In the Kawarthas where I live, my daily walks along the Otonabee River take me through riparian forest to a lovely marsh. Each day is a gift from Nature and each walk a small discovery. I always come home with at least one gift of discovery.
The Photograph…
One day in early winter (November) as I walked to the marsh, it began to snow. It was the first snow of the season and stirred in me a wonderful excitement. Most deciduous trees had dropped their leaves; yet the foliage of many shrubs like dogwood, honeysuckle and buckthorn resolutely clung on. The falling snow brought a wonderful contrast with the varied colours and textures of the marsh vegetation. Greens, gold and cinnamon, umbers, bronzes, greys and blue-blacks. Goldenrod seed heads nodded beneath snow blankets. Red viburnum berries glowed like neon lights.
The marsh was alive with the clucking and chattering of mallard ducks. At least a dozen of them glided and dipped their heads, feeding contentedly on algae and detritus among the reeds. The snowfall grew heavy and collected on their backs; they didn’t seem to mind.
The scene, captured by my camera, reminded me of an impressionist painting. Dressed in sombre winter colours, the marsh celebrated a rich display of unassuming life as snow fell in silent transformation. I felt blessed.
The Painting…
Soon after I shared my image on X (Twitter), an X friend shared a painting they’d created, inspired by my image. I was moved by this wonderful rendition and asked if I could share on this blog. Thankfully, Cori said yes.
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The Story Behind the Painting
“Being an amateur painter (began during COVID), I find detailing subjects in a painting mind boggling. When I saw Nina’s photo that was blurred by snow flurries, it presented itself as one I could paint within a few hours. Departing from detail, I was able to concentrate on shapes and colours. I could picture myself photographing that very same serene image and even having a conversation with the ducks.”
Cori Arthur
About Cori Arthur
After 30 years of tourism promotion for municipal government, Cori now paints with a passion influenced by the great outdoors they so enjoy in southern Ontario while kayaking, hiking, cycling, and gardening. You can follow Cori Arthur on X or Instagram.
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Nina Munteanu is a Canadian ecologist / limnologist and novelist. She is co-editor of Europa SF and currently teaches writing courses at George Brown College and the University of Toronto. Visit www.ninamunteanu.ca for the latest on her books. Nina’s bilingual “La natura dell’acqua / The Way of Water” was published by Mincione Edizioni in Rome. Her non-fiction book “Water Is…” by Pixl Press (Vancouver) was selected by Margaret Atwood in the New York Times ‘Year in Reading’ and was chosen as the 2017 Summer Read by Water Canada. Her novel “A Diary in the Age of Water” was released by Inanna Publications (Toronto) in June 2020.
The Meaning of Water 