MOST ART SIMPLY FADES & DISAPPEARS

Tea Lake - Algonquin Park.                              Pencil Study. 2022

 I’ve  struggled for almost half my life to have my art recognized with the hopes that after I’ve departed, to where I do not know, it might survive, and that through it the message that I tried to convey would stay alive, perhaps not forever, but for a little while. Unfortunately, my wish, realistically speaking, isn’t about to become a reality. As I near my day of reckoning I’ve come to realize that the majority of all art, and the messages contained, disappear. Decorative art that speaks to human history sometimes lives on, but most art simply fades with its makers and owners, leaving future generations to wonder at its mystery. And so, as I prepare, time spent wondering the fate of the many drawings and paintings stored in folders and taking up space in our basement, I realize that its time to let go, and disperse much of it appreciating that the message has already be said.

Without a message I personally believe that most art is simply, for wont of other words, trash, worthy of only, one day being treated as trash. Some art evokes memories for the viewer, and some art is political in nature, but little art is worthy of finding its way into national archives, a means to preserving humanity’s history.  Somewhere in past postings I’ve mentioned that national art galleries are really not "art" galleries per se, but museums of the humanities.

Where does my art fit into this description of art, probably along with the majority destined for landfill. Am I concerned, saddened, that some would say that my time spent pursuing art was a waste of my time….not at all, as I do feel that somewhere ,out there, someone has taken my message to heart, and is spending their time appreciating our natural heritage, even helping to take steps to try to preserve bits and pieces here and there. 

I do believe that my time was well spent.

Beauty & The Beast.  Pencil Drawing

Mallards                    Hand-Coloured Etching

Canada Geese.            Hand-Coloured Etching

George Lake - Killarney Provincial Park.                  Pencil Drawing

Island - Oxtongue Lake.                       Pencil Drawing

ARTISTS ARE NEEDED

Frood Lake - Killarney.                            Pencil Sketch  2022

 Some years ago I read an article which, I believe, was written by the then director of the National Art Gallery Of Canada, to the effect that Canadian landscape painting was dead as the Group Of Seven had “said it all”. My response was to the effect that they may have brought international attention to a distinctive manner of painting the Canadian landscape, but their’s could not be the last word as the landscape itself was ever evolving. The Group of Seven painted what was then, not what is now, as it’s ever changing and will forever need artists to record these changes. Algonquin, and Killarney Provincial Parks are recovering from the devastation of extensive logging in the early 1900s. Artists are needed to record the change, and to promote and preserve our natural heritage….

Whitefish Island  Algonquin Park    Watercolour Sketch

Island Oxtongue Lake.                       Pencil Sketch

I was sitting in my studio thinking and doodling on a piece of scrap paper. My doodle turned into a landscape that reminded me of the long climb up the canoe portage from Lake Of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park, and finally arriving at the top looking out onto Provoking Lake. The doodle was set aside and I made a pencil drawing drawing upon memories made long ago....

Provoking Lake. Algonquin.  Pencil Drawing. 2022

MEMORIES ARE GOLDEN II

 Memories of having been there, and experienced the moment are important. Much better than relying upon photographs.

When  A. J. Casson, a member of the Group Of Seven, was aged, unable to clamber about the bush, or climb the hills, he and his wife would drive about the countryside, and enjoy a picnic while he would make loose pencil sketches of scenes to be painted during the long Canadian winters, relying upon memory to fill in the spaces.

Landscape Sketch.  A.J.Casson

A moment experienced is a memory stored, allowing for one to ponder and consider, often resulting in a painting or drawing years later. 

There was this time when we were camping at Rushing Rapids Provincial Park in Northern Ontario. The day had been perfect, and the sunset was unreal. We took to the canoe to get a different perspective, and were treated to a show when a couple of common loons splash landed in the water ahead and put on a bit of a show before disappearing in the lakes deep, dark waters. I stored the memory, and sometime later made some sketches and drawings that I turned into an intaglio (etching) print. I also wrote a poem to go with the print....

STILL WATERS
On a northern lake,
the twilightʼs quiet is broken by the haunting cry
of a Common loon.

Our canoe floats, between sky and water
in the twilightʼs reflection.

Paddling silently, we drift, anticipating.

The loon surfaces at our bow, aware,
undisturbed.

Its reflection fills the ripples of its forward motion.
It dips its head, dives, and disappears 

in the dark, 

deep, 

still waters.

Still Waters.        Pencil Study

Still Waters.  Coloured Etching

Still Waters. Etching