I have seen some 57 years come and go, the early ones I don’t
remember and I doubt any of us would remember our very early years. I have some
childhood memories, more memories from my teens and the memories become clearer
as I get older. My live has had its ups
and downs and some events that I wish didn’t happen. I am no different than any
one in that aspect of life.
As I was looking at some of my art work over the Christmas
break I saw a paddle that my wife Julie has used to decorate a part of our home.
It is a scene of a Muskoka chair sitting on a dock over looking a lake. The
scene brings back memories of our cottage and sitting by the lake watching the
loons on the lake. It reminds me of our children and the fun they had, paddle
boat races, building log rafts and racing to the floating dock.
I had memories of painting canoe paddles for people, with
many scenes of Canada. Canadian farms, islands off our West Coast, Mules
pulling wagons, old train stations in Northern Ontario and more.
Memories of my late wife and I living in Nanaimo and leaving
our home to go skiing up Island with friends. Living in Kapuskasing Ontario and
the cold weather that makes you appreciate Southern Ontario’s “cold Weather.” Watching bald eagles fly both on the Island
and in Kap.
Memories of Julie and I and our blended family looking for a
cottage off the beaten path, the number of places we looked at before finding
the perfect one. Camp fires, roasting marsh mellows, camp fire pies. Sing along’,
sleeping in tents, walking in to the cottage in winter, rebuilding the cottage
and more.
All of that goes into my art, it is a life filled with
adventures on and off the beaten. I have always loved small towns, towns that aren’t
thriving metropolises. It is there that you see the real beauty of our world,
our country.
Small town Canada, where people care about their neighbours,
say hello to people on the street as they walk by, whether they know them or
not. Where you can walk down the street and go fishing off the pier by the pump
house with your grand father. Where you can drive out of town and see bears,
deer, moose. Where you can look out your font window and see birds galore.
Small towns where your neighbours shovel driveways for their neighbours just
because.
These are memories that I have tried to put into my artwork.
It is there either visually or in the time spent creating a piece.
As you look at something in your home, what memories are
triggered. I hope you can reflect on your life and take a minute to enjoy it.
Happy 2016 and may the year ahead bring you love, joy and peace.
