Heron Dreams

I figured I had better post something, anything so you all know I'm still here!

Summer has been busy. Family visiting, job hunting, etc.

This is an old collage I did for notecards. My mother was from New Brunswick and the locals were referred to as herons. I think of her every time I see this collage.

This is for Robin, too, who recently posted about the one she encountered.

Tomorrow I see KJ, Mim and Suki !!

More later...miss you all!♥

Illustration Friday: Racing

~Racing To Rabbit Moon~

                                       

This is the only racing Greyhounds should have to do.

Race free and happy in fields and beaches, or like this chap, racing in his dreams.

I'm trying to get back in touch with my children's book style because of a book I'm about to begin.

I have to admit this was crazy fun to paint this today!

Watercolor, graphite and gouache

 For Illustration Friday: Racing

Six Word Saturday # 18

Summer nights,

Pink skies,

Contented flutterbys.

For more Six Words, click here!! 

Illustration Friday: Breakfast

Ravens often visit me.

Sometimes they show up for breakfast.

 Other times, they show up in my dreams.

For Illustration Friday's prompt: breakfast.

acrylic and colored pencils on bristol board

Animal Wednesday: Kitty Dreams

This is one of my little notecard designs on Etsy. I think I painted it on an ATC. I have no idea where it's hiding now~packed away with my supplies, I'm sure.

I love drawing and painting whimsical animals, making cats blue if I want and showing the dreams in their heads. Most times though I don't think any of us would want to be inside a cat's thoughts!!

Happy Animal Wednesday!!

Animal Wednesday: Zen Dog

This collage is a favorite of one of my friends. Right now I need to believe what it says! Been a bit down in the old dumps this week with a few let downs as well as having to give up my studio. At least I have one more month to be there, and 4 more Illustration Fridays, Animal Wednesdays and Cactus Mondays to create before I go back to using the dining room table. I'll still be here every week!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Animal Wednesday: Spirit In The Sky

I'm keeping with the raven theme here so I don't have to change the song! This is from my archives when I was doing raven and pear designs as a spin-off of those crazy dreams I was having. It's called "Raven's Bounty."

Happy Animal Wednesday! HAW, er CAW!!

IF : Multiple Posts

Such an appropriate word for me this week because this entry makes my 100th post!

This blog has served me well in multiple ways this past year. I've found an art community I'm comfortable in and I've made multiple friends. I've shared multiple images and stories. I've used some subjects many times ( Ravens, for example) and I've been given multiple awards by some pretty special blogging friends. The joy in my life has multiplied by being a part of this experience.

Today I've chosen to post "The Spirit Of Raven" because of the multiple times his image appears in the sketch. Also, for those of you who recall my dream series, this represents after the pears were harvested, yet Raven's presence is still known.

Thanks for being with me for the first one hundred posts! I'm looking forward to many, many more.

acrylic and Prismacolor pencils on bristol paper

for Illustration Friday's prompt: multiple

IF : The Legend Continues...

As we go back to my dream of Raven and the giant pears, we see Raven fly from one pear to another, checking on them as if he has a kinship with them. From the time the moon falls from the evening sky until the first light of dawn, he stays watchful and protective. He has surely and rightfully earned his title, "Keeper of the Orchard."

For Illustration Friday prompt, "Tales and Legends." Acrylic and Prismacolor pencils on bristol paper. ( from my archives)

IF : Winter Plain

I had a series of dreams a while back where giant pears cropped up everywhere dotting the hills and plains. From a distance they looked like small, golden trees. There was always one raven in the dreams, as though he were the keeper of my dreamscapes and these golden pears were his gift.

Here on this desolate winter plain, Raven holds tight to the magic of this gift. Keeping watchful and looking skyward towards the falling snow, Raven is thankful for this moment.

acrylic, Prismacolor pencils, rubber stamp trees on bristol board.

For Illustration Friday promt: plain (from my archives)

Be sure to check out my entry for this word in my Moleskine!

IF : Lolo At The Zoo

This week's prompt for Illustration Friday is "The Zoo." I can't hear that word without remembering The Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, near where I grew up. I was only six years old in this photo, 1959. This is Mabel, the matriarch of the gorilla colony at Franklin Park. She and I were good friends right from the start. We used to talk about what we'd do when we'd get out into that big world waiting for us . (I could talk to animals all of my life.) She worried about her little one, Hank, but she knew that there would be a better world waiting for him without barriers and barricades. He'd have better opportunities than she had. He wouldn't have to live in the confines of the city. It just didn't seem right to sit in the short, mown grass and watch cars go by. Not right at all. Yeah, Hank would do just fine as long as he could find his way out.

As soon as my parents and I got to the zoo I could smell the popcorn and roasted peanuts mixed with the smell of the monkeys and elephants. It was heaven to me! My six year old hands would grasp the cold bars of the monkeys' cages while they looked at me, anticipating a treat of some kind. I'd name them all and make plans for each and every one of us to meet again. I'd run to the aviary filled with the most magnificently colored birds that filled the air with their shrieking, shrilling calls.

Franklin Park Zoo was a much needed escape from my hard life at home. It's amazing to me that my parents even took me there. It just tells me that in spite of the hard times, they tried. They really did the best they could. But it was Mabel who taught me to be strong.

I used to pick flowers for Mabel whenever I got the chance to go to the zoo to see her. As you can see, I would stand beside her and we'd talk for hours, sharing secrets and planning life's strategies. She was the heart and soul of Franklin Park.

We moved around a lot when I was growing up and I never got to say goodbye to Mabel. She knew I had to follow my parents as a youngster, but she also knew I'd grow up to be okay. She often comes to me in my dreams and I wake up laughing, not being able to tell anyone I felt gorilla breath on me last night and how wonderful it was!

You know, Mabel and I weren't suited for the city yet somehow we found each other and gave each other strength and hope. Man oh man, that's what life is all about.

Thank you, Mabel.

Love always, Lolo