Lake of the Woods

Sun Struck Isle   oil on canvas   24" x 36"

It's been a while since you've heard from me but this post ties in nicely with the previous one where I talked about Zelda, my travelling companion to and at Lake of the Woods. This lake is over 110 kilometres long and wide containing more than 14,000 islands. It's primarily in Canada but, being on the border, it also stretches into the USA, at the western edge of Ontario where this province meets the SE corner of Manitoba.

Lake of the Woods from space

Gerry Wilson and her husband, John, were Zelda's and my hosts (in 2005). Gerry is also editor of this magazine which I am proud to have a painting published in ...

This issue (July, 2015) has an excellent article called A Shrine of Beauty; Painting at Lake of the Woods 1850 - 1930 written by Andrew Kear, Curator of Historical Canadian Art, Winnipeg Art Gallery. It is followed by this page ...

Gerry recruited images for the Artists Still Find Inspiration portion of the feature article including Zelda's, top above, and mine, centre right below.





Evening of the Summer Solstice   oil on canvas   36" x 54"

During the ten days in June (2005) that Zelda and I spent at the Wilson's gorgeous home on Coney Island we painted almost daily. John and/or Gerry would often boat us to and drop us off (with fantastic lunches) at different islands. Wanting to paint the magical light of sundown, on the evening of the summer solstice, the Wilsons took us to and stayed with us at Cat Island. John watched as we stroked paint on our canvases while Gerry swam laps around the island.  It was capped off by a divine supper picnic supper. The boat ride home at sunset was stunning.

Gerry and John with yours truly at the easel 

Zelda painting at Cat Island

After returning home from our expedition, Zelda and I produced a collection of larger studio works to add to our plein air paintings and in November we presented our joint exhibition ...





Our paintings at The Avens Gallery, Canmore, Alberta

In front of one of Zelda's oils with Gerry and John Wilson at the opening reception of Ladies of the Lake

Lake of the Woods has important significance for both Carol Picard and Robin Wade who purchased Sun Struck Isle shortly after Zelda's death on April 13th, 2015. Many thanks to the two of you for giving my painting a special home.

I wonder if anyone will recall the framed poster on the wall beside Carol?

I invite you to view my entire collection of Lake of the Woods paintings here.

Zelda Nelson

Tonight folks will come together in Canmore, to pay homage to and honour the life of Zelda Nelson (1943-2015). I regret that I can't be there. I'm writing this in Mikulov, Czech Republic, with only this photo of her and me in the laptop ...

On our road trip to Lake of the Woods, Ontario, making camp at Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Manitoba, June 2005

I awoke today thinking of her and times we spent together, especially those early mornings when we would walk up to Grassi Lakes to meditate in the mouth of the cave there with her little dog, Gus, accompanying us. This morning Bill and I took an early morning hike to the Goat Tower (Kozí Hrádek). There I found a perfect spot to sit, meditate and remember her.

Bill, just beneath the Goat Tower, Mikulov

A fine place for reflection



On our way down we passed a shop and while Bill went in I sat on a bench outside where I was joined by this dog, who is really Adele, but for a little while I considered her Gus reincarnate.

We engaged the English speaking owners of the Nabytek Second Hand shop - and Adele. I explained how I wanted to light a candle for Zelda today, but the churches in this town are only open for Sunday services. Caspar suggested I light a candle at one of the trail side chapels on the way up Holy Hill (Svatý kopeček). When I asked where I might get a candle, Caspar gave me five tea lights and a box of matches. 

  

Sylva, Czech born here in Mikulov and Caspar, born in Devon, England 

Both of these charming people are artists. Sylva paints abstract canvases and Caspar makes the amazing furniture you'll see if you click their link above.

Holy Hill

Mid afternoon we came home for a rest, mostly so that Bill could watch the semi finals of the World Hockey Championships when Canada won playing the Czech Republic. When we stepped out for our second hike late in the day, I snitched a peony from a garden along a street to bring up on Holy Hill.

There are many little chapels along the trail but I opted to leave my flower for Zelda on a rock away from all of them ...



Returning down the hill I chose to light all five candles at this chapel/shrine ...



 

Here we are eight hours ahead, I'll be sound asleep when words are spoken and a blessing is given in Canmore. So, I'll raise a glass of Moravian wine now, to Zelda, her sons Nelson and Darren and all the folks gathering in a few hours time.

I remember our good times ... RIP my friend.