My wife Lisa asked me to do a painting for the upcoming wedding of her cousin Stephen and bride-to-be Amber. It was Amber who provided photos of some favourite places and scenes, and we chose this colourful image from her grandparent’s house. When Amber’s pop retired, her nan used his last pair of work boots to create a planter in the garden. Hence, “Pop’s Last Boots” as depicted here.

In Newfoundland, a grandfather is typically called Pop, while a grandmother is Nan. Not being native to this province, I’m used to Pop being a term for one’s father, and nan for an aunt or even a nanny. After all these years I am still learning the lingo, and I occasionally have to refer to the Dictionary of Newfoundland English for clarity or to settle disputes. I’ve learned the hard way that the simple word lunch, which always meant the midday meal to me, can mean almost any meal of the day, including a bedtime snack! And then there were the workers who confused me by saying they wouldn’t be back until after dinner, but they meant after the midday meal, and not in the evening…

Every painting has its challenges, and in this case it was the endless grass and clover that seemed so daunting at first. But in the end it was easy. I quite like all the textures and varied bright colours, as well as the yellow light of the sun glinting on the house.