I REMEMBER

I was feeling a bit nostalgic the other day. Having just finished a book project I was wondering if I have it in me to start another. Believe it, or not, putting together a book involves a lot of work, and once published, and not involved in the possible marketing of your effort to learn if it's at all appreciated, you begin to question the worth of producing yet another. But then I thought to myself, if I get pleasure out of the effort, and if its reward is an opportunity to revisit the past and enjoy the many memories of our travelling to distant places and seeking out wildness to sketch and paint, then it's worth the effort. As if to reinforce the idea of making, and publishing, yet another book I came upon something that I'd written in the introduction of one of my very first books publish many years ago:-

                     " Years after making a sketch it speaks to me about

                      that special moment. It reminds me of the sound of the

                      wind in the pines, the quiet at the side of a lake, and of

                      Raven playing somewhere off in the wilderness.

                      Sometimes when looking at my sketches I can feel the

                      warmth of the sun on my face, the kind of warmth felt

                      only on a spring day following a long, cold, winter. I

                      remember the feeling of anxiousness as I quickened my

                      efforts to complete a sketch in the face of a brewing

                      storm. I remember the heat of summer, 

                      biting and annoying insects, but most of all 

                      I remember."

So, here we go again, another book, which I believe that may be entitled, "I REMEMBER - A Collection of Sketches and Watercolours From Here & There". 

Now, before I sign off and get back to putting together this book, and enjoying memories of time spent, I'll leave you with these words, also from the introduction of my long ago book:-

                       "Hopefully, my efforts will inspire you to also take up the

                       sketching habit and help you to remember your special

                       moments. I do hope so."

~~~~~~~~

Years ago we would go up to Phil and Teresa Gagnon's and stay for a week, or two, in one of their cottages on Tyson Lake near to Killarney. Some days we'd go off to Killarney Provincial Park and hike the trails, but more often than not we'd dump the canoe into Wolf Creek that emptied just around the corner from Phil and Theresa's, and paddle down to Spoon Lake stopping along the way to make a few sketches. Wonderful moments, and wonderful memories.....

Small Island - Spoon Lake - Algoma  Watercolour Sketch

Mouth of Spoon Lake - Algoma     Watercolour Sketch

Spoon Lake - Algoma    Watercolour Sketch