When I saw what the word was for this week, the obvious came to mind. Usually, I try to weave the word into a sweet animal story somehow, but this time I couldn't get there. The obvious kept luring me back.
When I was a vet tech, I remember this young cat that was thrown into a fire by some very cruel teenagers. A woman followed the cat's cries for help and found him running in circles, smoulderfing from the flames. She sought neccesary veterinary care and continued to nurse him to health over the next several months. Other than crinkled ears and understandable trust issues, Phoenix grew into a beautiful cat who enjoyed many years of loving kindness.
This illustration is my tribute to the millions of people and animals on the planet who have suffered unthinkable tragedies, but they dug down deep and found their will to live, and like my little friend Phoenix, they rose from the ashes. Some of us are these people, lending a hand to others who need help getting away from the flames.
My heart is full of gratitude for the wonderful comments that have been left for me, and for the encouragement to keep posting. You have no idea what that means to me!
I wish everyone a happy,*magical* 2007 !
(watercolor, micron pens and colored pencil)
Beautiful illo and post, Laurel! Very poetic take of the subject.
ReplyDeleteHave a great New Year :)
wonderful colorful phx and great post
ReplyDeleteLovely composition!
ReplyDeleteThis is really great. Love the colour!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year!
nice piece!
ReplyDeleteGreat work friend!
ReplyDeleteI really love the colors you use, it's great, very peaceful , i love it
ReplyDeleteYour post made me cry! Yes! Yes! All those beautiful animal souls. I am so glad you made this tribute.
ReplyDeletenot only do i love the picture, but i love what you said about it. how anyone could treat a poor innocent animal like that is unthinkable. animals are around to give us love and get it in return. we need more people like you around! (^.^)
ReplyDeletethis is a touching story and the image looks great! It feels very majestic.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year!
nice illo :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year
This is really nice Laurel, thanks for sharing the moving story behind your inspiration. Happy New Year to you too!
ReplyDeleteOutstanding job! The message you send is loud and clear, one of the most original for the up-coming year. Great Job!
ReplyDeleteThat's the spiffiest phoenix I've ever seen! I think people who do things like that to animals or each other should have to clean out every bathroom in every subway station in NYC with their tongues. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeletewonderful illo!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful illo!!! Your post fills my heart with happiness - Thanks for the positive vibe :)
ReplyDeleteAnd...for the 2nd time I saw the exact phrase "magical 2007" - how cool is that!?
This is sweet! This would make an awesome poster.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year. thanks for the kind comments
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your compositional placement -- a high vantage point always spices things up. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeletethis also have a feeling of peace too! love the colors!
ReplyDeleteI love the colors, vantage point, story AND sentiment. I look forward to browsing other submissions.
ReplyDeleteNice story and great use of color...interesting with the figures at the base...
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteA such Phoenix I appears there or one do not await me!
Wondeful New Year 2007!
The Phoenix reappears of its ashes!
Nice Illo!
this is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAnother beautiful illustration... and great message in the text. Was caught by the 'replenishment' illustration above and thought that it could be applied to the same topic.
ReplyDeleteWill resolve this year to get to PG and stop by your gallery.
Happy 2007!
What a beautiful message for the new year! Happy New year!!
ReplyDeletelovely colours and the phoenix is really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAs for the story, I'm really glad that little Phoenix made it, our cat wasn't that lucky...
Beautiful illustration and what you wrote is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Touching story, made even better with the superb illustration.
ReplyDeleteLove the story, love the illo. Great colors!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I love your illo as well. Very fanciful coloring. It reminds me of abilone.
ReplyDelete(sp?)
thanks on your comment.
ReplyDeleteNice illo and an even better cause behind it!
I really love your style. You've got some beautiful illustrations here.
ReplyDeleteMy mother rescued a cat that had firecrackers shoved up it's rear and lit by some very cruel teenagers. She still has some trust issues, and she's a little funny looking, but she's a sweet and very loving cat.
ReplyDeleteSweet story and beautiful Phoenix!
That's one of the most beautiful Phoenix illos I've seen so far.
ReplyDeleteYou never fail to awe me with the stories that go with your illos too - very enjoyable, altho I have to admit I do hate reading about cat abuse. I'm just glad that the cat you helped, survived and is in the hands of a very caring person. :)
hartini.com
beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful post--both story and illustration are immensely uplifting. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful illo!
ReplyDeletethis is a pretty work of art. great choice of colors and an inspirational piece..
ReplyDeletethanks for droppin by my entry.. 8)
you inspire me! thanx!)
ReplyDeleteGreat illo and such a beautiful story. I will never be able to understand how anyone can be so cruel to an animal - especially a kitten! Its good to hear that Pheonix survived and found someone that loves him!
ReplyDeleteI love your history...Good work and nice colours!
ReplyDeleteThis is really beautiful! And what a lovely and inspirational post. And thank you, too, for your comment on my work. It was my first time posting and I really appreciate it. I love your watercolor technique, one of my goals for 2007 is to learn to work in watercolor.
ReplyDeletethis is beautiful, i love the people and animals reaching up. the story was very moving as well.
ReplyDeletehappy new year!
Your post made me cry, also. Love the way you illustrated it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely illo and story! So magical! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeletewonderful style and color choice
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Laurel!
ReplyDeleteYour illo is absolutely beautiful. Thanks for the visit, SC is my husband nicknamed Scarecrow on his blog.
Your right about how "cruel" people are to animals. I live in a very rural area where animals fend for themselves. No matter what the weather most have to survive in it without much help from their owners. If you visit my blog, you can meet our new additions to our little family. Thanks for being a vet tech, your services were an asset to not just the vet but to the pets you cared for.
LOVE it!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture Laurel.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful story except for those stupid fucks that hurt the cat.
Laurel when is your birthday again, and where will you be living at the time?
Love Renee xoxoxo