what would Pooh say today

January 1, 2021Art, essay, humor, Uncategorizedcompassandcamera, corona virus, Covid-19, family, gratitude, Happy New Year, iPhone, love, New Years Day, separation, social distancing, watercolor, Winnie the Pooh, Words of PoohAndrew Seal View all 2 comments

On March 19th last year inspired by my dear blogging friend Kelly who started a Daily Dose of Beauty on her wonderful CompassAndCamera blog to help us “feel and understand our shared humanity” as the days of isolation were just beginning, I joined her in committing to posting every day during the pandemic never thinking that it would continue to the end of the year and beyond.

Both Kelly and I have indeed now posted every day since last March and through her wonderful CompassionAndCamera we have all had the pleasure of seeing the beauty of the world through her lens and learnt so much from her brilliantly descriptive travel writing all from the comfort of our self-isolated armchairs at home. So as we begin this New Year I would like to pay tribute to Kelly and thank her for inspiring us each and every day. Thank you Kelly from all of us in your loyal fan club.

Now as for today, on this first day of the New Year, this will be the last of my daily posts. Rest assured however I am not going anywhere and the posts will continue on The Changing Palette, but perhaps at a little less frequency. I thought about what today should be about and decided that as we seem to have come full circle with lock downs and self-isolation returning everywhere I would revisit the second of my daily posts from last March, which was really meant for the children as a way of talking to them about locking down and staying home and not visiting friends. If Pooh and Piglet can do it, so can we all.

For children everywhere.

And they did indeed FaceTime with Eeyore who couldn’t have been happier to see them.

Happy New Year everyone. Stay safe and well in 2021 and just like Pooh and Piglet take care of each other, check in on loved ones and friends, and thank the heroes around you, as I try to do as often as I can, who are working so hard every day for us all until we get to reach that light at the end of the tunnel. It’s getting closer.💕

Happy New Year

December 31, 2020Photo Essay, photography, Uncategorizedfamily, familyiseverything, grandchildren, grandparents, gratitude, Happy New Year, love, photographyAndrew Seal View all 2 comments

2020 look back #6 – New Year’s Eve

As the luckiest Grandparents in the world who have three beautiful grandchildren whom we adore beyond words my final post of 2020 is one that celebrates a love that I know you all feel every day, the most important love of all, the love of family. This year the expression of that love has been challenged as we have had to limit our times together, as I know you have too, but as you can see we have been lucky enough to have had many moments of pure joy that have lifted our spirits.

It has always been a treat to see your families too, whether babes in arms, children slaloming and mountain biking, siblings, partners, parents and grandparents. I wish you and your families a very happy and healthy New Year and look forward to all the positive changes that are just around the corner as the New Year begins. In the meantime, stay safe and well, and thank you to the heroes amongst you, you know who you are. 💕🥂

2020 look back #5

December 30, 2020Art, drawing, Uncategorized2020 review, Art, Covid-19, digital art, in memoriam, Lest we forget, pen and ink drawing, Remembrance, watercolorAndrew Seal View all 8 comments

2020 look back #5

In Memoriam – Let these few images of remembrances from this past year represent all those who are sadly no longer with us. Today, the heartbreaking number of total coronavirus deaths posted worldwide stands at 1,807,472, a number that is hard to comprehend. The journey we are all on together still has a long way to go, as we say thank you to the heroes amongst us once again.

2020 look back #4

No surprise that the Pacific Spirit Park should feature in my 2020 look back. This Vancouver jewel has been a sanctuary for us since the beginning of Covid-19. Walking its trails surrounded by these majestic trees has sustained and uplifted us every day as we experienced the seasons changing month by month, the colours of the leaves so often luminescent in the sunshine beneath a blue, blue sky. We have never taken for granted how fortunate we are. Hopefully you have enjoyed visiting with us too.

December 29, 2020Uncategorized, video2020 review, Covid-19, iMovie, iphone video, Pacific Spirit Park, seasons, videoAndrew SealVideo View all 3 comments

2020 look back #3

December 28, 2020Art, drawing, Uncategorized, video2020 review, black lives matter, George Floyd, Protest Art, videoAndrew Seal Leave a comment

2020 look back #3

Perhaps the darkest day amongst too many dark days in 2020 was May 25, the day we witnessed George Floyd murdered by asphyxiation in real time for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. This barbaric criminal act resulted in condemnation and demonstrations across America and around the world and it highlighted many other crimes against the black population by rogue police officers including Breana Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Eric Garner and so many more.

June 19th
Inspired by the words of President Obama and in support of those marching for Equality, Justice and Freedom in New York and across America today, including here in Vancouver. “Juneteenth is a time to recommit ourselves to the work that remains undone. We remember that even in the darkest hours, there’s cause to hope for tomorrow’s light.” Barack Obama, 2016.

Sadly last week on December 22nd the name of 47 year old Andre Maurice Hill must be added to the list, unarmed and shot by a white police officer in Columbus Ohio.

2020 look back #2

December 27, 2020Art, Uncategorized2020 review, Covid-19, ECMO, healthcare heroes, pandemic, pencil drawingAndrew Seal View all 2 comments

Not long after the pandemic started to ravage the world images and stories began to appear in the media and the press of patients on ventilators and health care heroes in PPE. Two such moments led to these two drawings together with their accompanying descriptions:

April 28th – Drawing in the studio today allowed me to spend a few hours in quet reflection on this National Day Of Mourning, a day that perhaps has never been more meaningful, as we remember and honor those who have lost their lives or been injured from their time in the workplace.
I would particularly like to honor the memory of Dr. Lorna Breen, a New York City emergency room doctor, a true hero, and send heartfelt condolences to her family, colleagues and friends.

The drawing was inspired by a photograph taken by Marco Bertorello in the Covid-19 ward of Maria Pia Hospital in Turin.

May 3rd – When the Science of Medicine meets the Art of Medicine to save lives in the COVID unit at Vancouver General Hospital.

ECMO stands for Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation but could also stand for Ever Compassionate Medical Optimism, thanks to the dedication of our frontline healthcare workers epitomized by the caring nurse-specialist portrayed in the picture.

2020 look back #1

December 26, 2020photography, UncategorizedArt, corona virus, Covid-19, digital art, gratitude, pandemic, Photoshop Elements, WHOAndrew Seal View all 3 comments

As we approach the end of 2020 and before we welcome in 2021 I thought I would look back at some of the key moments from this past “annus horribilis”. On March 11th I combined this image of our world with the corona virus just as it was all beginning, and wrote:

‪”Today the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Our thanks to all the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers here and around the world working so hard day and night for all their patients and communities but especially to BC’s Dr. Bonnie Henry for her compassion and leadership.”

Here we are over ten months later and the pandemic continues but miracle of miracles during this time vaccines have been developed and there is now a light at the end of our long dark tunnel, and of course those thanks continue every single day.

What better way to wish everyone Merry Christmas on Christmas Day than with nature’s “carpenter”, this beautiful pileated woodpecker captured hard at work in the Pacific Spirit Park this week; and a special thank you on this special day to all of our health care and front line heroes who can never be thanked often enough.