Thought for the Day - Sept 1,00

Subject: Thought for the Day - Sept 1,00
From: Peter T.
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 10:26 AM

Everyone has the experience where meaning comes to you not at the last moment, but at the moment after the last moment, when you have turned your attention away, or relaxed, and then you are caught by a thought or an emotion.

The beaver pond is high this year because of the rain, but there is still room to set up my chair and easel. There is insect noise and the occasional frog croaking, but overall there is nothing. Last winter the people down by the lake shot the beaver because of what they called "all the damage" it was doing, and now the dam is abandoned and desolate, but still keeping much of the water back. I want to capture that desolate quality on paper, but it is impossible -- it all looks too familiar, the northern lake with the quivering aspens ringing around, the high spruce, and the bluebrown water. The hours pass. It is hot, but it is late in the season so the mosquitos are bearable. I paint on, easily handling the water and the sky, but as always, the multiple greens of the endless forest baffle. After a long time, the mind becomes part of the scene, as if it was trying to use you to paint itself for a moment. And everything slows, even the failures and successes, the blotches and the fine passages.

Eventually the light begins to go, and I pull away from that slow pulse of things, and pack up my paints. I take a last look at the little lake in the setting sun, and turn to go. And then it hits me.

I turn back around and realize that the lake will go on without me. It will sit there, doing what it does, day in and day out, with or without me. It is so obvious, but it has never struck me so strongly. I don't know whether to be frightened or comforted or simply accepting. I think to be honest, that I am frightened by it. It sits, and cares not: somewhere up in the north country, along with thousands and thousands of other lakes and forests, caring not. The silence is not inviting -- it is implacable. It may be different on another day: but this too is part of the wilderness experience, at least it was this day.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 1,00
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 11:28 AM

Peter,
Mortality can be frightening. It is why we have children. It is why you write and paint. An attempt at cheating death.
It's good to have you back.
Mary

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 1,00
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 11:48 AM

Peter, you are absolutely right. Or perhaps not. Maybe, when you left that scene, it simply ceased to exist. Maybe it was your presence - your consciousness - that brought that lake into existence for at that time. As little and puny as human beings seem, as you stand there in the face of NATURE, we do paticipate. We do have aour place. We do belong. Perhaps if we felt a little more secure in this, we would not feel the need to dominate our surroundings - to try to force nature to yield to our hand (a pointless, hopeless endeavour at best).

If a tree falls in the woods, and you're not there to hear it. . .

Thank you once again for bringing that lake into existence in my world.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 1,00
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 01:18 PM

You are particularly inspired the past couple of days PT.

BTW, I shot quite a few beavers in my younger days but married life has changed me.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 1,00
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 04:11 PM

Peter, I wish I could see some of your art work! You see with such clarity, your words paint such a vivid picture, I can only imagine the beauty of your artwork!

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Sept 1,00
From: Peter T.
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 04:46 PM

Well, Animaterra (and others) thanks for the kind words, but for reasons known only to the dispenser of talents, I am a seriously mediocre painter, alas, to add to my long list of things I am only passable at.
yours, Peter T.