Vancouver Island

I have lived on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, for many years. I have a love-hate relationship with the island. It is a beautiful wild island, full of deep forests, hidden beaches beside the blue ocean, and pristine lakes. Deep green rivers tumble and rush between high rocks, and mountains provide hiking, skiing, and captivating exploration. It is a place where you can kayak and ski on the same day.

But it is a dark island. Behind the beauty is an island where darkness has been practiced for hundreds of years. This has been a foundation bed for what is practised today. The Satanist church in Victoria is said to be the 3rd largest in the world. The island is known for its large population of witches and covens, and “love, healing” centers abound on the island and many of the smaller surrounding islands.

Apart from all of that, it is an island where I have never been able to paint. The grey, the blue, and the green leave me cold, as far as painting goes. But the island is where I live. Why don’t I leave? You might ask. It’s not easy to uproot oneself. Three of my children and one grandchild were born here. Age and financial considerations also play a part. Nevertheless, I hope to leave. Meanwhile, I have attempted to paint what I feel about this island. Interestingly enough, I believe I managed to capture the beauty and the darkness behind the beauty.

I will upload a finished painting of the island soon.