gratitude

for the nurses

April 2, 2020Art, Uncategorized#stay-home, acrylic painting, Art, Art studio, bouquet, Covid-19, gratitude, nursesAndrew Seal View all 2 comments

Today’s bouquet is to thank and celebrate all of our wonderful nurses here in British Columbia and around the world. I was so moved to hear the nurses from Massachusetts General Hospital on this morning’s news speak of being scared.

The nurses from Massachusett’s Hospital

Throughout my career my nursing colleagues were always the angels by my side who were always there for me and for our patients, so that together we could make a difference. Even though I am now retired and isolating here at home they are all always in my thoughts as I cheer them on from the sidelines. I am forever grateful to them for their support and friendship over so many years. Heroes and heroines all. Be well and stay safe. ❤️

the courage bouquet

March 31, 2020Art, Painting, Uncategorizedacrylic painting, Art, Art studio, bouquet, gratitude, painting, sunflowers, Van GoghAndrew Seal View all 6 comments

Inspired by the memory of Vincent yesterday I spent the afternoon in my studio painting alone and thinking of all those struggling in isolation in hospitals around the world without their loved ones beside them. They are always in my thoughts. “What would life be” Vincent wrote, “if we had no courage to attempt anything.” The courage, sacrifice and love of so many will be the lasting inspiration and memory of our time. With this bouquet I thank and honour them all.

“reflections and thanks” revisited

March 27, 2020Art, Painting, photography, Uncategorized, Weekly Photo ChallengeArt, blogging, blogosphere, Covid-19, gratitude, Italy, journalling, photography, postaday, reflection, social distancing, watercolor, weekly photo challengeAndrew Seal View all 5 comments

I posted this photograph six years ago today in response to The Weekly Photo Challenge that so many of us used to be part of. Given how we are all supporting each other in the blogosphere, the world’s safest place to practice social distancing during these challenging times, my thanks today are for all the heroes and heroines working so hard to save us all.

The photo was taken early one summer’s evening from the Youth Hostel in Cortona, Italy and shows the bells of the Chiesa del Torreone reflected in our bedroom window with Lake Trasimeno seen shimmering in the distance; a moment of pure magic.

My little watercolour shows reflections in the window of another Italian youth hostel in Finale Ligure, the magnificent Castello Vuillerman, recorded in my Journal on July 2, 1999. We’ll never forget climbing the more than three hundred steps, with packs on our backs, to the Castello where the view of the city, seen in this window reflection, was well worth the climb.