'postcard series'
‘laundry and camping on the riviera’
#230 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic, palette knife on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
#230 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic, palette knife on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
‘laundry and camping on the riviera’
lost in translation
being lost in translation
we’ve all experienced,
this anxiety of finding
an idyllic campground
on our road trip along the
Italian Riviera coast
our European road trip now 45 years ago,
with my bride, my trusted navigator,
my trip planner, with her map on her lap
negotiating roundabouts into perpetuity
not sure when or where to exit...
can’t wait for a day, without a puzzle!
behold our trusted 'michelin' maps!
the route circled up towards the
campground, our ‘Mount of Olives'!
...here we are ‘arrive derci' I boasted!
'you are leaving already?' the host replied
'not so fast Giovani, we have our reservations!'
but nothing's lost... all in humour,
lost in translation... as you are aware,
every part of us gets lost in it!
'loco position'a your tent'a
viciniti'a de trees'a of olives'
was our instruction... no worries,
we've found our perfect spot!
all is well and under the shade
it was near mid-night, when the
temperature cools… then slowly it began!
to rain down on our tent... it was
harvest and the olives began to
cascade down on our tent!
the morning brought us yellow
sun of promises, oh what bliss,
to be on our schedule and still
wide awake in our sumptuous tent!
MORAL: ONE CAN SURVIVE
FROM LEARNING TO ADJUST
HARMONIOUSLY WITH
THE ENVIRONMENT
words and acrylic painting #230
'laundry day and camping on the riviera'
300mmx300mmx15mm
lost in translation
being lost in translation
we’ve all experienced,
this anxiety of finding
an idyllic campground
on our road trip along the
Italian Riviera coast
our European road trip now 45 years ago,
with my bride, my trusted navigator,
my trip planner, with her map on her lap
negotiating roundabouts into perpetuity
not sure when or where to exit...
can’t wait for a day, without a puzzle!
behold our trusted 'michelin' maps!
the route circled up towards the
campground, our ‘Mount of Olives'!
...here we are ‘arrive derci' I boasted!
'you are leaving already?' the host replied
'not so fast Giovani, we have our reservations!'
but nothing's lost... all in humour,
lost in translation... as you are aware,
every part of us gets lost in it!
'loco position'a your tent'a
viciniti'a de trees'a of olives'
was our instruction... no worries,
we've found our perfect spot!
all is well and under the shade
it was near mid-night, when the
temperature cools… then slowly it began!
to rain down on our tent... it was
harvest and the olives began to
cascade down on our tent!
the morning brought us yellow
sun of promises, oh what bliss,
to be on our schedule and still
wide awake in our sumptuous tent!
MORAL: ONE CAN SURVIVE
FROM LEARNING TO ADJUST
HARMONIOUSLY WITH
THE ENVIRONMENT
words and acrylic painting #230
'laundry day and camping on the riviera'
300mmx300mmx15mm
‘finding a rose along the backroad’
#231 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
#231 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
finding a rose along the backroad
...the undulating road gives way to a perspective of woven fence posts as we drove our van towards a horizon of a sinking sun
watching grey dust curl away from the curved fender of an old Ford ahead leaving plumes of prairie dust in its wake the road ahead weaves between the dust and rain showers intermingled cutting deep ruts worn by car tires escaping the approaching cloudburst distant clouds soaking up raindrops soon to be released on the windshield as we watch … the wipers erase flies baked in a greasy mire cleansed earth and sky opens up sunlight streaming through cumulus clouds sun burned arm hanging out the driver’s window, a choreography of gunmetal grey and ochre mixed with hues of spring green crops a shrub with thorns interwoven with strands of barbed wire and through a fence appears a bouquet, a fragrance, of opaque pink rose petals blush and curl in the warmth of the sunlight releasing its aroma a synthesis of nature, of beauty, a fragrance that stirs the senses beats the heart and soothes my inner soul … taking the backroads, and the switchbacks in our lives, you are a gift from God, and that has made all the difference!
M - y
A - lberta
R - ose
I
L
Y
N
words and acrylic painting / palette knife and brush
30cm x 30cm x 5cm studioDB3 Comox 01/18/22
...the undulating road gives way to a perspective of woven fence posts as we drove our van towards a horizon of a sinking sun
watching grey dust curl away from the curved fender of an old Ford ahead leaving plumes of prairie dust in its wake the road ahead weaves between the dust and rain showers intermingled cutting deep ruts worn by car tires escaping the approaching cloudburst distant clouds soaking up raindrops soon to be released on the windshield as we watch … the wipers erase flies baked in a greasy mire cleansed earth and sky opens up sunlight streaming through cumulus clouds sun burned arm hanging out the driver’s window, a choreography of gunmetal grey and ochre mixed with hues of spring green crops a shrub with thorns interwoven with strands of barbed wire and through a fence appears a bouquet, a fragrance, of opaque pink rose petals blush and curl in the warmth of the sunlight releasing its aroma a synthesis of nature, of beauty, a fragrance that stirs the senses beats the heart and soothes my inner soul … taking the backroads, and the switchbacks in our lives, you are a gift from God, and that has made all the difference!
M - y
A - lberta
R - ose
I
L
Y
N
words and acrylic painting / palette knife and brush
30cm x 30cm x 5cm studioDB3 Comox 01/18/22
‘an epiphany at green point’
#232 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
'postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
#232 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
'postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
an epiphany at green point
long beach, vancouver island
where currents meet, contemplating the mystery of our great creator ...fifty years ago! ...when camping and cars were still permitted on the beach!
As the dawn breaks through the outgoing tide along ocean currents, a new morning shines through night’s weary breathe and laced with moon shadows. From somewhere behind in the eastern sky a purple haze of dawn breaks to liven our senses. The morning’s dew drops heavy, no one is awake to notice, while inside damp sleeping bags lost in their dreams to the sound of a slow rhythm of the incoming surf… a new day has come as we sleep under the constellation in our tents made of canvas. We were young then, and we often dreamt of each other ... of 'times well spent' and where time stood still.
And on a new day when we enter another new chapter of our lives, we'll look back and think about these times when we stayed up until the morning playing cards and smoking cigarettes wakened to the aroma of coffee percolating blending with the smell of amphora ‘red’ tobacco already lit in wooden pipes. As sunlight chases moonlight I only wanted it to last ... crawling out of the tent watching sunlight casting its reflection on the green glass of bottles of wine... the remnants of indulgence and ‘sins of the flesh’. A song dances in my head ‘I’m just a soul whose intentions are good... oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood’ ...because things I took for granted became alive and meaningful as I looked at life from another perspective.
Heavenly skies above changed to a subtle shade of an azure blue, the outgoing tides leaves behind a feast for the sea birds while heavy mist glistens on a mantel of moss; I watch a silhouette of ghost trees of hemlock and cedar appear as though suspended in the fog floating by. I've looked 'at life from both sides now' ... my eyes opened up for the first time that day noticing the lupine, the fire-weed and indian paint brushes all blossoming among silver grey coloured logs strewn along the beach. It was then I saw a picture, a live canvas stood in front of me.
The morning was just like that... the air was heavy with the aromas of the sea and the sound of stellar jays and ravens could be heard over the sound of the surf ... and it was heaven! I stood there barefooted in the damp sand a long time, just breathing in that pure air off the ocean, looking up at the sky... an abundance of hope, of grace an abundance of creation. I stood thinking also of what a miracle it is – to behold and inhale that glorious breeze, that brine-kissed draft of the sea that cleanses our senses. We are blessed in all forms of it – enduring gut turning and heart wrenching pain of loss and the healing, life’s struggles ebb and flow, the broken heart and the joy, a chiaroscuro of light and the dark ... all of it, and the mere fact that we are people this journey, alive to feel it, good and bad and everything in between, is a priceless, precious and a miraculous gift!
So there I stood, full of wonder looking up at that expanse of open sky, breathed in that unadulterated air, with stretched out arms in thanksgiving ... to our Creator for the life we have been given and new chapters in our life ... contributing and sharing all we have including our wrinkles, grey hair, no hair, smile lines, cellulite and replaced parts, being overwhelmed and embracing it all! I pause to reflect on no matter how much time has separated us, friends we remain as we ponder the pages in our lives as we sojourn towards another fork or curve in the road.
As new currents in our lives swirl around us in its many forms, all the things that cross our paths, our resilience to stand up to it are learned from people and friends just like you. It has all worked according to God’s plan together for good, sharing our gifts, with an abundance of hope, abundance of peace, and abundance of grace and an abundance of God’s tender creation ... we have come full circle ... a celebration of a day just like this and this is where the currents in our lives meet!
words and acrylic painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 01/20/22
long beach, vancouver island
where currents meet, contemplating the mystery of our great creator ...fifty years ago! ...when camping and cars were still permitted on the beach!
As the dawn breaks through the outgoing tide along ocean currents, a new morning shines through night’s weary breathe and laced with moon shadows. From somewhere behind in the eastern sky a purple haze of dawn breaks to liven our senses. The morning’s dew drops heavy, no one is awake to notice, while inside damp sleeping bags lost in their dreams to the sound of a slow rhythm of the incoming surf… a new day has come as we sleep under the constellation in our tents made of canvas. We were young then, and we often dreamt of each other ... of 'times well spent' and where time stood still.
And on a new day when we enter another new chapter of our lives, we'll look back and think about these times when we stayed up until the morning playing cards and smoking cigarettes wakened to the aroma of coffee percolating blending with the smell of amphora ‘red’ tobacco already lit in wooden pipes. As sunlight chases moonlight I only wanted it to last ... crawling out of the tent watching sunlight casting its reflection on the green glass of bottles of wine... the remnants of indulgence and ‘sins of the flesh’. A song dances in my head ‘I’m just a soul whose intentions are good... oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood’ ...because things I took for granted became alive and meaningful as I looked at life from another perspective.
Heavenly skies above changed to a subtle shade of an azure blue, the outgoing tides leaves behind a feast for the sea birds while heavy mist glistens on a mantel of moss; I watch a silhouette of ghost trees of hemlock and cedar appear as though suspended in the fog floating by. I've looked 'at life from both sides now' ... my eyes opened up for the first time that day noticing the lupine, the fire-weed and indian paint brushes all blossoming among silver grey coloured logs strewn along the beach. It was then I saw a picture, a live canvas stood in front of me.
The morning was just like that... the air was heavy with the aromas of the sea and the sound of stellar jays and ravens could be heard over the sound of the surf ... and it was heaven! I stood there barefooted in the damp sand a long time, just breathing in that pure air off the ocean, looking up at the sky... an abundance of hope, of grace an abundance of creation. I stood thinking also of what a miracle it is – to behold and inhale that glorious breeze, that brine-kissed draft of the sea that cleanses our senses. We are blessed in all forms of it – enduring gut turning and heart wrenching pain of loss and the healing, life’s struggles ebb and flow, the broken heart and the joy, a chiaroscuro of light and the dark ... all of it, and the mere fact that we are people this journey, alive to feel it, good and bad and everything in between, is a priceless, precious and a miraculous gift!
So there I stood, full of wonder looking up at that expanse of open sky, breathed in that unadulterated air, with stretched out arms in thanksgiving ... to our Creator for the life we have been given and new chapters in our life ... contributing and sharing all we have including our wrinkles, grey hair, no hair, smile lines, cellulite and replaced parts, being overwhelmed and embracing it all! I pause to reflect on no matter how much time has separated us, friends we remain as we ponder the pages in our lives as we sojourn towards another fork or curve in the road.
As new currents in our lives swirl around us in its many forms, all the things that cross our paths, our resilience to stand up to it are learned from people and friends just like you. It has all worked according to God’s plan together for good, sharing our gifts, with an abundance of hope, abundance of peace, and abundance of grace and an abundance of God’s tender creation ... we have come full circle ... a celebration of a day just like this and this is where the currents in our lives meet!
words and acrylic painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 01/20/22
‘pilgrimage’
#233 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic, palette knife on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
#233 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic, palette knife on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
pilgrimage
en-route from Paris
searching the soul
... and the sublime
passing by farms and
fields of milk and honey
our pilgrimage to
notre dame du haut
et Ronchamp France
the pure white silhouette
as a dove, a sister's habit
perched high on a hill
an art form of spirituality
we search our soul ...
making a reconnection
to the spiritual realms
deconstruct our values,
to purge, to balance,
to cleanse and make
reconciliation of
misconceptions
and renew
ecclesiastical
connections ...
'art' has this spirit to
communicate!
... this chapel was declared as a UNESCO site
designed 70 years ago and commissioned by Le Corbusier to replace the chapel that was bombed in 1944, at the crest of a hill on the outskirts of the village, Ronchamp.
... to go on pilgrimage is not simply to visit a place to admire its treasures of nature, art or history. To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of our self in order to encounter God where he has revealed himself, where his grace has shone with particular splendour and produced rich fruits of conversion and holiness among those who believe.
studioDB3 11/30/21
en-route from Paris
searching the soul
... and the sublime
passing by farms and
fields of milk and honey
our pilgrimage to
notre dame du haut
et Ronchamp France
the pure white silhouette
as a dove, a sister's habit
perched high on a hill
an art form of spirituality
we search our soul ...
making a reconnection
to the spiritual realms
deconstruct our values,
to purge, to balance,
to cleanse and make
reconciliation of
misconceptions
and renew
ecclesiastical
connections ...
'art' has this spirit to
communicate!
... this chapel was declared as a UNESCO site
designed 70 years ago and commissioned by Le Corbusier to replace the chapel that was bombed in 1944, at the crest of a hill on the outskirts of the village, Ronchamp.
... to go on pilgrimage is not simply to visit a place to admire its treasures of nature, art or history. To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of our self in order to encounter God where he has revealed himself, where his grace has shone with particular splendour and produced rich fruits of conversion and holiness among those who believe.
studioDB3 11/30/21
‘canyons’
#234 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
#234 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
Canyons
bryce yourself, oh zion
and all that lies within,
the grand canyon
the scheme of things,
or could this simply be
our creator teasing us,
to take our breathe away
at the grandeur and scale,
unable to deal with it all
leaving us speechless,
and sending us into
an inexpressible awe,
so beautiful, these canyons walls
dripping like hanging gardens,
of vertical shear walls
with eagles soaring,
chasing our echoes
beyond comprehension
rafting around the next corner
stillness swallows up the sound
we are simply dwarfed by the scale
… doesn’t make you wonder
doesn’t make you ... feel small?
the wonders of our creator!
words and acrylic 'drip' painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 01/25/22
bryce yourself, oh zion
and all that lies within,
the grand canyon
the scheme of things,
or could this simply be
our creator teasing us,
to take our breathe away
at the grandeur and scale,
unable to deal with it all
leaving us speechless,
and sending us into
an inexpressible awe,
so beautiful, these canyons walls
dripping like hanging gardens,
of vertical shear walls
with eagles soaring,
chasing our echoes
beyond comprehension
rafting around the next corner
stillness swallows up the sound
we are simply dwarfed by the scale
… doesn’t make you wonder
doesn’t make you ... feel small?
the wonders of our creator!
words and acrylic 'drip' painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 01/25/22
‘hong kong - canyons on our mind’
#235 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
#235 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
Canyons on our Minds
... living among the Boat Dwellers
Sailing into the Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour with a backdrop, a myriad of over 9,000 high-rise buildings and includes the 108 story International Commerce Centre. Rising between the sky-scrappers, are the surrounding mountains and streets forming ‘canyons' … where there are actually different climatic zones from street level to the height of the tallest buildings where the sounds at street level echo and reverberate through these 'man-made canyons’... a complete contrast to what we experienced at the Grand Canyon!!
Searching for the illusive ‘Chinese Junk’ … in 1996 I was privileged to be employed by the Museum of History in Hong Kong and to design a Folk Gallery. Our team was determined to find an authentic ‘junk’ to replicate in their new Museum of History. Most boats plying the water have by this time, removed the masts and sails and converted to diesel power.
The gallery that I was responsible for was “Folk Culture in Hong Kong,” including researching four ethnic groups: the Hakka, the Punti, the Hoklo and the Tanka ’the boat dwellers’. The gallery introduced the colourful customs and a life-size replica of a fishing junk, where you could examine the Boat Dwellers’ living conditions and learn about their customs and beliefs. Legend has it that their ancestors were prominent clan members from Central China who took to the sea to escape war and persecution. The Boat Dwellers traditionally spent their entire lives on boats and engaged in marine-related trades such as; fishing, oyster-farming, preparing salted fish and ferrying goods and passengers. In the past, they segregated themselves from land-based people. They only went ashore to carry out major boat repairs, shop for necessities, sell their catch or dine in restaurants.
words and acrylic painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 01/25/22
... living among the Boat Dwellers
Sailing into the Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour with a backdrop, a myriad of over 9,000 high-rise buildings and includes the 108 story International Commerce Centre. Rising between the sky-scrappers, are the surrounding mountains and streets forming ‘canyons' … where there are actually different climatic zones from street level to the height of the tallest buildings where the sounds at street level echo and reverberate through these 'man-made canyons’... a complete contrast to what we experienced at the Grand Canyon!!
Searching for the illusive ‘Chinese Junk’ … in 1996 I was privileged to be employed by the Museum of History in Hong Kong and to design a Folk Gallery. Our team was determined to find an authentic ‘junk’ to replicate in their new Museum of History. Most boats plying the water have by this time, removed the masts and sails and converted to diesel power.
The gallery that I was responsible for was “Folk Culture in Hong Kong,” including researching four ethnic groups: the Hakka, the Punti, the Hoklo and the Tanka ’the boat dwellers’. The gallery introduced the colourful customs and a life-size replica of a fishing junk, where you could examine the Boat Dwellers’ living conditions and learn about their customs and beliefs. Legend has it that their ancestors were prominent clan members from Central China who took to the sea to escape war and persecution. The Boat Dwellers traditionally spent their entire lives on boats and engaged in marine-related trades such as; fishing, oyster-farming, preparing salted fish and ferrying goods and passengers. In the past, they segregated themselves from land-based people. They only went ashore to carry out major boat repairs, shop for necessities, sell their catch or dine in restaurants.
words and acrylic painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 01/25/22
‘la launderetta and the merchants of venice’
#236 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
#236 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
la launderetta and the merchant of venice
we watch, and we listen
to the bustle of merchants
on shores in mahogany boats
an aroma of cinnamon
and spice trades permeate
the air of the narrow canals
as gondolas collect their coin
we watch changing tides
in a courtship with the moon
laundry hangs out to dry
layers of light and constant motion
swans taking the centre stage
mysteries of an acoustical sound
echoes between the canals
the orchestra of gondoliers
sing their paddle songs
as waves break over the quays…
I can feel the emotion of acoustic sounds…
incoming tides and living organisms of the deep
are reminders of ghosts through the black waters
together we keep a safe distance from... plagues of the past
“Volare oh, oh, Cantare oh, oh, oh, oh! Nel bij, dipinto di blu, felice di stare lass!”
(Flying, oh, oh! Singing oh, oh, oh, oh! In the painted blue, so happy to be up there!)
words and acrylic painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 01/30
we watch, and we listen
to the bustle of merchants
on shores in mahogany boats
an aroma of cinnamon
and spice trades permeate
the air of the narrow canals
as gondolas collect their coin
we watch changing tides
in a courtship with the moon
laundry hangs out to dry
layers of light and constant motion
swans taking the centre stage
mysteries of an acoustical sound
echoes between the canals
the orchestra of gondoliers
sing their paddle songs
as waves break over the quays…
I can feel the emotion of acoustic sounds…
incoming tides and living organisms of the deep
are reminders of ghosts through the black waters
together we keep a safe distance from... plagues of the past
“Volare oh, oh, Cantare oh, oh, oh, oh! Nel bij, dipinto di blu, felice di stare lass!”
(Flying, oh, oh! Singing oh, oh, oh, oh! In the painted blue, so happy to be up there!)
words and acrylic painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 01/30
‘the metropolis’
#237 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
#237 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
the metropolis
on long island,
there is a concrete jungle
where jazz and graffiti birds
sing a westside story with
songs of romeo and juliet
the montages and capulets
just as on island of crete,
theseus had his ariadne
with her magical ball of thread
to lead him safely from the
lair of the minotaur, as
through these canyons
of new york... where
ghostly shadows dwell,
odysseus had his tiresias
and dante had his virgil
between the head
and the hands ...
there is a heart, and
pulse of times square!
words and acrylic painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 02/04/22
on long island,
there is a concrete jungle
where jazz and graffiti birds
sing a westside story with
songs of romeo and juliet
the montages and capulets
just as on island of crete,
theseus had his ariadne
with her magical ball of thread
to lead him safely from the
lair of the minotaur, as
through these canyons
of new york... where
ghostly shadows dwell,
odysseus had his tiresias
and dante had his virgil
between the head
and the hands ...
there is a heart, and
pulse of times square!
words and acrylic painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 02/04/22
‘heavenly concertina’
#238 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
#238 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
heavenly concertina
aurora borealis
in the northern sky
a beautiful dance
of waves of light
energized particles
a covenant with nature
united in skies filled
with magical radiance
as ice flows float in our view
lit like ghosts across
the black water passes
through the still and quiet
of ocean currents
a luminescence,
in a synthesis
of our constellation ...
of our creation’s light …
we see the 'colour of silence'!
words and acrylic painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
fogo island, newfoundland
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 02/05/2
aurora borealis
in the northern sky
a beautiful dance
of waves of light
energized particles
a covenant with nature
united in skies filled
with magical radiance
as ice flows float in our view
lit like ghosts across
the black water passes
through the still and quiet
of ocean currents
a luminescence,
in a synthesis
of our constellation ...
of our creation’s light …
we see the 'colour of silence'!
words and acrylic painting - studioDB3
palette knife and brush on wood panel
fogo island, newfoundland
30cm x 30cm x 5cm Comox 02/05/2
‘Zierikzee - a redemption story'
#239 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic, brush and palette knife on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
#239 30cm x 30cm x 5cm acrylic, brush and palette knife on wood panel
‘postcard’ - series Comox BC 2022
Inter-connectivity and Introspection
studioDB3 Daniel A.L. Boot
‘Redemption' I thought I’d share with you a memory as a short narrative, to be read at your leisure ... if you can spare fifteen minutes.
This event took place a few years before the outbreak of the pandemic and the story involves recounting the first 72 hours after we touched down at the Schiphol Airport. Our experiences relate to veins of ‘dutch’ culture and to our adventures that includes a wooden shoe, a windmill and of an example of ‘redemption’ in the historic small seaside city of Zierikzee ... and of other things that are contained in my world!
When I first met Marilyn almost 50 years ago, I promised her on our wedding day that our life together, would be an adventure! We have had already previously a half dozen trips to Europe, but this particular trip follows our events that preceded the passing of a cloud burst and windstorm, and went as follows:
We had arrived to the calm and easy going ‘island’ province of Zeeland in our rented Renault driven from Schiphol Airport on a Friday afternoon. This island was the place of my birth where we made immediate plans to connect and introduce ourselves with the inn keeper in the historic small city of Zierikzee. This very quaint city is defined by its draw bridges, monuments, ramparts, moats and fortifications that date back to the 13th century. The quaint charm of the inner-harbour area, surrounded by its traditional, classical architecture and stately homes and storefronts. The quaint inner harbour with a collection of wooden sail boats has been used for nautical themed movie productions as well. It was our intension to make our way over the draw bridge and make our introductions with the inn keeper and to confirm our reservations that we had arranged from Canada; for the following day. The inn keeper mentioned that if an event was to occur, or if we were to arrive late in the evening, as an additional precaution, he would place the key outside the front door in a wooden shoe placed strategically on its ‘stoop’ along the narrow street.
Sounds like a wonderful plan! ... and with everything in order, we then drove across the 6.0kilometre bridge towards the island of Noord Beveland as we had previously arranged to stay with our cousin’s home for our first night. It was getting late in the afternoon when we eventually found our way and were enthusiastically and spontaneously received by our cousins!! The energy was running high with excitement as we shared a meal together and discussed our travel plans for the rest of our trip, with Spain our eventual destination! The rural setting of their country home was like a ‘picture postcard’, of red brick and terra-cotta clay tile roof in a traditional ‘dutch farm’ setting that included a small pond, horse paddocks and surrounded by a fruit tree orchard. We were settling in nicely and getting our bearings and reviewed our itinerary of our well laid out plans by Marilyn ... her trip planning cannot be understated ... I could just drive on ‘auto-pilot’! But even our best laid out plans can change and once we had everything organized ... we had to keep some options open to adapt to changes. For starts, we were immediately invited by our cousins to travel with them by car very early the next morning to France, a drive of roughly 2.5 hours away for a day trip! We agreed excitedly and I volunteered to drive! One of the main reasons and highlight was to meet their daughter who was studying in the border city of Lille, France. We knew their daughter very well as she had visited us in Canada, a couple years earlier. And since this was a weekend, their daughter did not have any studies and she was very anxious to meet us again! Wow! we thought... this was such a great opportunity, and the change of plans were quickly adjusted and settled! Checking over our itinerary, we were to leave the next morning and cross into Belgium through a long tunnel (7.0 kms long) under a channel that led to Antwerp. Confident in my driving, we motored along ... reminding ourselves how fortunate and relieved that we had previously confirmed our accommodation at an Inn in Zierikzee and the owners would leave the keys ... nothing more to worry about ... the planning was ‘nailed down’ tight!
Feeling refreshed about the drive through Flanders and through the Belgium landscape, our adventures continued, and were well on our way! The roads lead us through the meandering country roads past castle ruins towards France and before long we were entering the city gates of Lille and eventually found our way to the university where we parked our rental car. Once there, we were greeted by our cousin’s ‘bubbly’ daughter at her dormitory and it was a wonderful exchange of greetings and we were so happy to meet again!
Their daughter had an itinerary planned for a walking tour of the city’s historic classical buildings, the hub of French historical fortifications and ramparts. Our extended tour of the city and sidewalk cafe experiences had to be cut short on account that we still had a plan to be in Zierikzee that evening! Meanwhile unknowingly, our cousin’s daughter had previously arranged for a dinner for all of us that evening at a restaurant with reservations at 8:00pm!! Hey, wait a minute … we still had a 2.5-hour drive back … but upon her persuasion, we arrived at a stunning classical French ‘porte cochere courtyard’ restaurant with an unmatched ambiance … walls painted in burgundy red, chandeliers above each table with Chopin music in the background! It was a lovely dinner ... okay, we did lose track of our time, but this once in a lifetime experience, was so worth it! With the moon rising, it was hard to imagine having to leave Lille behind, but when we eventually made our way back to our vehicle (parked at the university dormitory) we soon discovered, our car could not be found anywhere ... we lost our way back!! The ground search took us everywhere through the dark streets of Lille nearly midnight on a Saturday night! As we ‘zig-zagged’ and traversed through many neighbourhoods that included a crowded noisy ‘street carnival’ complete with jesters, clowns, merry-go-rounds and ‘go-carts’ … it was like we were in a Stanley Kubrick movie-set!! ... our way back to the university was blocked! Approximately an hour later after midnight, we eventually found our car parked safe and near the university dormitory where we left it! It was time to say our quick farewell, exchanging laughs, hugs and kisses and drove back through Belgium along with our cousins and took the long drive back to Zeeland! Thankfully, the freeways were nearly empty at that time of the morning and we made brisk time! Passing through Belgium, we travelled the same route back through the sevenkilometre tunnel at Western Scheldt Tunnel. We dropped off our cousins at their home near Kortgene and we ventured on our own and crossed the six-kilometre length bridge into Zeirikzee! It was now around 2:30 am when Marilyn and I arrived at Zierikzee and all of a sudden, we encountered an enormous ‘cloud burst' and there was a deluge of rain we had never experienced before! Gingerly, we inched our way through the city ramparts and draw bridges in torrents of rain and drove with our car’s 'high beams' trying to find the inn! Miraculously, we found the inn in zero visibility! Unfortunately, when I stepped out of the car, I was totally drenched and reached for the entrance door... but the door was locked! And ...wait for this! the 'hidden key' wasn’t in the wooden shoe either!
What could we do?? ... our plans were shattered! While Marilyn stayed in the car, I knocked on the door of the inn … but there was no answer, and it was 3:00 am! … I raced back to Marilyn who pronounced, that she was not 'young anymore' and she would not sleep in the car (we did this out of necessity, years earlier while on a ‘carefree’ camping trip through Italy)! Okay, our next option was to sleep under the bridge because there weren’t any options left! … sorry, but that didn’t go over too well either!! Desperate measures were now in place and I quickly thought to turn the car around and drove back across the bridge and back to our cousin's place because, as I had estimated, they couldn’t possibly be sleeping too soundly yet!!
Driving back across the bridge of ‘six kilometres length’, with not another ‘soul’ driving on a rain drenched two lane bridge past 3:00 am!! … but there we were, just the two of us, driving in the horizontal rain, it felt as though we were driving … or flying in a space capsule! …into a ‘twi-light zone’ and we were the only souls around... everyone the ‘world over’ was soundly in their beds! Eventually, we arrived at our cousin’s place... and then I froze! I didn’t have the courage to knock on the door and rang the bell! … but we heard sounds behind the door; it was like they expected us! All in good nature with their kindness and understanding! Our cousins understood our predicament, our foibles, our ‘Boot-a tics’ … and hurriedly, they let us in from the storm ... showed us a bedroom where we collapsed into bed and slept soundly until mid-morning! Another truth is… without my cousin’s extraordinary kindness and understanding the whole expedition would have been impossible, the couple had nothing but generosity, and a true gift of understanding!
We drove back in later that morning to the inn at Zierikzee after the rainstorm had eased up and met the owner of the inn who was now standing behind the reception counter. We were greeted unabashingly, and he wanted to know if we had reservations! I thought for sure that he would have recognized us! Jokingly, I told him that we were there ‘on business'!! … ‘oh, what kind of business’? he remarked… ‘well,' I pronounced ... ‘it has to do with a key and a wooden shoe’!! ... it was then when his eyes popped out ...his jaw dropped in a profound embarrassed look!! ‘well, this is awkward’ ... he must of thought, as it just occurred him, that he forgot to place our key in the wooden shoe! This all has shades of a scene from ‘Fawlty Towers’ we thought! Needless to say, we weren’t in any mood to discuss it further and we desperately needed our beds to sleep things off! But in the back of my mind, Marilyn and I both knew that we were short one of our three nights of stay ... and this would be dealt with later!
We had lots of time to slowly rest up from the adventures, the rain, the storm and the drive to Lille and early the next morning, we awoke up were absolutely blinded by the sun streaming through our window and woke up to the sound of a strange whirling sound ... similar to the grinding gears of the merry-go-round at the carnival in Lille from the night before! I open the curtains further and to our surprise there was, looming in front of us, a very large windmill going at full tilt ‘all sheets to the wind’ and then we also noticed the whole community had come alive! Everyone had washed and hung out their clothes to dry ... being Monday morning, the entire neighbourhood was right on schedule! We discovered later, the windmill ‘de Hoop’ is an operating ‘grain mill’ using stone wheels and originally built in 1788! From our ‘room with a view’, we could also see the towering steeple of the Sint Lievensmonstertoren that had foundations laid in 1454 (the tower was once planned to be 130 meters tall – 426 feet but was cancelled due to conflicts with Spain and Napoleon).
It was now Monday morning, and it was clear that every one of Zierikzee was getting back to their daily household schedules! Hope was lifted! ... and after the storm clouds blew away, everybody was out to catch the rays of sun and off to school, to work, or go ‘winkelen’ an indication that life was back to normal!
We still had two more nights planned at the inn and we enjoyed every moment while the sun was out and cycled along the dykes and dunes visiting several quaint seaside villages and the original home of my birth. After our third day, we had time to recuperate from our adventures and it was time to bid our farewell to the owners of the inn. When I asked for our ‘reckoning’ to cover our expenses to date, ... and then it happened, to our surprise! … the owner said there wouldn’t be any reckoning and we were able to stay at no charge!! Such is the generosity of our host! Redemption paid off! We were so thankful, and before we left, I quickly ran over to the local bakery to buy a dozen of fresh baked ‘zeeuwse bolussen’ (an ‘island delicacy’) for the owners of the inn and their children!
The above short story, recounts what occurred in the first few days of one of our trips to the Netherlands. Our journey continued driving through France and to Spain went smoothly and without hardly any incident ... although, we happened to be travelling on wedding anniversary and our daughter had arranged to send us an outstanding large bouquet of flowers in a glass vase to the hotel where we were staying in Spain! It was such a lovely and considerate jester of our daughter, but we also had an itinerary to follow and a lot of driving ahead of us ... so we ended up taking the glass vase with tall stem flowers with us throughout the remainder of our road trip with the vase suitably made secure with seatbelts in the middle of the backseat of our car! I think you can imagine the sight! But at least we had the aroma of perfume and a bouquet in our hotel suite every day for at least the remainder of at least a week! ... and yes, our adventures continue to this day! Written by Daniel A. L. Boot
This event took place a few years before the outbreak of the pandemic and the story involves recounting the first 72 hours after we touched down at the Schiphol Airport. Our experiences relate to veins of ‘dutch’ culture and to our adventures that includes a wooden shoe, a windmill and of an example of ‘redemption’ in the historic small seaside city of Zierikzee ... and of other things that are contained in my world!
When I first met Marilyn almost 50 years ago, I promised her on our wedding day that our life together, would be an adventure! We have had already previously a half dozen trips to Europe, but this particular trip follows our events that preceded the passing of a cloud burst and windstorm, and went as follows:
We had arrived to the calm and easy going ‘island’ province of Zeeland in our rented Renault driven from Schiphol Airport on a Friday afternoon. This island was the place of my birth where we made immediate plans to connect and introduce ourselves with the inn keeper in the historic small city of Zierikzee. This very quaint city is defined by its draw bridges, monuments, ramparts, moats and fortifications that date back to the 13th century. The quaint charm of the inner-harbour area, surrounded by its traditional, classical architecture and stately homes and storefronts. The quaint inner harbour with a collection of wooden sail boats has been used for nautical themed movie productions as well. It was our intension to make our way over the draw bridge and make our introductions with the inn keeper and to confirm our reservations that we had arranged from Canada; for the following day. The inn keeper mentioned that if an event was to occur, or if we were to arrive late in the evening, as an additional precaution, he would place the key outside the front door in a wooden shoe placed strategically on its ‘stoop’ along the narrow street.
Sounds like a wonderful plan! ... and with everything in order, we then drove across the 6.0kilometre bridge towards the island of Noord Beveland as we had previously arranged to stay with our cousin’s home for our first night. It was getting late in the afternoon when we eventually found our way and were enthusiastically and spontaneously received by our cousins!! The energy was running high with excitement as we shared a meal together and discussed our travel plans for the rest of our trip, with Spain our eventual destination! The rural setting of their country home was like a ‘picture postcard’, of red brick and terra-cotta clay tile roof in a traditional ‘dutch farm’ setting that included a small pond, horse paddocks and surrounded by a fruit tree orchard. We were settling in nicely and getting our bearings and reviewed our itinerary of our well laid out plans by Marilyn ... her trip planning cannot be understated ... I could just drive on ‘auto-pilot’! But even our best laid out plans can change and once we had everything organized ... we had to keep some options open to adapt to changes. For starts, we were immediately invited by our cousins to travel with them by car very early the next morning to France, a drive of roughly 2.5 hours away for a day trip! We agreed excitedly and I volunteered to drive! One of the main reasons and highlight was to meet their daughter who was studying in the border city of Lille, France. We knew their daughter very well as she had visited us in Canada, a couple years earlier. And since this was a weekend, their daughter did not have any studies and she was very anxious to meet us again! Wow! we thought... this was such a great opportunity, and the change of plans were quickly adjusted and settled! Checking over our itinerary, we were to leave the next morning and cross into Belgium through a long tunnel (7.0 kms long) under a channel that led to Antwerp. Confident in my driving, we motored along ... reminding ourselves how fortunate and relieved that we had previously confirmed our accommodation at an Inn in Zierikzee and the owners would leave the keys ... nothing more to worry about ... the planning was ‘nailed down’ tight!
Feeling refreshed about the drive through Flanders and through the Belgium landscape, our adventures continued, and were well on our way! The roads lead us through the meandering country roads past castle ruins towards France and before long we were entering the city gates of Lille and eventually found our way to the university where we parked our rental car. Once there, we were greeted by our cousin’s ‘bubbly’ daughter at her dormitory and it was a wonderful exchange of greetings and we were so happy to meet again!
Their daughter had an itinerary planned for a walking tour of the city’s historic classical buildings, the hub of French historical fortifications and ramparts. Our extended tour of the city and sidewalk cafe experiences had to be cut short on account that we still had a plan to be in Zierikzee that evening! Meanwhile unknowingly, our cousin’s daughter had previously arranged for a dinner for all of us that evening at a restaurant with reservations at 8:00pm!! Hey, wait a minute … we still had a 2.5-hour drive back … but upon her persuasion, we arrived at a stunning classical French ‘porte cochere courtyard’ restaurant with an unmatched ambiance … walls painted in burgundy red, chandeliers above each table with Chopin music in the background! It was a lovely dinner ... okay, we did lose track of our time, but this once in a lifetime experience, was so worth it! With the moon rising, it was hard to imagine having to leave Lille behind, but when we eventually made our way back to our vehicle (parked at the university dormitory) we soon discovered, our car could not be found anywhere ... we lost our way back!! The ground search took us everywhere through the dark streets of Lille nearly midnight on a Saturday night! As we ‘zig-zagged’ and traversed through many neighbourhoods that included a crowded noisy ‘street carnival’ complete with jesters, clowns, merry-go-rounds and ‘go-carts’ … it was like we were in a Stanley Kubrick movie-set!! ... our way back to the university was blocked! Approximately an hour later after midnight, we eventually found our car parked safe and near the university dormitory where we left it! It was time to say our quick farewell, exchanging laughs, hugs and kisses and drove back through Belgium along with our cousins and took the long drive back to Zeeland! Thankfully, the freeways were nearly empty at that time of the morning and we made brisk time! Passing through Belgium, we travelled the same route back through the sevenkilometre tunnel at Western Scheldt Tunnel. We dropped off our cousins at their home near Kortgene and we ventured on our own and crossed the six-kilometre length bridge into Zeirikzee! It was now around 2:30 am when Marilyn and I arrived at Zierikzee and all of a sudden, we encountered an enormous ‘cloud burst' and there was a deluge of rain we had never experienced before! Gingerly, we inched our way through the city ramparts and draw bridges in torrents of rain and drove with our car’s 'high beams' trying to find the inn! Miraculously, we found the inn in zero visibility! Unfortunately, when I stepped out of the car, I was totally drenched and reached for the entrance door... but the door was locked! And ...wait for this! the 'hidden key' wasn’t in the wooden shoe either!
What could we do?? ... our plans were shattered! While Marilyn stayed in the car, I knocked on the door of the inn … but there was no answer, and it was 3:00 am! … I raced back to Marilyn who pronounced, that she was not 'young anymore' and she would not sleep in the car (we did this out of necessity, years earlier while on a ‘carefree’ camping trip through Italy)! Okay, our next option was to sleep under the bridge because there weren’t any options left! … sorry, but that didn’t go over too well either!! Desperate measures were now in place and I quickly thought to turn the car around and drove back across the bridge and back to our cousin's place because, as I had estimated, they couldn’t possibly be sleeping too soundly yet!!
Driving back across the bridge of ‘six kilometres length’, with not another ‘soul’ driving on a rain drenched two lane bridge past 3:00 am!! … but there we were, just the two of us, driving in the horizontal rain, it felt as though we were driving … or flying in a space capsule! …into a ‘twi-light zone’ and we were the only souls around... everyone the ‘world over’ was soundly in their beds! Eventually, we arrived at our cousin’s place... and then I froze! I didn’t have the courage to knock on the door and rang the bell! … but we heard sounds behind the door; it was like they expected us! All in good nature with their kindness and understanding! Our cousins understood our predicament, our foibles, our ‘Boot-a tics’ … and hurriedly, they let us in from the storm ... showed us a bedroom where we collapsed into bed and slept soundly until mid-morning! Another truth is… without my cousin’s extraordinary kindness and understanding the whole expedition would have been impossible, the couple had nothing but generosity, and a true gift of understanding!
We drove back in later that morning to the inn at Zierikzee after the rainstorm had eased up and met the owner of the inn who was now standing behind the reception counter. We were greeted unabashingly, and he wanted to know if we had reservations! I thought for sure that he would have recognized us! Jokingly, I told him that we were there ‘on business'!! … ‘oh, what kind of business’? he remarked… ‘well,' I pronounced ... ‘it has to do with a key and a wooden shoe’!! ... it was then when his eyes popped out ...his jaw dropped in a profound embarrassed look!! ‘well, this is awkward’ ... he must of thought, as it just occurred him, that he forgot to place our key in the wooden shoe! This all has shades of a scene from ‘Fawlty Towers’ we thought! Needless to say, we weren’t in any mood to discuss it further and we desperately needed our beds to sleep things off! But in the back of my mind, Marilyn and I both knew that we were short one of our three nights of stay ... and this would be dealt with later!
We had lots of time to slowly rest up from the adventures, the rain, the storm and the drive to Lille and early the next morning, we awoke up were absolutely blinded by the sun streaming through our window and woke up to the sound of a strange whirling sound ... similar to the grinding gears of the merry-go-round at the carnival in Lille from the night before! I open the curtains further and to our surprise there was, looming in front of us, a very large windmill going at full tilt ‘all sheets to the wind’ and then we also noticed the whole community had come alive! Everyone had washed and hung out their clothes to dry ... being Monday morning, the entire neighbourhood was right on schedule! We discovered later, the windmill ‘de Hoop’ is an operating ‘grain mill’ using stone wheels and originally built in 1788! From our ‘room with a view’, we could also see the towering steeple of the Sint Lievensmonstertoren that had foundations laid in 1454 (the tower was once planned to be 130 meters tall – 426 feet but was cancelled due to conflicts with Spain and Napoleon).
It was now Monday morning, and it was clear that every one of Zierikzee was getting back to their daily household schedules! Hope was lifted! ... and after the storm clouds blew away, everybody was out to catch the rays of sun and off to school, to work, or go ‘winkelen’ an indication that life was back to normal!
We still had two more nights planned at the inn and we enjoyed every moment while the sun was out and cycled along the dykes and dunes visiting several quaint seaside villages and the original home of my birth. After our third day, we had time to recuperate from our adventures and it was time to bid our farewell to the owners of the inn. When I asked for our ‘reckoning’ to cover our expenses to date, ... and then it happened, to our surprise! … the owner said there wouldn’t be any reckoning and we were able to stay at no charge!! Such is the generosity of our host! Redemption paid off! We were so thankful, and before we left, I quickly ran over to the local bakery to buy a dozen of fresh baked ‘zeeuwse bolussen’ (an ‘island delicacy’) for the owners of the inn and their children!
The above short story, recounts what occurred in the first few days of one of our trips to the Netherlands. Our journey continued driving through France and to Spain went smoothly and without hardly any incident ... although, we happened to be travelling on wedding anniversary and our daughter had arranged to send us an outstanding large bouquet of flowers in a glass vase to the hotel where we were staying in Spain! It was such a lovely and considerate jester of our daughter, but we also had an itinerary to follow and a lot of driving ahead of us ... so we ended up taking the glass vase with tall stem flowers with us throughout the remainder of our road trip with the vase suitably made secure with seatbelts in the middle of the backseat of our car! I think you can imagine the sight! But at least we had the aroma of perfume and a bouquet in our hotel suite every day for at least the remainder of at least a week! ... and yes, our adventures continue to this day! Written by Daniel A. L. Boot