FULL CIRCLE

 I’ve come full circle, or so it seems, as I look down the channel leading out onto Whitefish Lake. Some 25 years, or so ago, although it seems like only yesterday, I sat here, at a picnic table, perhaps the same worn and weathered picnic table that I’m now sitting at, and made some tentative sketches of this scene. My landscape sketches back then were indeed tentative. I began my quest to work at becoming an artist by producing intaglio prints, mainly of wildlife, birds if I’m to be more precise, and seeking some quiet place to avoid being scrutinized by the general public, had come to Algonquin Park in the off season to begin learning to sketch and paint landscape. In a tiny sketchbook, with pencil, and watercolour brush in hand, I made some marks, then some more marks, and now many, many, marks later, I’m back where I started, about to stop making marks and retire to watch others, however ,and before doing so, I decided to make a few more marks on paper, so with pen and pencil in hand I begin making marks, and travel to a place of solitude with Raven to watch my back…

1966 Sketches.......

2023 Sketches.......

Not a lot of change in the landscape over the years. As for a comparison between my now and then sketching, it would seem that there's also not much of a change, a bit more confidence in my  making marks, and perhaps a bit more knowledgeable about what I'm sketching, but not a lot of change. In looking back, perhaps I needn't have been so tentative in my approach. Too late now, I suppose,  to be judgemental.

Later that week we also travelled to Tea Lake, one of Tom Thomson's sketching places and made a sketch while enjoying the solitude of the park, a zen moment so to speak, as with fewer people in the park following the Labour Day weekend, and the children back at school, our visit to the park was much more enjoyable. 

Canary In The Icefields

Once upon a time we packed our bags and went on a trip to explore Canada’s West. Along the way we stopped to take in the views of the Athabasca Ice-fields, and various lookouts onto glacial fed lakes, one being Peyto Lake fed by the Peyto Glacier…..

https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/the-canary-in-the-icefield

                               Pencil Sketch and Drawings of the Columbia Ice Fields

Global warming is wreaking havoc on these glaciers. It is predicted that most will disappear during your children's children’s lifetime, forecasting a different future for those dependant upon them for a source of water. From the perspective of someone aged, global warming, it’s simply interesting, but for the younger generation, it should be of concern. Most certainly they will adapt, but to what?

ALGONQUIN - CHANGE IS INEVITABLE

We were up to the Blue Spruce Resort at Dwight, Ontario, a few days ago. It's an annual tradition, a week spent meeting with ageing friends spent mostly discussing the benefits of ageing. Just to let you know, there are none, absolutely none. In between we, my wife and I travelled into nearby Algonquin Provincial Park. We once upon a time would canoe and hike the trails gathering sketches and wildlife experiences from here and there. Now, we travel through the park on Hwy 60, stopping at various pull-offs, and picnicking in sheltered areas.

It's nice, but not the same, nor for that matter is the park. At one time one would encounter deer and moose feeding at the side of the road and there were clear views of the park's lakes. Now, with the forest maturing there's not much to view while driving except trees, which is good I suppose, and it's been years since we've seen deer, or moose feeding at the side of the highway. Things have changed. Used to be one could simply drive into the park, and get a camping site, now reservations and permits, even for day use are required, and they're nolonger cheap. And, the visitation at the park has increased substantially. The world has, it seems, become smaller. Of course, it's only we old folks who are somewhat concerned. The younger generation have no idea, or little idea, of the park's past history nor are they concerned. Many are from other countries, and have different histories to remember. Their only concern is to enjoy a break from the crowded cities to the south, and perhaps see a moose.

There's change at the Blue Spruce Resort, as well, a changed in ownership. The Hayden Family who called the resort home for 70+ years, have retired from the area, leaving the future of the resort up in the air. It had to happen, of course. With time everything changes.

Algonquin Park, however, for the moment remains the same. Taller trees perhaps, but still a place of solitude where one can have a time out from the stress of our shrinking, troubled, world. Still a place where one can savour a few moments grabbing a quick sketch, a memory of time well spent.....

Just to let everyone know, in the event someone might be interested, I have another blog in which I, from time to time, post some poetry and prose, thoughts about this and that.....

timespentwriting.blogspot.com