The Nest...

"Untitled" 8x10 - Acrylic on board

     I'm feeling some balance in my life this past week...finally rested, errands are taken care of.  The blistering cold outside is bringing such appreciation to the warmth and comfort of being inside.  I have always put a lot of time and attention into making my home a place to retreat to.  Here, I rejuvenate my soul and find balance. 
     I have a few pieces on the go right now, this one I did one night while feeling warm and cozy in my "nest" while the snow fell outside my window.  Every time I look at it I feel warmth and I wonder where this place is, other than inside my own mind... 

Bert Flynn Park - Public Art

The City of Port Moody installed my art.  I was invited to speak before City Council at one of thier monthy meetings.  I spoke of the importance of Public Art to our communities and I spoke of ny inspiration for this piece.  I was honoured that this group of people wanted to hear about what they are approving to represent our community and that my piece had been chosen to do this.  Port Moody is the "City of the Arts" and, as the Public arts coordinator told me, they are trying to live up   to their name.

                                  

I went to Bert Flynn Park in Port Moody to see the finished product. I don't know what I was expecting to see, but I was really happy when I rounded the corner on the trail...it is 4 feet high by 6 feet wide and it's bright red colour popped out of the forest like a beacon in the night. 

 My Inspiration for this piece was, as many of my recent artworks are, the incredible beauty of my surroundings here in Port Moody.  I am always exploring nature and it's ever changing presence, it's durability and vulnerability...and it's relationship to man made structure, humanity, and our durability and vulnerability.  We need each other to survive.  In this particular painting I reversed the obvious...the trees, which are usually such a beautiful backdrop for the city are portrayed in black and white which contrasts the seemingly "blooming" city. 

I've read this quote by Jean Corot/ Painter/ 1859...it was written on a corner of one of his sketchbooks:

"One must interpret nature with naivete and according to one’s personal feelings, with complete detachment from what one knows of the old and contemporary masters. In that way only will you be able to inspire. There are people who are quite gifted but who do not want to use the gifts that were given to them. Such people make me think of a billiard player to whom a complaisant partner would always offer beautiful set-ups that he would not take advantage of. It seems to me, were I to be the player’s opponent, I would end up telling him: “Since that’s the way it is, I will not give you anymore of those!” Instead of God, I would get my revenge on the miserable fools who waste their natural gifts by changing their heart into cork.”

Food for thought...