Artists intimately know the joy and healing power that can come from colour.
When you think of things that can be painted, the simple wooden paddle may not be what first comes to mind. But the paddle is more than a simple piece of wood.
It is a symbol that connects us to ways of the past. It is forever associated to travel, and that means thinking about both where you were and where you are going - origins and destinations.
The IIHF and Hockey Canada has teamed up with many artists to celebrate where young hockey players have come from and where they are going, in the game of hockey and in life.
What goes into the process, then, of adding colour and form and images to a wooden paddle? Every artist has their own spirit, of course, with both a unique origin that inspired them and a unique destination in mind, or what they want their work to say.
I can't speak for every artist out there, of course. But for me, colour is what makes me feel joy and inspiration and healing.
Since the canoe paddle is connected to travel, I wanted my work to reflect the spirit of the land that I call home.
The flat panel of the paddle is not a very big space, compared to a large stretch of canvas on a frame, or the wall of building. Each stroke of the brush can be so important.
With just the right details and the right colours, things can still stand out and connect with the person holding or looking at the paddle.
The simple wooden panel, symbolic for its connection to travel and transportation, can also mean something about connection itself - how we are connected to the land, to our culture, and just as important, to one another.
What do you see in the colours? What do you see in the land around you? And what connections do you think about when you see these painted wooden paddles?
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