Insufficient (FunJds: Finger painting ) _

s finger paintin’ good

 

 

By Jacey Gibb

© matter how I approach this
article, it’s still going to come

This is probably because it’s an article
written by a twenty year old male who
is encouraging you to finger paint, even
though it is probably something you
haven’t done since kindergarten. But

I assure you, this article is completely

J} sincere.

It all started a couple of months
ago when I needed a Christmas present
for a friend living in Alberta. I needed
something cheap that was transportable
within an envelope, but something more
memorable than a Chinese food take-
out brochure. I also like giving crap
that’s sentimental, creating the illusion
that something means a lot more than
however much I actually spent on it, so
it appeared some form of craft was to be
my weapon of choice. J

 

However, when I went to the Dollar

across as strange to some of you.

Daze to replenish my stockpile of pipe
cleaners and googly eyes, my focus was
shifted to a book of finger paint paper.
Confused as to how this variation of
paper would be any different than the
regular kind, I realized that sending my
friend an original Jacey Gibb finger
painting was the perfect holiday gift. Ten
minutes later, I walked out armed with an
arsenal of coloured paints and a booklet
of paper.

Finger painting’s main.strength lies
within its complete lack of sophistication.
Since we were younger, we were
encouraged by social nosms to avoid
using our hands on various occasions
(“Don’t eat with your hands!” “Don’t
touch that!”) but this form of fleshy
contact is encouraged with finger
painting. Once you get over the weirdness
of using your hands as brushes, finger
painting is an activity oozing with raw
simplicity. Chances are your fingertips
aren’t fine-point, further removing the
need for specific detailing. With that

more on the creation and execution
instead. I didn’t see finger painting in
such a light when I was.five, but my
admiration for it is as glowing as ever.

One of my new favourite things to
do these days is to put on some Dandy
Warhols, cover my bedroom floor with
Philosophy 1101 notes from last semester
(they finally serve a purpose!) and then
go to town, creating blotchy scenic

factor taken out, you’re allowed to focus

   

  

landscapes complete with handprint
trees. Anyone can be a finger paint artist,
granted you still have your upper limbs
intact. It’s okay if you don’t find the idea
of finger painting appealing though. I'll
let you get back to your Jersey Shore
reruns now.

Damage: If you go to the right dollar
store, you can get a set of various paints
and some specialty paper for fewer than
fifteen dollars.

 

Pr

 

Where is winter at?

People need to cool down when it comes to the forecast

By Matthew Visser

emember back in October when
R: was predicted that it was going

to be the worst winter ever in the
Lower Mainland? Well, so far I’ve been
left wondering: where is this winter? I
know we have gotten a couple dumps of
snow over the past few months, but it was
only ever a couple of inches. If this was
the winter that the weather stations and
meteorologists warned us about, I say
check your charts again and go out east
to see what a real Canadian winter looks
like because this forecasted weather never
came.

It’s almost as if when snow is
predicted to fall in large amounts,
everyone switches to panic mode and
forgets that they live in the Vancouver
area, where as soon as it warms up
slightly, it will rain and the snow will
magically go away. Shocking, I know,
but as I think every person who has
lived in the Lower Mainland for some
time knows, we don’t know how to
drive in winter conditions or how to deal
with snow when it comes. Even when
it snows only a few inches, my mother
immediately wants to have the driveway
shovelled. And you know what? She’s

14

eee fe

aM ER
not alone, as everyone on my street does
the same thing. All I can do is think about
the past two winters I have spent out east
and how people here could learn from the
people over there, who brave true cold
Canadian winters, either happily or with

 

 

i mie
a oe.
Tees SBE ites a OMe oe Naa

spite.

I was one of the people who did it
with spite until I learned what an eastern
Canadian can offer people who are only
willing to listen. People here embrace
winter by driving up to the mountains

 

and taking advantage of the recreational
activities winter offers those with money.
Sadly, I don’t have money, but my heart
still jumped in excitement when I heard
that an eastern Canadian winter was
coming. For once in my life I would be
able to ice skate and built forts in the
massive hills of snow that would be
created thanks to the bobcats hired by
malls and townhouse districts.

Wait a minute though. None of this
actually happened! The winter we got
came and went, even making an attempt
at a comeback, but then left again as
soon as it did. The snow didn’t even stay
long enough to let me and my friend go
drifting in his car at the Costco parking
lot. It just ended being the usual wet,
coastal winter that we’ve all come to
know.

So next time you’ re freaking out
about snow in the predicted forecast,
don’t. Instead, think about how much
worse it is everywhere else in Canada
during this time of the year. I bet they
wish they had the warm, wet winters that
we have over here. I know I’ll continue
to appreciate our weather and I hope that
the snow sticks to the mountains and not
to our cities or streets for the rest of this
winter.