Despite the famous saying, familiarity is not always such a bad thing. Neighbors sometimes ask me how I can walk the same route down the beach each day, but what they don’t understand is that the beach changes with every tide. “To find new things, take the path you took yesterday,” wrote John Burroughs. While it might seem that the novelty would wear off during my trips to the osprey nests, the opposite has proven true. I’m constantly surprised by what I see.
– by David Gessner, from “Return of the Osprey: A Season of Flight
and Wonder”
THAT is GORGEOUS! And I will remember that Burroughs quote; the more I think about it, the wider its applications. Thanks.
That’s our beach you’re looking at – last 4th of July. Glad you like it!
Before I begin a painting it is necessary for me to walk the same route for days so that I can absorb the feeling of the place and become “familiar” with what I am seeing. When I am at the beach I need to stare at the sky and then the water and then the sand… I then begin to compose a picture in my mind with my eyes before I even pick up a brush. It is very important to become integrated with what I want to paint in order for me to be able to transfer the emotions I am experiencing onto canvas. “Familiarity” is necessary to achieve this and so I walk and walk and walk some more!
That John Burroughs quote is awesome.
Be well,
Jaye
Those who develop the gift of awareness know that nature is always changing. Just look at the sky, it is never the same, moment to moment new clouds float by, stars appear at night, the sun always returns no matter how long the storm may take. I too walk the same familiar paths; I am amazed at the differences that appear when I take the time to stop to really look. It is the gift of an artist like Colleen who captures a “now” moment and is able to save that picture. Reminds me of a favorite quote “we do not remember days…we remember moments”. (cesare pavese). Savor the moments…
Very inspiring and healing!
Walter