Hopkins' earliest known sketches of Canada coincide with her immediate arrival in Canada from 1858 to 1860, which were prominently scenes of Lachine and Montréal. During her travels outdoors, she would primarily be working with watercolour, which was a typical medium for outdoor artwork at the time due to how easy it is to transport.
The early sketches by Hopkins of Canada, created between 1858 and 1860, showcased notable scenes in Lachine and Montréal. During her outdoor travels, she primarily used watercolour, a medium well-suited for landscape art during that period because of its portability.