Bye Dad, I love you

The photo of Dad was taken about 20 years ago... he liked nature and the land, and shared it with us, peppered by anecdotes from his lifetime there, like where they used to boil maple sugar, watching thunderstorms and identifying trees with pet names. He and my uncle created this pond by drag-lining a large bowl into the soil of a marshy valley, and we grew up swimming and skating on it, and barbecuing down there after a hot day. The dog was two years old and my daughter not much older than that. I love the energy of the dog moving away from us as if he spotted an adventure around the corner. The second version was completed just after Dad passed, last March of 2018. Red and orange underpainting really helped the colours. Softer chalk built up in layers gives the edges more softness and subtlety. I wanted it to have that frosty, misty appearance the photo has, but with the colours richer and more alive. People who know me recognize the pond as a happy place with memories of friendship and fun. Thanks, Dad.

Across the Pond, Pastel on paper, 8 X 10 cold-pressed Strathmore

March, 2019