My dad, who is following along with these blog posts, emailed this wonderful Blake quote to me, "
The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others
only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule
and deformity... and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of
the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself."
And today nature and imagination merged into one joyful union as I returned to the prairies.
Not long after leaving Kenora and the magnificent Lake of the Woods I found myself watching the landscape slowly unfold itself to become the glorious carpet of gold that I grew up in. They say the landscape you are born in is the landscape of your soul.
A cloudy, rainy day gave way to lots of blue and gold and I just kept driving, it seemed so easy after all the winding roads of Ontario. I couldn't reach my friends in Winnipeg and so I blasted by the city, seduced by that big beautiful open space that kept drawing me forward.
One of the things I love best about driving is the creative space that opens up as you are flying along through the changing landscape. Thoughts and daydreams float in and out of your consciousness as you move through time and space. What I noticed today is that after all the rocks and forests, there was a new openness in the landscape, lots of space for the imagination to flow. There was a deep familiarity about the prairies for me that felt like an old friend.
The setting sun (which was directly in my eyes) turned the colors rich and golden with its last light. The textures and shadows that this light brought out was like a rich tapestry. I could see a whole series of very textured and golden paintings from these "sketches".
The sun finally dipped behind the horizon (much to the relief of my eyeballs) and the sky rolled into its evening dusk colors. I still had two hours to Saskatoon and the twilight sky was reflected in brilliant pools of water within the dark fields like big holes of light. A half moon made its appearance in the ever deepening blue sky. A long day but a gorgeous journey, inside and out, and I find myself back in my home province, The Land of the Living Skies, Saskatchewan.
The setting sun (which was directly in my eyes) turned the colors rich and golden with its last light. The textures and shadows that this light brought out was like a rich tapestry. I could see a whole series of very textured and golden paintings from these "sketches".
7 comments:
This stirs a yearning in my heart. I love the prairies where my childhood still beckons.
Dear Holly, beautiful post, pix, and words... Very nourishing to accompany you on this trip... Fills my heart and soul for the day :) !
Thanks for accompanying me Terry and Eve! Fun to have you along. Yes, the prairies stirs up so many evocative memories doesn't it, Terry?
Can't wait to see all the wonderful paintings I know will come from your travels.
I'm kindof excited to see what emerges as well, Maureen. I can feel a whole new BODY of work coming forth!
What a wonderful picture log of your trip across this beautiful country of ours! Gladys & I have talked about doing a trip back into this memorable space that you have entered(The great openess of the praries) & these pics make it even more compelling. Thanks so much for this & we are looking forward to your arrival! Travel Safe: Gladys & Jack.
I was born on the Prairies, and still have an ongoing love affair with the infinite horizon, unending fields of grain, and blue sky.
You're traveling at a great time of year! I hope to be able to do that someday soon, too.
Ian McMillan ( a friend of Terry and Lis)
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