KITKATLA SUNSET - Artist Proof #4/8

I have an awesome relative, Cyril Aster, from my home village of Kitkatla, B.C. Cyril is one of those incredible outdoors men who grew up the way I did on the ocean. He’s always watching and aware of the beautiful world he lives in. Cyril was returning to the village one day at sunset and captured one of our beautiful sunsets over Kitkatla Inlet.

I was working on images for a new book called, “If You Want to Visit A Sea Garden”, by Kay Weisman and illustrated by yours truly. When the folks at Anansi Press saw the image of Kitkatla Sunset inspired by Cyril Aster, they wanted it to be the cover photo.

While I was working on the image of the sunset, a memory of being in the rowboat with my grandpa, Henry Vickers, came to me. I spent so many wonderful hours with my Grandpa and mentor, and the teachings he passed on to me have inspired me throughout my entire career as an artist.

One day, I was out in the rowboat with him, and I heard the church bells across the water; it was a Sunday morning. As I helped row the boat, I realized I never saw my Grandpa in church. I asked him why he never went to church. Grandpa looked at the sky, the trees, and the ocean then turned to me and said, “This is my church”.

Kitkatla Sunset reminds me that nature is sacred, and today, my Grandpa’s sacred place is also mine, and he’s with me when I’m out there.