Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Fishscale Chapel



Bink to blow...up!
A Norwegian fisherman was pitched out of his small fishboat while jigging for cod during a squall. Snagged by a log and deposited on the beach, he believed he was delivered there by God. Filled with "The Spirit", he read "The Book" and built his version of a church and delivered homespun sermons to the seagulls. The belfry contained a big brass bell which can still be heard when strong winds whistle through. The shingles are cut in the fishscale style.

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26 comments:

Billie Crain said...

love the painting! the story's good, too. naming the boat St. Peter...nice touch.:)

the building makes me think when i was 15 and worked at the Nautical restaurant above Cross Fisheries. we could always tell when the tugs were coming in by the number and sound of seagulls squawking. we grabbed enamel tubs and waited outside for the guys to clean the fish before hauling them up to be fried. can't say the fish wasn't fresh at the Nautical! and what a place it was, too. you could get seasick walking across the floors(that place was old!)and no modern conveniences to speak of...an old fry-O-lator, no dishwasher(except me)...you get the picture. Hulda Cross owned and ran the place and she scared me half to death. i remember she had wild white hair and a moth tattooed on her left knee.

About said...

"Imaginary Places to Visit on Vancouver Island" Written and Illustrated by Ron Morrison. Now how fun would that be?! I love your houses...their fanciful architecture and colors are a kick.

Madison Moore said...

WOW!!!! This is really beautiful Ron. Love the depth of color in this and the detail in the building. You got this one!!!!

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks Billie, you are giving me ideas.....

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks Tracy, I'm gonna work on them a bit they aren't wrecked enough?

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks Madison, just fooling around.

Cara said...

Ron - I love this picture and the story - truely enchanting -

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks Cara, there's a whole bunch more to the story.The Norwegian married a Metis woman and moved back to town. They spent summers fishing and living in the F.S. Chapel. Winters were spent in town with occasional visits to their retreat. Did this for a long time. The old boy was the gentlest soul I ever met, had hands the size of grizzly paws and could bend a 3 1/4 duplex nail between his fingers and peel off a beer cap with a flick of his thumb. Never a cross word even for his haywire wife (my grandmother). He was a motorcycle enthusiast and could fix anything. The local bikers were always coming over and getting a part or some advice. It was quite entertaining because he didn't drink, swear, smoke, cuss or anything. The boys behaved themselves around him and even took him riding once in a while on Toy Runs and such. He rode his knucklehead until he was 84. When some of the bad boys got religion he was instrumental in helping them set up their chapter of Riders for God.

About said...

Ok...you lose me...I can never figure out what is real and what is fantasty...lol...
So I think I will just believe it all...and enjoy

Ron Morrison said...

Its all baloney, I bore easily.

William K. Moore said...

Like this one Ron. It has a fresh, spontaneous appeal. Looks as though it flowed right off the brush without error.. or frustration. Nice one --

Michelle said...

Oooooh, I like this one. It's so smooth and serene. Nice story to go with it, too.

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks W.K., just a bit of silliness to keep the brushes working.

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks Michelle, smooth and serene thats me/it!

bj said...

Yeah, you GOTTA write that book. Truth - fiction - we don't care. You obviously have a way with words just like you have a way with the paint, H2O, and a brush.

Ron Morrison said...

B.J. izzat you? Nice to hear from you- I will be over in a sec...

BoneDaddy said...

It looks like the boat tried to escape from the chapel and failed. Cool detail in the roof.

Tracy Hall said...

Great painting and a really terrific story, Ron - would buy the book for sure :)

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks Grimm, the boat didn't have enough steam to get away that one last time.

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks Tracy, I never thought too much about the stories until the last little while...apparently I'm quite full of something, malarkey? baloney? B.S.? nonsense?

Jeffrey J. Boron said...

Love the rich colour you get in your work Ron. Your subjects are magical. Your commentary.........
sometimes hilarious.

Jeffrey

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks J.J., I have to admit that I may not be an entirely serious person.

DarkWing said...

love the fish scale siding and the boat squished up on the land.

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks N.N., fun stuff from the iomaginato.

sandy said...

When I wait a few days to come here I get to see all these goodies..

Beautiful!!! Love the story.

sandy

Ron Morrison said...

Thanks Sandy, they are fun to do.