Illustration Friday: Lesson

Raven taught her lessons she could never learn from people.

Raven is her totem. Her spirit guide. Her connection to the natural world.

acrylic and colored pencil on a paper bag, pulled from my archives

Animal Wednesday: Big Bad Bruin

Okay. Here's the story behind this portrait of my dog Emma in a Bruin's get-up.

My nephew Jamie lives in New Hampshire and he's a huge, die-hard Boston Bruins hockey fan. I used to be obsessed with them when I lived here before but other things have taken over my life. He asked that I paint a birthday card for him but I couldn't think of what to do.

I digress. Jamie came to visit us just before Christmas and he gave us a fleece throw with the Bruin's logo on it. It unnerved my sense of decor in a huge way. I came unglued (in my mind) about having that black, yellow and white thing on my sofa in my tasteful red and grey living room. No ugly sports crap on my couch!!!

That's until Emma fell in love with it. If you want her to move, just move her Bruins blankie. She will faithfully follow. She could care less if it 'matches the decor' or not. It comforts her. It makes her feel soft and nestled. I look at her under that blanket heap and I quickly 'get over myself.'

Gifts come in many packages. So do life's lessons ;)

Thank you Jamie. Here's your birthday card from your number one fans, Me, Bri and Emma.

Happy Animal Wednesday!!