Thursday, August 15, 2013

August 15, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Bernard.

His brain never stops creating.   In addition to his painting, he also makes imaginative objects from paper mache.   He makes cats in all sizes, the largest four feet tall.   On one shelf there are over fifty cats, each with their own personality.  And he makes birds and fishermen and seagulls, each one different and with a distinctive, sunny disposition.   From his ceilings are hung hundreds of objects made from the lids of cans.   They are clever and beautiful.

He has made the front room into a winter bedroom complete with a huge chair that looks like a throne.   It is six feet tall.  The sides are decorated with large flowers, all made by paper macho and at the top of the back are the three muses complete with large bosoms and crowns.   He has a wicked sense of humor.

He has painted a few pictures this winter but mostly he spent time with his crafts.   He will sell his paintings but will not sell his crafts.   He is enjoying living with all his cats and birds and seagulls.   Today, Gill, Wendy and I took him out for lunch and we discussed his refusal to sell his cats.  Everyone wants one of his cats, including us.    When he got over telling us about how he loves his creatures, he finally admitted to us that it takes him about the same time to paint one picture as to make one cat.    People will be happy to pay him $1000. or more for a painting but expect him to sell a cat for $75. or $100.   So he keeps all his cats and animals and people.  I suggested that he price his cats at $500. and let the people decide.   He just laughed.

His home is astonishing with it's beauty and color and variety.   But I bet I would have nightmares in his winter bedroom, clever though it may be.   Be sure to tell me when you are in Nova Scotia so you can get his address.   It ia an amazing place, and well worth a visit.

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