A review by susaninthewild
The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland
5.0
This is the fourth time I’ve read this book. The reading was precipitated by an engaging discussion about her art and a tour of the recent Emily Carr exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery. This book sits on a single shelf that holds the few select books that stir my soul and it is one of those books that I treasure every time I read it.
Perhaps because I am an artist I deeply connect to Emily as she is portrayed in this book. I love that the author took facts and things we know for certain about this amazing BC artist and then wove stories around them.
I don’t know if Emily’s introspection comes from her actual writings but if it did not then the author must be an artist in her own right. The musings of most artists I know reasonate in Emily’s words, “what am I here for? If only I were sure it was to paint the places I love. To paint them well enough to mean something to people, then I would take joy in every step toward that... “ And when Emily looks at something and identifies the colour...”cadmium red extra deep”, it makes me laugh every time because that is how I and many artists see the world. I once told another artist I was at the beach and that I was surrounded by Ultramarine Blue light; they understood exactly what I meant.
Susan Vreelands descriptive language blows me away-I can barely go a page without experiencing
joy at her words, “breathe a soup of smells”, “see with storybook eyes”, and “you fit me”. I know personally the truth of “a baby for a while is better than no baby” and “you never know forests until you get inside”.
I find this book is a joy and pleasure to read. I intend to visit it again and again.
Perhaps because I am an artist I deeply connect to Emily as she is portrayed in this book. I love that the author took facts and things we know for certain about this amazing BC artist and then wove stories around them.
I don’t know if Emily’s introspection comes from her actual writings but if it did not then the author must be an artist in her own right. The musings of most artists I know reasonate in Emily’s words, “what am I here for? If only I were sure it was to paint the places I love. To paint them well enough to mean something to people, then I would take joy in every step toward that... “ And when Emily looks at something and identifies the colour...”cadmium red extra deep”, it makes me laugh every time because that is how I and many artists see the world. I once told another artist I was at the beach and that I was surrounded by Ultramarine Blue light; they understood exactly what I meant.
Susan Vreelands descriptive language blows me away-I can barely go a page without experiencing
joy at her words, “breathe a soup of smells”, “see with storybook eyes”, and “you fit me”. I know personally the truth of “a baby for a while is better than no baby” and “you never know forests until you get inside”.
I find this book is a joy and pleasure to read. I intend to visit it again and again.