Sunday, March 26, 2017

Canmore Eagles Tier 1 Champions-Canadian Rockies

HI there
The main goal of my blog is to share the journey of my painting. A huge part of my life and painting is my family and the journey we share together. Here is a part of the journey we have been on for the past six months.

Our hockey season ended yesterday.
It has been an incredible journey this past year. Robson was in his second year of Bantam and really found his place on the team. From being a passionate team mate to fast skater, tape to tape passer and a sniper with his goals, he has had a memorable season. The culmination of his season is his team won the Bantam Tier 1 banner yesterday in Medicine Hat, part of the Central Alberta Hockey League. Robson’s first banner in 8 years of playing.

As I sit here this evening reflecting on the past two days and the season overall, it is with a bit of sadness. His season is over. His hockey future is uncertain at this time.
What is certain is that the drives thru snow storms and hanging out in chilly arenas may have come to an end. The taste of the best breakfast sandwiches in smalls Ville Alberta is history. The countless stops at Tim Hortons, Edo and Subway are behind us. The alarm clock ringing at 5:30 am so we can get up and drive 400 kms. for a league game (and then drive back) are behind us. The lament “Dad, I forgot my neck guard, or shin pads or elbow pads” is in the rearview mirror. I will miss it all.

Just for fun, I went on to our CAHL website and added up some statistics. We live closer to BC but we play in the Central Alberta Hockey League, and play teams from Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. Here are the numbers for our team;

Won 15 games
Tied 4 games
Lost 5 games
From Banff we travelled 5,247 kms/return to all our games
As 2/3 of our practices were in Canmore we travelled 2,200 kms.

It was a great year. Thanks to the coaches, parents and most of all the players who helped to make it so much fun.
And Thank You Robson for making me a hockey Dad.

Robert Krysak


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Stealth Wolf-Canadian Rockies

It has been very interesting painting Stealth Wolf. When you live close to the wilderness, you are always aware of the presence of animals. You see their tracks, some fur on a branch, scat on the ground.

While I was working on the painting I had this eerie sensation of being watched. As the eye of Stealth Wolf evolved I felt it was watching me, checking me out. I have a habit of putting a painting on the mantle of our fireplace, and I view it from different angles and distance. The goal is to make sure I have the right perspective and shadows and depth of field.

Having completed Stealth Wolf I feel inclined to create more works of the wild animals that live around us. It is Spring time......soon the bears will be out of their dens.

Stealth Wolf
Watercolor on canvas
20" x 16"
$350

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Stealth Wolf-Canadian Rockies

It's Spring in the Rockies. The world is alive with the sound of birds, gurgling water, the cracking of ice and the silence of the forest. I have been on many walks in the woods near our home, and have come across countless wolf tracks in the snow.

One day when I was walking down a narrow road thru the woods, I was startled by a movement in the forest off to my right. I stopped, looking into the woods, and a deer poked its head around a tree. I caught my breath, slowly exhaled then chuckled. Having seen all the wolf track had my imagination racing.........I thought a wolf had been watching me.

You seldom see wolves, but they are in the forest. Almost invisible except for their tracks, they move silently through the valley. With stealth and cunning, they are able to sneak up on unsuspecting prey.

On the walk back to the van, I envisioned a painting with a dark background, snow, and a wolf peeking around an aspen tree.

Stealth Wolf was born.

Robert Krysak

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Wolf Tracks-Canadian Rockies

It’s Spring time….one of my favorite times of year The smell of the air, the warmth of the sun, the sound of melt water gurgling…..very special.

I was out for a walk today past the Banff Springs golf course. Nice place to go as the road is closed and not many visitors go there. I was out for some exercise and time to think of what the subject matter would be for my next painting.

I was walking down the snow-covered road which was in melt mode as the temp was 6c. Just as I came around a blind corner, I looked down and stopped suddenly……..there in the snow melt was a fresh track. It’s interesting, as the past few months I have been meditating a lot and my senses are getting sharper. Along the walk, I would stop occasionally, sensing energy coming from the surrounding forest and the mountains. I had come across fresh wolf tracks.

I put a toonie beside the track and took a picture. When I got home I did a measurement of the track and the toonie....the track was around 4.5 inches long. The center of my palm to the end of my fingertips is the same length. This was a big wolf.

As I continued walking down the road the tracks wove in and out of the trees. Every 50 yards or so the tracks would stop at a tree where the wolf marked his territory with urine. As I continued along my senses were elevating, getting sharper with every step. All of a sudden there were no tracks, then after half a kilometer, there were two sets of tracks side by side. I stopped, listened to the forest, sensing a very strong energy. 

Looking down the road, it was as if I was looking down a tunnel of trees. My spirit guide at that time gave me the sense to not go forward. I paused, closed my eyes and breathed deeply. I then turned around.
On the walk back I would stop to scan the forest behind me, sensing all the energy that was around.
It is Spring time....soon the bears will be joining the wolves in the valley.

Robert Krysak