreshed by championship anticipation. Pius exaggerates the warmth of the foreground against the cool of the harbour so the viewer feels the low sun on their back, standing exactly where a million visitors will stand in the summer of 2026.

Process & Technique

Acrylic on canvas, worked in two temperature keys: the seawall is dragged in with hot oranges and yellows using a wide knife, while the inlet is knitted from short horizontal touches of teal, cobalt and white. The sails of Canada Place are left as crisp reserves of near-pure white so they read as the brightest note in the scene, just as they do in life.