large bears

a photo of a quick pencil drawing i did from a small photo on the internet, then a bit of colour added in photoshop.

this is the "Groote Beer", the boat my father's family came to canada on.

the name (has nothing to do with beer) means, "big bear" and i find it fitting that my family - fairly large, lumbering beasts with all our grizzly personalities - were ushered to their new land by a vehicle thusly named.

after a recent visit from my dad, which involved a stop at Pier 21 before he went off to a reunion of his siblings, i got the idea that it would be cool to gather stories of the crossing from my aunts and uncles and make something (a comic?) out of it... it is a huge project that will only get 2nd billing to my career but i hope i can accomplish this!

i sent letters to all the siblings (7 uncles and aunts i barely know) asking for information, complete with self-addressed envelopes and stationary. i got my first one back in the mail today - from a man with an appropriate name, "Art"!!

a sad side-note to all this is that my Beppe (grandmother, dad's mom), who is 99, is not doing well. i hardly know her because we never lived near her and i'm not the sort to make much effort. i'm guessing that i won't get a chance to show her any of this project or even ask her about her memories... apparently she prays every night not to wake up...