Fishing, March 23, 7″ x 9″, Watercolor, Stan Fellows
“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.” ~Doug Larson
Fishing, March 20, 15″ x 20″ / Lures, 11″ x 14″ / Waiting for the Truck, March 25, 7″ x 9″ / Watercolor, Stan Fellows
The last three years of my dad’s life were pretty happy ones for him and me. It certainly hadn’t been HIS plan to join my family here in Iowa, but it all worked out pretty well. Bud Steele got to attend his grandchildrens’ college graduations. We picnicked. We drew together in life drawing sessions at Coe College. He worked on his decoys in Craig’s wood shop. And, we went fishing together. It was this last activity that was summoned so strongly to mind when I looked at Stan Fellows’ watercolors of fishermen. I loved fishing with my father! Years just dropped away from him when he cast his line out across the water. He was a smart, patient, gifted fisherman. In watercolors that celebrate the water, sky, and, yes, fishing, Stan Fellows’ sure hand illustrates the beauty at the heart of this most meditative pursuit.
Bud Steele, fishing
2 Comments
this was so meaningful to me and my boyfriend. he is facing the loss of his dad to cancer who has been given a few weeks to a few months. my boyfriend is feeling especially guilty that he has not spent enough time w/ his dad. over the past several years, as his dad has gotten older, he has made it a point to go on fishing trips with him. i sent him this quote and reminded him of all the fishing trips they took and how meaningful they were the the memories they created.
Fishing is a great balm for the soul. And when you can’t fish, you can just sit, drink in the beauty and be part of the world. The time that my dad and I had together is an immense comfort to me now. Thanks for your comment!