There’s something about a flat, calm lake that sooths my very soul. Having grown up in Peterborough, Ontario, my earliest and most visceral experiences around water and the out of doors were with lakes. Lakes, the Kawartha Lakes, surrounded me. I can recall easily, from the depths of my fondest and warmest memories, those times with my father or friends on our near lakes. I live now very near the ocean. I can see it out of my window as I paint, and I find a great joy and peace in its presence. That said, I am always drawn to lakes. I know that in the deepest part of me, there is a peaceful strength that I can always draw from the waters of a Canadian lake.
It was in May of 2008 that I found myself camped with my friend Fred Stark on the shores of Fish Lake. You won’t probably find it on any map of British Columbia. It’s a small dot of a lake near Alexis Creek, but about 3½ hours back in the bush by four wheel drive. Our home, there on Fish Lake, was a tarp covering our small tent and our eating area. The only sounds on that still evening were the trout splashing and slapping the lakes glassy surface. As we sat by our fire simply absorbing the medicinal tonic that such a place can offer, we were treated to a spectacular sunset show on the distant shore of the lake.
Tatlow Mountain and its sister peaks were reflecting the warm golden hews of the setting sun. The makeshift dock and a leaning tree framed a scene that called to the artist within. Even as I snapped the photograph I knew I had a painting that would in some small way capture that emotion within me. And now, with painting complete, I can say that I am satisfied. This image has given me just a tiny bit of that lake that I’ve been able to bring back with me. Just as a native medicine gatherer may go to the forest to bring home berries, leaves, roots and other materials of medicinal value to be used later, I think that’s what I’ve achieved here. For me, this image will always serve as a soothing tonic, a small bit of medicine to be used when my soul and spirit need it most. There’s something about a flat, calm lake that sooths my very soul.
