Bruce Allen Heggtveit (1917-2002)
Title: ” CARMEN LAKE GATINEAU PARK QUE ”
Size: 12” x 16” ( 19 1/2″ x 23 1/2″ framed ) dated 1987 ………….. $995.00
Heggtveit captures the calm beauty of Gatineau Park with shimmering water, soft rolling hills, and a bright, open sky. His impressionistic brushwork conveys both atmosphere and movement, layering reflections of trees and clouds across the lake’s surface. Known for his plein air approach, Heggtveit painted the landscapes of Ontario and Quebec with vibrant color and light, evoking a deep connection to the Canadian wilderness. Carmen Lake reflects his signature blend of painterly vigor and serene contemplation.
Bruce Allen Heggtveit 1917-2002
Born in Maidstone, Saskatchewan, in 1917, Bruce Heggtveit was the son of Carl Olaf and Helga Heggtveit, Norwegian immigrants who had settled in Canada in the early 1900s. From a young age he showed a talent for art, sketching portraits and landscapes before his family moved to Ottawa. There he studied under Ernest Fosbery and Frank Hennessey, developing the skills that would later define his career as a Canadian landscape painter.
Equally gifted in athletics, Heggtveit excelled in skiing during his school years and went on to become Canadian Ski Champion in 1938. His love of the outdoors—particularly the Gatineau Hills north of Ottawa—would become a lifelong source of inspiration for his art. After operating a sporting goods business for many years, he turned to painting full-time in 1973, producing thousands of works in oil and pastel. His bold, colourful landscapes of Quebec and Ontario, especially of Gatineau Park, earned him recognition as a brilliant colourist with a style marked by clarity, crispness, and strength.
Heggtveit’s work was widely exhibited, including shows at Robertson Galleries and Den-Art Studios in Ottawa. Reviewing his 1958 exhibition, Ottawa Citizen critic Carl Weiselberger praised the “thoroughly pleasant landscapes” such as Ottawa Valley, The Trapper’s Cabin, and Algonquin Landscape, noting their glowing colour and striking sense of atmosphere and depth. His paintings also appeared on CBC television’s Four for the Road, and his reputation grew through the 1970s as he established himself as an important figure in Canadian landscape art.
Beyond his painting, Heggtveit was a dedicated teacher at the Ottawa School of Art and founder of the Gatineau Group of Artists, remembered for his generosity and ability to inspire others to “see the beauty in nature.” Today his works can be found in public and private collections, including the City of Ottawa.
Bruce Heggtveit passed away on September 13, 2002, at the age of 85.
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