Lessons Learnt

Oil on canvas – Image above displayed at low quality to protect copyright

Lessons Learnt conveys a deep, atmospheric moment, of a team caught in the vast, baron Arctic. Here, the trapper and huskies are learning the harsh lessons of the wilderness together. The storm clouds closing in, along with a cold, unnavigable landscape and thin ice, are real dangers that one might come across. 

The mushers attention is on a young, rookie dog falling into thin ice. The moment is tense, the reaction has to be fast, emphasised by the quick paced sketch, with the wheel dogs also trying to avoid the frigid water.

The environment can be challenging and formidable, repeatedly testing the teams skill and determination. However, the experienced huskies know just what to do. The swing dog checks back, concerned, but her paired companion knows to keep the line taught, while the lead dog concentrates on the direction ahead. Their body language will communicate to the musher before a visible danger, thin ice will raise tails and drop noses to ground as they apprehensively find the thickest parts. It is through experiences that this communication is learnt, it cannot be taught, hence the title. 

The use of light focuses the viewer to this by detailing where it touches and blending the dark, as if you are in the scene itself, watching from afar. 

“I wanted to covey the scene in a precise, illustrative way, to give clarity to the sharpness of the event. Although a tense moment, it is still a beautiful, inspiring one – so I kept the contrast and colour changes soft, with the intention of an overall positive sense of awe, respect and appreciation for the Arctic wilderness.    

As a team they will get through it; as a team they will strive and be stronger, more mature and wiser than before. They will work together, and these moments shared will only strengthen the bond between them.”