“They danced so hard they shook the trees,
And others came to watch and see!”
Far & Near by Shea Bartel
My friend Shea is an incredibly talented artist. His colorful, imaginative and whimsical sense of expression emerged in a children’s book called Far & Near in 2020. I purchased this book when it came out and enjoyed it thoroughly – the feel of the pages, the story and beautiful artwork.
Something about Shea’s artwork has always reminded me of my grandmother. She was a jack of all trades when it came to arts & crafts – she could knit, sew, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, weave, all of it. In both Shea and my grandma’s creations, I get a feeling of being inside the wonderful world they create with warm, vivid and inviting colors, a sensuous weaving together of hues and textures, a simplicity and experience of the pleasure the artist took in creating the work. So even though it was a “children’s book,” Far & Near resonated with me.
The book bursts with rich imagery of trolls, trees, mountains, fire-lit evening dance parties, a world of magic and fun. The story is about a young troll who ventures out from the home he’s never left to join an annual celebration of trolls from all over. It’s a story about overcoming self-doubt, being inspired by others, discovering judgments are not reality, and having the courage to bypass one’s thoughts and relish in unbridled enjoyment of life. So much about the book is a reflection of transformation and how life can be easy and fun.
I’d lost track of the book since purchasing it, but recently, our two-and-a-half year old son Logan pulled it off the bookshelf and handed it to me as he settled in my lap. Every day he wants to keep reading it and I love experiencing it through his eyes. The words are large and pretty, the colors inviting and I can see and feel him exploring the scenes on each page, identifying what’s happening and even acting out some of the pages!
Through this sweet book, I also get to slow down and be with my son, enjoy his enjoyment (and my own) and continue to reconnect with that intangible, hard-to-describe essence of my grandmother. Transformation does sometimes show up in unexpected ways…who knew it was hiding away in this previously-forgotten book.
Far & Near by Shea Bartel
By Valerie Blau — © 1996 – 2026 www.transformationmadeeasy.com. Click to subscribe to our newsletter and blog.
Wow! How special is this connection to your Grandmother and thru you to your son. Thanks for sharing.