BANFF, ALBERTA

anff National Park in the Canadian Rockies may be best known as a nirvana for skiers discovered on a family vacation in August. “Banff is a painter’s paradise,” says the Ontario-based illustrator and artist. “The mountains, the lakes, the way the light and shadows change throughout the day and create spectacular reflections in the water … it’s one of the most beautiful areas I’ve visited.” One highlight of her trip was a gondola ride to the 2,281-meter summit of Sulphur Mountain, where a boardwalk offers sweeping views — captured in this watercolor — over the Bow Valley and the town of Banff. Says Bhairavi, “Even before I touch my brush, I try to gather the beauty, calmness, and serenity of the scene before me in my heart. Places like this give me the energy to paint again and again.”