She's his arrow, Paul Alexandre said of wife, Vicky Watt.
But not the fatal, blood-shedding kind. More the spiritually directed type - something other's might call a moral compass, or true north. And Alexandre says it with the spark of love in his eyes and a dreamy smile on his face - two kids and 18 years later.
The arrow carries significance on a variety of levels for Alexandre, which he shares through his art exhibit Symbolic Arrow is in the Rustad Galleria at the Two Rivers Art Gallery until July 3.
Alexandre is a newcomer to making art. He picked up a paint brush for the first time when he was 40 years old - just three years ago.
His wife is what he calls a quiet artist who doesn't need to share her art. But the little she does share within the couple's home is what inspired Alexandre.
He said he was looking at one of her many paintings on the wall and a whole story unfolded in front of him. Alexandre asked his wife if she meant to do portray what he saw, and she said honestly, no.
"It was my interpretation of a piece I had seen for years and for the first time I really saw the story in it," said Alexandre. "That was when I picked up a paint brush and I began to paint."
It was a low point in Alexandre's life - his landscape business had grown so fast, he lost control of it, causing him to reflect on his failure. He said he's usually a positive person and he had never felt so low. Out of those depths, he chose the symbolic arrow as his theme and he said it invigorated him to make art.
"That was the most glorious point of my life," said Alexandre, whose native heritage is also honoured through the symbolism. "I played with it, I captured it, it was my light at the end of the tunnel and it opened my heart to the wonders and mysteries of life."
From that day on he took over the bedroom as his studio.
"Since then my whole life has brightened up," said Alexandre, who started with dollar store paints and supplies. "To discover art at my age was a gift. To live in this free country and in this time and age where we are allowed to express ourselves is a privilege. I have found my bliss and I am proud of what I do."
The Two Rivers Gallery is now open seven days a week. For more information about Alexandre visit www.torarrow.com.
