Sad news about Rich Cartwright

Eli

Kevin Longueil

@Chip-Valecek This was his last post https://forum.svslearn.com/topic/7059/here-is-my-rough-sketch-for-love
Super sad - it makes me think of Tom Wait’s “ Green Grass”.

Chip Valecek

@Kevin-Longueil maybe we should all take his last sketch and finish it in our own styles.

Kevin Longueil

@Chip-Valecek i was thinking the same, super heavy image though...

demotlj

As I mentioned earlier, I emailed the funeral home to see if there is a place we could send condolences and this is what I received from them today:
+++++++

Hi Laurie,

Your information is correct, we have been handling the arrangements for Richard Cartwright. The family has requested that the online obituary not go online until the paper obituary has gone out on the 28th, it will be available for condolences at that time. I'm sure the condolences will be appreciated and welcomed from the online art community.

Regards,

Skye Peterson
Office Administrator
Thompson Funeral Service
613 Ward St. Nelson, BC V1L 1T2
Phone: (250) 352 - 3613
Fax: (250) 352 - 1745
+++++++++

I will try to compile the things that people have said about Rich in this thread and post those to that site next week. (If you don't want your comments added, let me know.)

For those who want to post their own condolences to the funeral home website after they add Rich's page on the 28th, the link for the funeral home is https://www.thompsonfs.ca/obituaries/

Whitney Simms

I’m not sure what I think would be the best way to honor our svs member. I have so many mixed emotions. They range from my own legacy and message that my art will leave to my loved ones when I am no longer here, to wonder about rich’s Last sketch he shared here. I’m not sure a flood of images from the cemetery is the best thing for his family (this family I know nothing about). But maybe for those that want to finish the drawing let them do so. (Which i still think is a great idea on the other hand). But how about finishing the message that we interpret from the sketch. How do we keep those who have gone on before us close to us. Like a “gone but not forgotten” concept. I personally feel my family members that have passed closer in settings that we always shared. At the beach or at the lake. That’s where I feel my mother in law and my nephew. Not at the cemetery. But every person is so different when it comes to this.

I don’t know, but I know next month I would like to do something. What do you guys think.

Heather Boyd

Wow that’s a shock and terribly upsetting.

Heather Boyd

@Chip-Valecek that be a grand idea to say goodbye.

nasvikdraws

I am so sorry. My deepest condolences to his family. I saw his rough sketch for the "Love" contest from a few days ago. I can't believe it. His passion for art was really inspiring!

Sas

@Chip-Valecek It is a good idea to draw something for him although his last sketch makes me so sad, with the child in the cemetery. It kind of rubs me the wrong way to do particularly that one, if you know what I mean. But that's just my two cents.

demotlj

Given that his family may not know that his last sketch was of a cemetery and that it might cause them additional grief to know that, I agree with those who don’t think it would be a good idea to use that sketch. I do think, however, doing our own interpretations of “gone but still present,” in his memory would be very nice or even, as @KathrynAdebayo said some very simple paintings of a flower or something to post with the condolences. For the family, it’s really going to be the fact that you reached out that is most important and adding a simple visual image to it will be even more touching. (I hope I’m not sounding too much of a know it all here but I’ve dealt with a lot of grieving families in my ministry. I remember one man who laid every card he received out on his dining room table so that he could see those cards whenever he felt lonely. The other advantage of keeping it simple is that we might actually follow through on our good intentions.)

demotlj

Here’s an idea: riffing off of @KathrynAdebayo’s idea, we could send “flowers” by everyone posting a flower drawn in your own style, as simply or as elaborately as you want, which could be either posted to their condolence page or even better if someone could figure out how to do it, we could put them in a separate thread to be printed off and sent to the funeral home for the family from the forum.

Sas

@demotlj I like this idea! Maybe somebody who has the time could then take all the flowers, cut them out, bundle them up on one page or card format and put them in a "bouquet".

MOO

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear this! I haven't been on his page for awhile. Thank you.

avfarrar

This is really terrible. Did anyone find out what happened?

Joy Heyer

This makes me so sad! Earlier this month I was wondering how Bobby Aquitania was doing--he used to post a lot a few years ago, but then developed cancer. I discovered that his cancer bested him. I know I don't post often, but I follow and cheer for all of you. And to hear that any of you are struggling, or gone, makes my heart ache.

demotlj

The obituary page for Rich is now up. It doesn't say much but you can read it here: https://www.thompsonfs.ca/obituary/richard-cartwright/

I have started another thread called "Flowers/Images in memory of Rich Cartwright" for anyone who would like to contribute paintings or drawings in his memory.

Johanna Kim

Hi all, looks like you can post a condolence message on the funeral website finally. I haven't been able to find out the cause of death. And not knowing his family makes me wonder how best to express my sadness. I guess I'm a bit worried about intruding on their grieving process, that maybe a lot of artwork and messages from us wouldn't be welcome. But maybe I'm over thinking...

LisaF

Thank you all for the kindness and concern you've shown here, that's part of what makes our little community so special. I didn't know Rich personally, but I know he was a regular around here, and I know he will be missed. He was clearly devoted to his craft, and worked very hard at it. It was inspiring to see his progress. In honor of his memory, SVS will donate funds to an arts program for kids, per his family's wishes. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.

Chip Valecek

@LisaF to bad there isn't a love button like facebook, cause that is amazing of you guys to do that.