Water Lines: Essentiality of Bears and Secret Fishing Places
When I paint water lines, I am not only trying to capture the beauty of the scene but also try to add some life and stories to it which will enhance the atmosphere of the setting. Each painting is the wilderness on the canvas and every part of the background is important and every part of it tells a story. One such detail is the gap on the water’s shore, a spot where bears come to get water or to feed. The great beasts move with a deliberate ease, their arrival and departure a manifestation of the raw soul of nature.
Sometimes, the bears meet people who have come too close to their territory. Campers who come across these animals are made to pay the “food tax”. Although the encounter may be surprising, it brings some thrill and imitability to the general scenario. It shows the distance between people and animals, and that in the wilderness, man is a visitor.
The waterline is also the location of the secret fishing corners which are only known to those who appreciate solitude. Imagine a father, teaching his son the location of the less crowded areas. The two make their way to the isolated area and throw their lines into the still water and make memories that they will keep for the rest of their lives. The father’s knowledge, which has been handed down through the generations, gives the picture a feeling of a tradition. It establishes the relationship between a parent and a child, and the love of spending time in nature and the quietness of it.
Every part that is close to the water’s edge along the river or a lake enriches the description of the area. The water surface tension, the leaves’ crushing, and the animal sounds in the distance develop a rich palette of the senses. All these elements pull the viewer into the painting to look for the other meanings and signs which are not immediately visible.
In painting these scenes, I intend to portray the complexity of the natural world. I want people to see more than just a beautiful picture; I want them to feel the beat of the wilderness, the drama of its essence. Every painting is an invitation to look more closely at the world and to see the richness and connections that make the natural world so extraordinary. In its simplest form, painting water lines is a celebration of the coexistence and conflict between people and the wild. It is a way of paying respect to nature and the mysteries it holds and the stories which make it come alive. It is through art that I can share these stories with the world, and give people a taste of the magical world that lies beyond the water’s edge.
