Inspiration

What inspires me?

Seeing nice work that others have done… like the wood carvings at Barclay's. That was very inspirational for me.



Where do we get our ideas from?

Often we get ideas from nature.  The sun has been an inspiration to many artists.

Sometimes we look at one thing and see something else.

But basically we are all a bunch of copycats.

We see something someone else has done and think… why not do it this way?

We draw on all of life's experiences in everything we undertake.

After seeing this incredible piece of wood carving I got to thinking how I might do it in stone?  Maybe white quartz rays on a background of sandstone… with black pebbles around the face… and at the end of the rays.

I found myself sitting at my desk yesterday doodling in my day-timer.

It's just a quick sketch, but I have a vision of making a design like this on a rock wall on our house.  I found myself thinking about in the night when I should have been sleeping… then later in the day I sketched it out.

If it ever does happen, I will do a lot more planning… select the right rock colours and other elements.  But that is how things get started and soon one thing leads to another.  It will be fun to see if this idea will get the thumbs up.

Speaking of creative rock work this wall blew me away.  We were looking for a store… KMS tools… when we stumbled upon this retaining wall on Old Island Highway in Victoria.

This is not the everyday Department of Highways retaining wall.

A lot of planning and thought went into building this wall.  I found myself inspired by this amazing design.

As you can see, this is beautiful work.  If you have few minutes check out their website.

This is the kind of work that inspires me!

Wood Carving is Beautiful

Today's blog challange is "Art." But rather than show any of my work, I would like to show some exciting works done by a father and son team that is on display in Barclay's Exchange.

Shirley and I went back to Barclay's in Chinatown to get some pictures of the wood carvings.

It was after our walking tour in Chinatown a few weeks back that I realized where Barclay's Exchange had moved. It has been a few years since they moved from Douglas Street to 516 Fisgard Street, Victoria.

The Barclay's I remembered was the place I bought my cement mixer… and the one ton chain winch… and other tools.  They never used to have high quality wood carvings and works of art. There just wasn't enough room in the old location.

Most of the pieces I took photos of today were done by Jay and Jean Brabant.

They have quite a good selection of masks…

With new carvings coming in… like this mask that arrived today and had not been hung up on display yet.  Owner Paul McDonald pulled it out of his office to show it to me… so I shot the photo as he held it in his hands.  Notice the copper eyes.

I love the colours and the variety.  Each one is a "one-of-a-kind" original work of art.

This sun mask is my favourite. Nose like the beak of an eagle… with seven radiating rays coming out from the centre.  It also is one of the larger and more expensive pieces.

But this totem pole was no doubt the largest piece… with lots of vibrant colours.

I'm still looking for the man who carved our beautiful front door.  It was done about 1986-87 at the time Jack Janzen built the house.  I have been threatening to introduce some colour to it… but am not in a hurry.

Before I would touch it with any paint I would do several colour comps to be sure about which parts would get what colour… and which parts stay natural.

We were told that at the time the door was made the wood carver lived on Mayne Island. If anyone knows the artist I would appreciate knowing his name.

"Men admire the man who can organize their wishes and thoughts in stone and wood and steel and brass." -Ralph Waldo Emerson