Celebrating Forest Week
It’s a beautiful September day… The sun is shining and the air is clear with that crisp, autumn feeling… The leaves are changing colours and starting to fall… Change is in the air. I think this may be my favourite time of year! It’s also National Forest Week and I’m celebrating…
It’s a beautiful September day… The sun is shining and the air is clear with that crisp, autumn feeling… The leaves are changing colours and starting to fall… Change is in the air. I think this may be my favourite time of year!
The Magic Tree
It’s also National Forest Week and I’m celebrating the forest and my love of nature!
I live in a large city, but I’m fortunate to live close to the ocean and forest so that within a few minutes, I can be hiking in the forest or swimming in the sea… Nature is what fills me up, inspires and nurtures me!
And it’s the beauty of nature that inspires my art and creativity.
Both visually and symbolically, the forest provides a powerful and beautiful subject, stirring a deeply rooted connection with nature. My current work, Forest Tales, is a series of paintings with a story to tell, each painting taking the viewer on a fairytale journey into their imagination, and awakening their connection to spirit through the beauty of art and nature.
There are many different ways we can protect and support our environment. One way I decided to give back is to donate $1.00 for every product sold (that’s one tree planted!) and donate $100 for every large painting sold (that’s 100 trees planted!). It’s one small way I can contribute to protecting and nurturing nature.
“The earth is what we all have in common.”
In partnership with One Tree Planted
The Magic Tree
Every painting has a story. Sometimes the painting is painted with the story in mind; other times the story evolves as I’m painting…
When I was little I got lost in Stanley Park. (Stanley Park is a 400 hectare public park in Vancouver where I grew up). It has giant, rainforest trees, and is surrounded by the ocean and beautiful beaches. Most kids growing up in Vancouver have memories of the park…
Every painting has a story. Sometimes the painting is painted with the story in mind; other times the story evolves as I’m painting…
When I was little I got lost in Stanley Park. (Stanley Park is a 400 hectare public park in Vancouver where I grew up). It has giant, rainforest trees, and is surrounded by the ocean and beautiful beaches. Most kids growing up in Vancouver have memories of the park… From playing on the beach, to rolling down the grassy hills, to the children’s zoo and train, or theatre under the stars… We were always excited to go to the park!
One day, when I was about four years old, I went to the park with my sisters and some family friends. As usual I was in my day-dreamy world (only half aware of my surroundings) when I suddenly realised I didn't know where I was… My sisters and the family I was with, were nowhere to be found!
When I think back to it now, all I remember is feeling very alone and frightened. There were lots of people around, but I didn't dare go up to someone I didn't know… Instead I saw a great, big, magnificent, grandfather tree. I went straight over to it and, cuddling up next to the huge trunk, I started to cry. Somehow I felt the tree would protect me.
Well, I guess it did because it wasn't long before a nice family came along and rescued me (and took me to the “Lost and Found” where I was eventually returned to my rightful owners).
So that’s my little tree story… And if you look closely, maybe you can see a little girl nestled contentedly, high up in the branches of The Magic Tree...