If you’ve been to the Esquimalt Lagoon, you’ve probably seen Paul Lewis’ work.
When the Westshore artist first dove into the world of driftwood art a few years ago, he could have never imagined the reception his pieces would have received.
“It’s been pretty life changing, a lot of positive,” says Lewis.
“You know the support and how it helps people, it puts a smile on their face and stuff so that’s kind of what drives me to do it.”
His latest project is a scavenger hunt of sorts. Lewis created three driftwood owls and hid them in trees along the Juan de Fuca Centre Trail.
“[I] thought it would be really neat to hide them somewhere,” says Lewis.
“I got a hold of the parks department here and with their help we came and put some up in the trees here.”
Already the owls have generated plenty of positive reviews.
“I took my wife down here and had some little old lady go by and I stopped and pointed [at the owls] …. and she’s like ‘Oh my goodness, thank you so much we were looking for these,” says Lewis.
It’s just another way that Lewis is hoping to brighten people’s day.
“I’m kind of hoping it gets people out,” says Lewis.
“We just have such a beautiful little neighbourhood here.”