Walking along Esquimalt Lagoon, Paul Lewis sees things many people donB次元官网网址檛.
Armed with a bag and keen eye, Lewis sets out searching for pieces of driftwood. ItB次元官网网址檚 not long before heB次元官网网址檚 collected enough pieces, which he then dumps onto the sand and begins to sort through. Slowly, but surely, Lewis finds the perfect pieces to fit together to be transformed into art.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like putting a puzzle together to see which pieces fit,B次元官网网址� Lewis said. B次元官网网址淚t just starts to come alive, I guess the wood just speaks to me.B次元官网网址�
The 46-year-old Langford resident is the artist behind the four new faces at the lagoon in Colwood. Last week, Lewis created the eagle, a horned owl and a nesting raven that sit on logs overlooking the ocean. He also recently finished making Canada geese from driftwood that sit between the eagle and the owl.
RELATED: Creatures find home on Colwood waterfront
For most of his artistic career, Lewis has painted West Coast wildlife and native art with acrylic. Several years ago, he had an exhibit in Victoria, and most recently was commissioned to create a painting depicting orcas for a woman in Vancouver.
After being stuck inside his home by Langford Lake for most of last week after having a tooth pulled, Lewis felt the urge to get creative again, this time with a new medium. Last Friday he headed down to the Lagoon B次元官网网址� a place he goes every morning to drink coffee and enjoy nature B次元官网网址� and started collecting driftwood.
Roughly four and a half hours and dozens of seashells later, he created his first piece, the eagle, which represents LewisB次元官网网址� love for birds and the fact that the Lagoon is a bird sanctuary.
RELATED: Driftwood Days coming to Royal Bay in Colwood
His work has received a lot of support from the public so far. Lewis said he also received a call from Comox Valley artist Alex Witcombe, who created McGnarly the Beach Ent last year, to do a collaboration piece in the future.
B次元官网网址淭he feedback IB次元官网网址檝e received is inspiring,B次元官网网址� Lewis said.
That feedback also included a call from Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton thanking Lewis for his art.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 awesome. ItB次元官网网址檚 creating from whatB次元官网网址檚 at hand. IB次元官网网址檓 happy to see it there,B次元官网网址� Hamilton said. B次元官网网址淚t adds to everyoneB次元官网网址檚 walk and kids who are poking along to see things. Thank you [to Paul] for sharing his talents with us in a way that so many people can enjoy.B次元官网网址�
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