Friday, December 29, 2006

Illustration Friday : Phoenix


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)

50 comments:

  1. Beautiful illo and post, Laurel! Very poetic take of the subject.

    Have a great New Year :)

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  2. wonderful colorful phx and great post

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  3. This is really great. Love the colour!
    Happy new year!

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  4. Great work friend!

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  5. I really love the colors you use, it's great, very peaceful , i love it

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  6. Your post made me cry! Yes! Yes! All those beautiful animal souls. I am so glad you made this tribute.

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  7. not 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! (^.^)

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  8. this is a touching story and the image looks great! It feels very majestic.
    Happy new year!

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  9. nice illo :)
    Happy New Year

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  10. This is really nice Laurel, thanks for sharing the moving story behind your inspiration. Happy New Year to you too!

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  11. Outstanding job! The message you send is loud and clear, one of the most original for the up-coming year. Great Job!

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  12. That'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!

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  13. Beautiful illo!!! Your post fills my heart with happiness - Thanks for the positive vibe :)

    And...for the 2nd time I saw the exact phrase "magical 2007" - how cool is that!?

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  14. This is sweet! This would make an awesome poster.

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  15. Happy new year. thanks for the kind comments

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  16. I enjoy your compositional placement -- a high vantage point always spices things up. Happy New Year!

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  17. this also have a feeling of peace too! love the colors!

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  18. I love the colors, vantage point, story AND sentiment. I look forward to browsing other submissions.

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  19. Nice story and great use of color...interesting with the figures at the base...

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  20. Hi,
    A such Phoenix I appears there or one do not await me!
    Wondeful New Year 2007!
    The Phoenix reappears of its ashes!
    Nice Illo!

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  21. Another 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.
    Will resolve this year to get to PG and stop by your gallery.
    Happy 2007!

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  22. What a beautiful message for the new year! Happy New year!!

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  23. lovely colours and the phoenix is really beautiful.
    As for the story, I'm really glad that little Phoenix made it, our cat wasn't that lucky...

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  24. Beautiful illustration and what you wrote is beautiful.
    Happy New Year!

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  25. Touching story, made even better with the superb illustration.

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  26. Love the story, love the illo. Great colors!

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  27. Thanks for the comment. I love your illo as well. Very fanciful coloring. It reminds me of abilone.
    (sp?)

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  28. thanks on your comment.
    Nice illo and an even better cause behind it!

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  29. I really love your style. You've got some beautiful illustrations here.

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  30. My 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.

    Sweet story and beautiful Phoenix!

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  31. That's one of the most beautiful Phoenix illos I've seen so far.

    You 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

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  32. This is a wonderful post--both story and illustration are immensely uplifting. Thank you!

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  33. Beautiful illo!

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  34. this is a pretty work of art. great choice of colors and an inspirational piece..

    thanks for droppin by my entry.. 8)

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  35. Great 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!

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  36. I love your history...Good work and nice colours!

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  37. This 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.

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  38. this is beautiful, i love the people and animals reaching up. the story was very moving as well.
    happy new year!

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  39. Your post made me cry, also. Love the way you illustrated it.

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  40. What a lovely illo and story! So magical! Happy New Year!

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  41. wonderful style and color choice

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  42. Happy New Year Laurel!

    Your 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.

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  43. Beautiful picture Laurel.

    Beautiful 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

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