Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts

Monday, 16 September 2013

Evening walk at the Marina


Sailboat on calm water in sunset


boats docked in a cloud covered sunset

sailboat on the calm comox waters


Zoey and I went for a walk in the marina. The last few days have been blustery and wet so we used the evening reprieve for our dose of fresh air and beautiful scenery. 

Puppy on marina boardwalk

beautiful sunset at marina

dragonboat paddles on calm ocean in sunset

People walk dogs on marina boardwalk in sunset

Boats moored in marina

Zoey dog on a walk at marina

While on our walk, Zoey found the last summer flowers blooming in the garden along the wooden planks.

Late summer flowers at marina

Yellow daisy in late summer blooms beside the street

When I think of the place I call home, I think of the caring and conscientious folks in my little town. They are aware of the needs of people around them and care about the world they live in. People trust each other here and honestly want the best for their community. After living abroad, I see and treasure the memories of growing up here. Walking past mementos of my town's heart reminded me of how much I love this place.   


A for charity bottle collector at Comox Marina

Free PDF loan area at Comox Marina

"Lifejackets save lives" sign at Comox Marina

I live in a beautiful place. I am so grateful for my little town and the people I've known and loved here.

Beautiful sunset over water with boats in foreground

Boats in gentle water during sunset

Boats and canoes docked at marina

Boat on calm water with mountain in background

Comox Marina boardwalk at sunset



Zoey dog at marina at sunset

Dark sunset clouds at Comox Marina

Sunset over water in Comox

Comox Marina boardwalk lit up in evening light

Dragonboat paddles in calm water at Comox Marina


Sunset on clouds above Comox Marina


Thursday, 12 September 2013

Change and Woodcarving

Change. It's a big word with deep meaning behind it. It can be great, like introducing a puppy into your life or finding your dream career. It can be bad, like losing your job. If you look for it in bad or good, change creates beauty. Definitions of what is good and bad will change as you do. What once was great, like your first boyfriend, isn't so amazing now. However, it is those lasting effects from people and circumstances that produce the beautiful changes you can see in yourself.

Carving of fairy woman and owl

To me, the most difficult aspect of change is being okay and dealing with it appropriately. It is hard. Really hard, sometimes. Even the positive changes suck. The important thing is learning how to deal with changes inside and outside of your control. Change will make you better if you let it work, even if you didn't want to change in the first place. Sometimes the unplanned changes are the best. For those hard things that make me want to give up, my mom always tells me that "you can only control yourself. Never mind what anyone else is doing." 
It's a good lesson that can help ease life transitions. You're going to change. You may as well make the most of it.

Wood Carving of droopy dog with character

Some of the most incredible physical changes I have seen are in a park along a beautiful passage of water. You can tell that they've gone through a lot. Sometimes they don't look so great. Sometimes they're spectacular.

Intricate wood carving of wizard with owls and staff

Modern art wood carving

Wood Carving is an amazing and undervalued art, in my opinion. That a person can take a chainsaw to a piece of tree and create something so detailed in its beauty is astounding to me. The water front of Campbell River creates a natural backdrop to these organic works of art. We perused a couple dozen of these carvings. They range from novice to professional but each possesses its own charm and character.

Wood carving of gnome with lamp

Kristina with wood carving of mama bear with two cubs

Rough wood carving of a Tolkien dwarf

Wood carving of monster skeleton

Kristina, Zoey, and husband posing with intricate wizard

Wood carving of first nations hummingbird and rose

Kristina and dog with gnome on a bench

Husband with wood carving of intricate dragon

side view of intricate dragon


It all begins with this. A huge chunk of cedar or fir around three metres tall, covered in bark, just waiting to become something incredible. The artist looks at this plain log and sees the potential. He begins with simple cuts, progresses to create the idea, then executes his final designs to complete his work of art. It's quite a stunning process that I was able to silently watch in the park by the sea.

Piece of tree to become a carving

Piece of tree with only an outline

Unfinished wood carving of tropical fish

Wood Carving of fairy and mythical fawn


Wood carving detail of fawn's face

A walking path behind the carvings follows the passage of water. Lining the path are various wood carvings from past years. The wind, rain, snow, and sun have changed them. These changes have only served to increase their beauty. The character these pieces showcase is striking.

Native totem pole

Old Wood Carving of water goddess

Old wood carving of first nations man

Change really can be beautiful. My visit to the park really showed me the potential for good in every situation.

How have changes in your life made your life more beautiful?