A Superior View
12 x 9 Oil
©2016 Deb Kirkeeide
Mother Superior Called … and
I answered.
Lake
Superior that is. Each time she called, her voice offered a promise of
comfort and nurturing.
I
finally answered.
The
last few months (years?) have been a bit stressful. I hadn’t realized
how much of that I was carrying but I knew
I needed to get away to the shores of the big lake.
Armed
with journal, sketchbook, paints and absolutely no agenda other than to just be,
I headed north to the Grand Marais area, just 60 miles from the Canadian border.
“Be still and the Earth speaks to you” ~ Navaho Proverb
I
watched, listened and let her speak.
She
spoke through the mournful call of the loons and the playful antics of the
crows that visited each day. Through the gentle fall of rain and the occasional
roll of thunder. The lake sang her songs, the pulse of her heart repeating in
the waves. Breezes whispered to the trees, their answers in the
rustling of the leaves. Love showed up in heart shaped stones I found along the
shore. Majesty came in the form of a russet colored buck crossing the road in
front of me. Delight came in the thousands of wildflowers lining the roads. So delightful, that I just wanted to give the Earth a big old hug!
Not
being completely cut off from civilization, I explored the galleries, discovered
new artists, checked out the art fair in Grand Marais, read articles and
stories each leading me to a little more clarity and inspiration. I was led to the
overreaching theme of nature, her healing and our connections to all of her lessons.
This painting was my view while I was up there. It was glorious!
