Yesterday I enjoyed another beautiful day on one of my favorite lakes. Lake Dangerfield is a small intimate lake in East Texas, this was my second time to visit. It feels like being in the middle of the north woods, including the sound of owls in the evening and the cries of wolves at night-okay coyotes but still.
I photographed with my camera phone, which guarantees a less than high quality product but I’m very impressed with the fact that the lack of quality almost made it more artistic than photographic. I have a new series of small paintings and these are like photographic sketches for those upcoming studies.
I want the paintings to convey the dark, cool blues and greens that make you feel so isolated and alone but the feeling isn’t lonely, its small and intimate, there are lily pads everywhere hiding chain pickerel and bass. The colors of the lily pads are warm reds and golds and they reach up from the crystal clear water like ghosts. As the sun descends the colors and light change and the drama of the scene heightens, we shared the lake with just a few other people that were crazy enough to go out into the 46 degree water and a twelve mile an hour wind but this is half the fun of kayaking in the winter, no really it is, having sensation in your extremities is overrated anyway.
On a lake like Texoma in North Texas, you feel like you are lost in the middle of a large body of water that could be an ocean if it weren’t for the tall trees and rocky cliffs but the size of the waves and the activity is so different than being on a lake like Dangerfield. The stillness of the forest that surrounds you and the deep blue color of the water as the shadows twist and bend at sunset are just a few of the reasons why I love kayaking Daingerfield.
Something that separated this particular day from other days spent kayaking is the fact that we actually caught fish this time. I caught a very large chain pickerel, my son and nephew each caught a few of their own, it was one of the more successful fishing trips I have had in recent months.
I even go the chance to see a pileated woodpecker, an osprey and other various songbirds. Being on a kayak in a place like this is like for a moment not existing and allowing nature to act as it would if you weren’t there. Recently, I have taken advantage of the silence and stopped fishing long enough to take in the beauty and calm of a pristine lake and one of my favorite places to kayak in Texas. I think this stopping and taking in the scenery has improved recent kayaking ventures as it is very hard to feel clumsy and awkward trying to fish while the wind is moving the kayak in a different direction and a tree is trying to pull you and your rods out of the boat-I’m not the most agile fisherman but this time was more calm and peaceful than many other trips I have taken.
Next destination, Broken Bow Lake Oklahoma, still cold but hopefully not too windy. Until the next time, get out there and explore.
Artbygordon: Original oils on canvas, Original pastels on paper celebrating the beauty and mystery of nature. Water and night skies are my specialties.
