A lesson from Maud

On April 14, in Canada, a new movie was released.  It's the story of Maud Lewis, a Nova Scotian folk artist, who lived from 1903-1970.  The film, aptly titled Maudie, tells the story of a woman who lived in poverty, but earnestly painted the world around her.  The story stars Ethan Hawke, who plays her curmudgeonly fish peddler husband, Everett, and Sally Hawkins as Maud.

Maud suffered from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, resulting in significant physical challenges as she grew older.  Her parents died when she was young, and when she was in her twenties, answered an ad for a "housekeeper" for Everett.  The house was a tiny one room dwelling - on the outskirts of town.  She insisted that Everett marry her after she lived with him for a few years.

Maud's life was far from easy.  Everett was not exactly what one would call a loving husband.  Many would describe him as cruel.  But he did encourage Maud to pursue  her hobby of painting- especially when he realized that the sale of her work could be lucrative.
 

So what does her story have to do with dogs - you may be asking?  Well for one, it was reported that Everett had a dog who was very suspicious of strangers.  Yet when the dog met Maud for the first time, he quickly sized her up - and was fine with her.  In her paintings, she was well known for depicting cats, but some of her works DID have dogs, usually running happily along in a scene.

But the more interesting thing is the lesson to share from Maud.  You see, while her existence was very challenging, living in squalid conditions and a with a man who could be downright mean, all of her simplistic paintings are colourful and joyful.  You won't see grey skies, or dark images.  Her view of the world was one of wonder and delight - kind of how we dogs look at every day.  Maud saw the good things in life.  She used whatever paints she could find and she often painted on boards.  She used what she had - and painted the world the way SHE saw it - or maybe even the way she wished it would be.  It is colourful.  It is happy.

Maud did achieve a bit of fame in her later years - even sending her work to the White House.  But she never saw the fruits of her labor change her life. She lived in the one room house until she died - selling her paintings generally for under $10.  Many sold for $2-3.

Last week, a painting of hers which was found in a thrift store went to an auction and sold for $45,000.  Imagine what Maud would think.

Today you can see Maud's entire house which is in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Yes - the whole house.  Maud painted most every surface in the tiny dwelling - and it was restored and moved to a special place in the Gallery.  The Gallery also has a large collection of her paintings.

The movie, which my human saw, is good.  Very sad but good. It will be released in the US and internationally in limited showings around June 16. Maud's life was oh-so-hard.  But the takeaway message is her resilience - and her bright view of the world, despite her immediate environment.  She always saw the sunny side of life.  Many humans could take a lesson form Maud.  Or from us canines….who see the same world that she did….