Before the holidays (yes, I know they were two months ago already…), I finished a commissioned piece, a portrait of a cherished doggie, below:
Chevy. Watercolour on Paper. 15×22″. Artist Lianne Todd
Since then I have spent very little time in the studio, just doing a few practice pieces here and there to stay in touch with the skills. I had thought this would be a very creative year. I could ‘feel it in my bones’! Perhaps I will be like the flowers, emerging in spring triumphantly.
I’ve been focused on other things this winter. When not working at my new part-time job as an agricultural research assistant (which I quite enjoy), I have been busy sorting through old things, completing items on my to-do list, cleaning up after two new kitties in the house we rescued from the outdoors, and researching and compiling the family genealogy and history.
That last one has become a bit of an obsession, to the detriment of many things. I’ve discovered a rich and varied connection to past centuries that I never expected to find! I was never much of a history student, but now it has new meaning.
I am finding creative ways to preserve and share with my family a visual record of what I’ve learned, for future generations to refer to. Much of what I was originally able to put together was compiled by family members in previous generations who took the time to collect information and photos and document it. I would like to thank them profusely but, of course, they are not here for me to do that. Instead I will thank the current family members who were willing to share with me what they had!
The rest of the information has come from the many historical documents and records available at Library and Archives Canada, and sites like it in other nations. And finally, some crucial connections came from other people who have been investigating their own family history, on platforms like Geni (which also has curators working hard to connect it all and keep everything as accurate and logical as possible, while also documenting historical genealogy) and MyHeritage. I’ve also been able to verify some of the connections using a DNA test.
This afternoon though, I will go and paint. 😉
LIANNE TODD 