Animal Wednesday: 2nd Blogiversary!

Wow, I can't believe it was 2 years ago (yesterday) that I began participating in Illustration Friday! I also can't believe how much it has changed my life. It was just the kick in the pants I needed to start illustrating again. The friends I've met along the way have been an integral part of this journey, for without your encouragement I would have felt defeated again. This Friday will be a big day for me too, because it will be my 200th post. Stay tuned!

My thanks to all of you who make me want to be here and share art with you, and to those of you who have been there for me in deeper ways, bless you.

I feel like this is only the beginning!

Let me also mention the two splinter groups that I joined; Cactus Monday started by Teri C (yay Teri!) and Animal Wednesday started by Mim (yay Mim!)

It's been a delight to have these extra groups to join to share common interests. The cactus one is a challenge for me to try to keep it creative and fresh, and the animal one is a natural for me because I draw animals 90 percent of the time! Please check out their blogs...we're always looking for new members!

Today's painting is a tiny piece of a 33 foot (22 panel) mural I painted for a bank in Carmel, California. That was a tough, but rewarding job! I don't have a picture of the entire mural anymore. It's in a drawer somewhere! Someday I'll find it and scan it for you. The scene was a mother bear and her cub nestled among the Monterey Cypress trees with the Carmelite Monestery along the Carmel River in the background. This bear is one of 2 curious ones that were approaching mom and her baby. This is my favorite bear of the bunch!

Happy Animal Wednesday everyone! This is a nice anniversary day for me!