Art Adventures - by Patricia Banks©
Published November 2017 in Nanaimo Magazine and Voyager Magazine
Published November 2017 in Nanaimo Magazine and Voyager Magazine
Sometimes it feels as if we unwittingly go back in time to places we thought we had long gained time and distance from. I see patterns in life’s challenges that appear to repeat or resurface throughout our lives. Like the peeling of an onion; is it possible that we are meant to deal with different layers as we become more mature in handling our thoughts, emotions, and situations? I am heartened by Heraclitus, the ancient Greek philosopher who said “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
I find this is true in my quest to produce relevant, meaningful and beautiful art work. I am called to paint the natural landscapes of our world, the grandeur as well as the close-ups of flora and fauna. It is in nature that I find pleasure, solace and peace. It’s like being home to me. Each painting subject presents its own challenge. It is often a struggle to interpret the excitement, fascination and awe I experience onto a flat canvas so that others may tangibly feel the energy of life. The desire to present my view of the world’s visual miracles began when I was a small child; gathering tools and skills along the way with each drawing and painting, I have endeavoured to present my truth.
I find this is true in my quest to produce relevant, meaningful and beautiful art work. I am called to paint the natural landscapes of our world, the grandeur as well as the close-ups of flora and fauna. It is in nature that I find pleasure, solace and peace. It’s like being home to me. Each painting subject presents its own challenge. It is often a struggle to interpret the excitement, fascination and awe I experience onto a flat canvas so that others may tangibly feel the energy of life. The desire to present my view of the world’s visual miracles began when I was a small child; gathering tools and skills along the way with each drawing and painting, I have endeavoured to present my truth.
This is my way of speaking about the magnificence of nature, our spectacular environment, and the importance of conservation and preservation as it continues to evolve in importance for all of us. Without realizing, I have returned to these thoughts, emotions and situations over and over through the course of my life. As with the many layers of an onion skin, portraying the relevance, meaning, and beauty of our planet goes much deeper, and is more important to all of us, than we may ever know. The name of the river may not have changed, but the river has changed, and I have changed with it.
