It’s summer in our part of the world and my kids are off school. July is often the month when our family has taken trips so I thought that for the story this month, I would invite you into some memories via some of the art I have brought back from our travels. If you love the ocean, you’ll enjoy the art in this post!
I moved to British Columbia in July 2008 not knowing much about this area of Canada other than the fact that it was near the Pacific Ocean. I didn’t know that just off the coast, there is a treasure trove of islands to explore – the largest and most famous being Vancouver Island. In February 2011, our church small group booked a retreat on Mayne Island, one of the islands in a group called the Southern Gulf Islands. One afternoon, our friends went oyster picking and came back with buckets of fresh oysters. The taste of those barbequed morsels will forever be etched in my memory – they were SO good!
At that retreat, I had been invited to conduct a Painting 101 session for people who were interested. Since I had my paints with me for that workshop, I decided to paint myself a little souvenir of the trip. This became the first of many painted rocks.
Several years later we took our first vacation as a family of four to another island, Pender Island. Since Tim and I are both drawn to the ocean, we tried to find rental homes that were on waterfront properties. We had access to a private beach for the week and found that the shells were plentiful there. So I painted shells to remember the trip by. I also painted an extra one to leave for our Airbnb hosts.
After that, each time we stayed by the beach, if I had my paints with me (which usually was the case), I would find some rocks or shells on which I could capture the local view by. One year, I found lots of mussel shells and was captivated by their iridescent inner lining. I thought it would be neat to try painting ocean waves against that background. On a couple trips, our parents joined us and I would paint them something to remember the trip by as well. Last year, our family stayed for a week on the coast in Washington and my kids found these large clam shells while beachcombing. I decided to paint a scene on the inside of one of those shells.
In every place we have stayed, I have left a little painted rock or shell as a thank you. I don’t know if other guests have found them, or if the hosts have kept them, but it’s a small way for me to show gratitude to the hospitality we have received.
When I look at our fireplace mantle where these rocks and shells are displayed in our home, I am reminded of the various trips, the beauty we enjoyed, and the particulars of those times and places. I remember how old my kids were at the time, the stages of development they were at, and the adventures we shared. These small pieces of art help me to remember the journey I have been on.
In a similar way, when I think about the pieces I have been commissioned to create, many of them are of places and moments that are significant to my clients. Art is a visual reminder to them of particular points in their journeys that they want to remember. As an artist, I am always humbled that people would invite me into their stories in such a meaningful way.
This summer, I’m taking a break from commissions but I do have a couple spots open for the fall. Maybe this post has jogged a memory for you of a place or a moment you’d like to be expressed in a painting. If so, please reach out. I would love to work with you to create something special.
Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: When you think back over your life, what are some places or moments that hold significance to you? How do you remember your journey by? Take a moment to sit with the length and breadth of your life journey, holding it with gentleness and gratitude.
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As always, I love to hear from you! If something in this story resonated with you, if you’re interested in commissioning a painting, or if you have other thoughts, feel free to email, or connect with me