Illustration Friday: Intention

Just think of the trees: they let the birds perch and fly, with no intention to call them when they come and no longing for their return when they fly away. If people's hearts can be like the trees, they will not be off the Way.

~Langya~

for Illustration friday: intention

pen and ink and watercolor

Quote from Zenquotes.com

Animal Wednesday: A Day Early

"It's as if you were guided by some greater power and knew just what was needed."

I got this wonderful card in the mail today and it immediately trumped the post I was going to do for Animal Wednesday. The polo pictures will have to wait until next week.

This guy won my heart!

I'm fasting today and will be out of commission for most of tomorrow.

Meanwhile, enjoy this blissful feline :)

This one's for you Annie & Spike♥

Animal Wed-Zen-Day

Deep breath in...

Exhale,

Repeat 3 times.

Feel better now?

Peaceful Animal Wed-Zen-Day my friends :)

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 : Yin-Yang Kitties

This is a little old drawing I did a few years back when I was on a kick of sending out images for potential greeting cards. I used to get a lot of "positive rejections" telling me my art was refreshing, but nothing I sent fit anyone's needs at the time. One company (Design-Design) even said he wanted 6 of my images and then changed his mind. That killed me! So, there you go. The life and times of a freelancer. And so it still goes! HAW to all of my animal pals out there! (That's Happy Animal Wednesday to you newbies.)

Animal Wednesday: Prayer in Motion

When I was seeing what I had on hand for this week, I came across this seagull from a large painting I posted last year called "Centering." I remember walking the beach on a blustery, Winter day and seeing this seagull hover right before my eyes just a few inches from me. I knew it had to be in a painting! I painted him larger than life to give him a sense of a powerful presence. Click to enlarge him so you can see the detail. There is much more to seagulls than we see with a quick glance. So, remember to stop and take a deep breath every now and then in your rushing about, and get centered. Happy Animal Wednesday!

IF : Wrinkles in nature

I'm one of those people who finds beauty in wrinkles. Not the ones caused from too much sun-bathing or from smoking. I love laugh lines. And an old pair of wrinkled hands holding the hand of a newborn just melts me.
We have these wonderful, weathered trees here that take a beating year after year by the gusting saltwater air as they brace themselves on the cliffs that overlook the ocean. The salt and the sun dry them out, the wind twists and bends them. They stand like sentinals, the elders among the seedlings looking so wise in their wrinkled bodies. I think we still hold the song of our youth in our wrinkled bodies. And I feel the dragon still sings from within the withered tree.

acrylic on canvas with collaged text for Illustration Friday's prompt: wrinkles. Click to enlarge.

Centering

" Centering is meditation in action. When you are centered, you are in a state of clarity, focus, peace and balance."

This is my latest painting I hung in my little gallery. This too, was inspired by one of my many walks along the ocean. It was a chilly day and a gull was just hovering in front of me. It was like we shared a moment or two. I painted it large, 3' by 3' square, meaning for it to be hung so the viewer and the gull are eye to eye just as we were. People who come into the gallery all seem to say that my work has a spiritual feel. I must be doing something right because those same nice people have been buying my paintings. I pretty much pinch myself every day!

Thanks for looking. You should be able to click on it for a larger view.