https://secure.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/14346203980/
Yesterday
I went to Goldie Mill Park here in Guelph.
“Nothing
too unusual about that, Alan out for a walk on a Saturday morning”
they say.
But
this one was different in a couple of ways, firstly I was alone, the
normal 'motley cew' scattered to the ends of the Earth well if you
call Tobermory the ends of the earth and Helvetica (Confoederatio
Helvetica) which is a bit further.
Non-the-less
I was inspired by Patrick's sketches sent to tease us as he literally
'wanders abroad', old towns rendered with a loving hand no not with a
tourists view and a camera but with an artists view and a pad of paper
and a pen.
Where
can I find such a place, close to home to scratch the itch implanted
by these sketches?
I
thought about it for quite a while and as sleep came on Friday
evening “Goldie Mill” popped into my head.
So
bright and early off I went.
The
car parked, the bag recovered from the trunk like so many other
times, but this time it was different. This time the bag contained
pens, pencils and sketch books.
I
went in search of the scene …
In
a shady spot I unfolded my ridiculously expensive seat and made
myself comfortable for what would be the first of three drawings
worked up over the next couple of hours.
People
came and went, some stopped to chat briefly one asked if she could
look at what I was drawing.
A
totally different experience than hiding behind a lens.
As
the sun rose higher and the day warmed my hands did as they were
bidden and the pen moved more gracefully.
The
focus narrowed.
Time
passed quickly as it always does in these instances.
But
in the end a quiet satisfaction and a smile...
Time
to pack up and head home..
This
was so different than my usual outing and looking back I can still
hear the birds, the cheery “morning” from passers by, the breeze
in the tree's and feel the sun on my back.
“The
artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where
he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep”. ~Paul
Strand
