Stories Behind the Art
Where do cars go to die? Well, some have gone to a place in Cardinal Ontario called The Boneyard.
I came across The Boneyard through a video segment on the local news. The facility is visited on quite often by photographers interested in using the cars as backdrops for model shoots.
In the segment, there was a mention of a car by the name of Louise that was believed to be possessed. Of course, I was intrigued and had to go. I immediately sent a message to the owner of the facility asking if I could visit to take photos and maybe do some plein air work. The owner told me I would need to schedule a day and time and they would be soon shutting down access until the fall. I would be the first artist to visit. There is no fee but they ask you to make a contribution to the local food bank.
After a few cancellations due to weather, I was able to finally make it. I arrived with all my gear in tow. I was met by the owner, Joe Martelle and he outlined the layout of the fields that had become the final home for many of these cars. He also told me the story of Louise.
Louise is a 1936 Dodge that arrived in a few years ago on a flatbed. The day she arrived Joe and his son were excited and jumped into the car to get a sense of what it would feel like to be cursing around during the 30s and 40s.
The next day Joe woke up to a stroke. A healthy man with no previous conditions he was quite surprised. In addition, he son became quite sick as well. They spoke to the tow truck driver a few days later who was also struck with some kind of sickness after dropping her off. Sure maybe this was all coincidence. However, Joe’s son was with his friend and drove past Louise one day and he dragged his hand down the car almost taunting the possibility of a spirit impacting the real world. Later that evening, he would accidentally cut off the tip of his finger.
So, was I willing to take a chance with the car and touch her. Heck no! I sat with Louise and painted her as I spoke to her.
Here are some additional photos from the day that will inspire future work! :-)
Recent Drawing Inspiration Episodes
Here are a couple of the most recent “Drawing Inspiration” podcast episodes. The podcast is available wherever you listen to music.
58: Discovering Something Special with Nature Journaling
I had some recent success in exploring nature journaling. I share my tools, techniques, and some tips along the way. I also talk about some of his recent nature illustration pieces.
59: Turning a Passion into a Tool for Change with Wildlife Artist Sophie Green
I get a little too close to a possessed 1936 Dodge and draws some more insects. Wildlife artist Sophie Green joins the podcast to talk about her creative journey from teacher to an accomplished and successful artist. Sophie talks about her recent pieces from elephants, to bisons, penguins and whale sharks. Sophie donates a percentage of her income to various charities around the world focused protecting animals and their environments. They also discuss the role social media has for an artist.
60: Connecting with Friends and Finding a New Creative Path with Artist Alvin Chong
Mike prepares some starter packs for those interested in a list of curated episodes around certain topics. He also shares a strategy in how to share your work. Alvin Chong joins the podcast to talk about his beginnings and his journey from creativity and back again. Alvin talks about his art, his tattoo business, and how the lockdown opened up new possibilities for him online.
61: Connections, Embracing Challenges, and Enjoying the Present with Gayle Kabaker
Mike completes another page in his nature journal, visits a local historic site and talks about prompts like #sciartseptember and Inktober. Artist and teacher Gayle Kabaker joins the podcast to talk about her creative journey from fashion illustrator to portraiture and cover design. She recently complete her seventh cover for The New Yorker Magazine. She has also done work with Vital Voices including a book with 100 of her portraits.
What I'm Watching
I think that one of the better films I have seen on Netflix this year is Fantastic Fungi. This movie covers the
The Bookshelf
Of course, in keeping with Fantastic Fungi I also purchase the book “Fantastic Fungi” based on the documentary. It is a wonderful coffee table book on the mighty mushroom. I also picked up “Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World” from Paul Stamets. Did you know that in Season 1 of Star Trek Discovery, one of the characters is name Paul Stamets. In the series, the ship uses a type of propulsion known as a spore drive that takes advantage of a mycelium type network.