By Lorna Judith Allan
I look back now and it is at least 18 months since I last wrote for Red Easel. A lot has happened in my life since then as it does for all of us and I would like to share with you some of the things that have happened since then, dreams achieved, inspiration found, and new and exciting interests.
For those of you who may not have read, or have forgotten my previous story, “A Piece of Chalk and an Old Paint Box” was the story of how, as a young girl, I had a dream to become an art teacher and to share my passion for art and the beauty of the world around me with others, and how that dream was never quite to be. Instead, I led a fairly ordinary life, although at times creating some art.
The story begins again and my dreams continued though the focus now was somewhat changed. I did get to teach workshops to adult pupils and enjoyed this immensely, one of my students taking the first prize over all in the Royal Easter Show in a competition of some one thousand artists. I worked hard at my own art, still showing at every opportunity; however, a dream since I was a teenager nagged away at the back of my mind. The dream was to travel to and journey around Canada and Alaska. I read one day that “a dream is only ever a dream until you turn it into a plan.” And so my plan began.
I followed that dream of many years and traveled to Alaska where I literally wandered around for nearly four months. I used Google to research things to do, places to go, and who to see, and what adventures to have, and gained as much knowledge as I could before departing with a back pack and lots of dreams, a determination, enthusiasm, and a passion to see, do, and experience all I could. I had traveled previously through Europe with other people but this time decided to do the journey by myself.
Traveling in this way, by myself with no travel companion opened up possibilities and opportunities for me that would never have happened otherwise - every one taken without hesitation and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
I believe we should live life to the fullest; every moment and every day filling our lives with new experiences and new learning. If we can do this, we learn that life is always exciting and new and never wasted. We can always look forward with anticipation and never have regrets that we should have done this or that. Who knows if we will ever get the chance again?
One unexpected opportunity was a visit to Katmai National Park and Preserve. Traveling with a small group to Brooks Camp we went straight to bear school off the plane so we would know how to be safe. Three days were spent going to and from the bear viewing platforms, doing photography and experiencing the lives of the bears. Mother bears are amazingly good mothers and we got to view this with mothers and their cubs at Brooks Falls. It was so interesting to be able to watch for so many hours, having time to see the hierarchy, the different natures, the different methods of fishing and in all the wonder, the activities and antics of the cubs.
I had just recently finished a small painting of a pair of the cubs. These little cubs were so interesting each having their own characters easily seen to the careful watcher. One small cub was afraid when crossing the river when the mother wanted to take them up on top of the falls to teach them to fish. Another cub realized his sibling wasn’t coming so he turned back to help. The mother bear looking back saw what was happening and returned also to help. Together they encouraged that small cub to go with them. It was a magic moment to watch.
Doing the painting was a different story. It was only the second time I had done paintings of bears and these little tykes just wouldn’t hold still! I did enjoy it though and hope that shows in the work. It is quite a difficult thing to say to myself that this is a finished painting as I can get so involved and be back there in the place, in the time, and part of me is left forever in the painting.
The visit to Brooks Camp at Katmai National Park held a last adventure for our group when on the last day there was little happening up at the falls so we walked back down the track to the lower platform. A ranger called to us as we approached telling us that “there were bears too close and to get up on the platform quickly!” We spent the next three hours surrounded by 10 bears. It was an amazing time. Time to watch, learn, and experience nature even more. The issue with this, though, was that planes were waiting on the other side of the river to take us to King Salmon for the connection back to Anchorage. The small planes would have to wait, but not the one from King Salmon.
Part of the situation was that when there are bears close to the bridge, the bridge is closed as it is a floating bridge with sides on it that bears can climb. Also there were bears on both sides of the river so there was no chance to cross at all. Near the end of the three hours a small boat was sent across to try and get some of us out. We still had to wait until there was a gap where no bear was too close so we could get to the boat. At last we were on the boat…but oh no! The engine wouldn’t start. It was pushed clear of the shore by an oar. However, bears are good swimmers. After a few tries the boat got underway using the auxiliary motor and we made it safely across the river.
Traveling in the way that I did, learning about the life of the people of this land, to get to know so many of them, has been an honor. I still keep in touch with many of them. Other experiences of the wildlife, bird and sea life, living on a tug boat for a month circumnavigating Chichagof Island, watching polar bears, muskox, caribou, and seeing so many other animals in their natural habitat has enabled me to learn the finer points of photography. With the help of guide and photographer Hugh Rose, now a life long friend, I have been able to combine new skills and knowledge to open up new thoughts and put new feeling and emotion into my work. I believe that once you are touched by a grand adventure, a part of your heart lives there forever.
I hope that by telling my story you will think on your own dreams and aspiration and make time and plans to achieve them. Once you start making your dreams a reality things begin to fall into place and the universe opens up to you. Never give up your dreams. Its okay to change them as life changes our ideas and desires, but always dream and turn your most beautiful ones into plans. It’s never too late.
Thank you for letting me share a small part of my life and adventures with you. I hope you have enjoyed my story and I look forward to meeting you here again sometime soon.
Warm regards,
Lorna
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Lorna Judith Allan
Professional Visual Artist
Published
Medium: Acrylic
Woodlands Park, Titirangi,
Waitakere City, Auckland
New Zealand
Lorna Allan Fine Art
Allan Red Easel Gallery
Lorna's Blog
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Lorna Allan recently returned from an extended journey through Alaska, a place she
has longed to visit for many years Lorna looks forward to presenting
many new works in the near future.
She spent time traveling
with friend and photographer Hugh Rose (www.hughrosephotography.com) on
journeys based on photography, ecology and wild life. Learning finer
points of photography has enabled her to capture better images for
future artworks, while the combination of the three elements have
helped her to view things from a new perspective.
Traveling in
Europe in 1996 and 1998 Lorna was privileged to view the works of some
of the finest Masters in history, and along with influences of artists
around the world through International and Australian Artists Magazines
all have been of great help to her.
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