Evening sky, dawn sea.

Evening sky, dawn sea.

My other writings have been short stories or poems inspired by the art.
For this piece I decided to do something different, simply to record my
feelings and thoughts as I considered the work.

Looking at the painting, there is an immediate feeling of peace. This
is unsurprising - it is a tranquil scene: a quiet sea, islands (?), a
colourful sunset, a couple contemplating the vista.

Notice that the sea does not mirror the sky. There is dawn light on the
water, evening light in the sky. Clearly, this could not represent a
real seascape. It is entirely imaginary.

Today (Wednesday, 4 December 2002) I had a telephone conversation with
a friend from whom I hadn't heard for a long time. She told me her year
had been extremely busy - a move to a new home, the ongoing
redecoration of the old one, problems with the business she jointly
runs with boyfriend (he's a self-employed naval architect), the
acquisition and training of a dog, the meeting of numerous deadlines
(she's illustrating a series of books about boats), a death in the
family&;#8230; She said that she felt overwhelmed - stressed to the
gunwales even! Then her sister gave her a book on meditation: "The
Importance of Now" or something like that. It emphasized the utility of
bearing in mind that all you ever really have is the present moment.
Yes, you may be faced with a multiplicity of apparently conflicting
tasks, but your experience of stress really comes from thinking about
the future and how you will cope. At any one moment you are still
yourself, breathing, present and functioning. Meditation and yoga have
helped her fix herself in the quiet of the moment. She has learnt to
slow down and says she is now handling the pressures well.

A couple of years ago I read a book that recommended creating for
oneself a mental retreat, an imaginary place of calm to which one could
quickly withdraw when the demands of life grew too large. Specifically,
it suggested a beach, along which one could walk (in one's head), and
on which one would meet a helpful figure who would answer questions and
dispense advice.

This painting suggests just such a beach to me. Looking at it offers an
immediate escape into the present moment, away from regrets and
worries. But there's more to it than that. There's a couple in the
foreground. The obvious superficial interpretation is that this
represents a romantic partnership, and there's nothing wrong with this
interpretation. However, it may also represent, if one chooses, the
meeting with the wise counsellor mentioned above. But, of course, this
advisor is of one's own creation, so perhaps the couple express the
idea that ultimately one is one's own best friend? Or should be if one
is going to be happy? If the figures are considered to be male and
female, might they not also suggest that we all have both male and
female sides? In effect, that we have more mental and emotional
possibilities and resources than we often allow ourselves to drawn
upon? Is one's "male" reaction to a situation unhelpful or
counterproductive? How would a woman approach the problem? (Vice versa
if one is female.) Yin and yang. Balance and harmony. Try looking at
things from another point of view.

What of the sunset sky?

Q. Where do the colours come from?
A. The refraction, reflection and differential absorption of sunlight
by the gases, particles and liquids (water droplets) of the earth's
atmosphere.

In other words, the colours are generated by the obstruction and
bending of light; beauty comes from light encountering contrariness and
obstruction. Life without problems would be insipid, meaningless and
boring. Sometimes what appear to be one's most pressing problems turn
out to inaugurate the most sparkling periods of creativity and
growth.

Why is the light on the water suggestive of dawn? To remind one,
perhaps, that this day is the first of the rest of one's life. A new
start is always possible.

What of the islands, or headlands, on the horizon? I choose to think of
these as the latter, forming the entrance to a large natural harbour.
Beyond is wild ocean. Here, on the side of the observer, is calm water.
We all need and deserve time out from the choppy waters of life. This
painting, which I find the most soothing and therapeutic of Charlotte
Evans' works, offers just that.