Cactus Monday #2

Here's a little 6 x 6 inch canvas I painted this weekend at the studio especially for Cactus Monday. I used a photo I took a few years ago as a reference. I've listed it in my Etsy shop to keep the other paintings company! I call it "Cactus Meditation."

Update...it sold as soon as I listed it. A client of mine saw it and wanted it for her daughter, so I took it off Etsy.

IF : Homage To A Tree

"Each time these blossoms open I recall the friend who gave me the saplings, and the times we used to stop and drink beneath his trees;

But those springs of twenty years ago are like a dream,

And the wine cups of those days are tea-bowls now."

~Kisei Reigen~

If you have sound, please listen to "Dream Tree" as it plays, and then "Magnolia" if you have time to linger.

Acrylic on canvas 36" x 36" for Illustration Friday prompt : Homage

(The cropping cut off the bottom shadowing a bit)

Animal Wednesday : Biff

This is a drawing I did of Biff, one of the cats we drove out to California with. He loved the sun! (But what kitty doesn't?) We had him for nearly 17 years. Not long enough in my opinion. He was a huge bundle of love and gratitude. He surely would have died had I not taken him from his previous owner, the dairy farmer next door. Biff was starving and was suffering from malnutrition and pneumonia, weighing a mere 5 pounds at the age of a year. It's a wonder he lived that long before my intervention/catnapping. Some farmers think you shouldn't feed cats because they'll be better mousers if they're hungry. Sheer ignorance.

Anyway, Biff enjoyed another 16 years with us just soaking up the sun and eating good food. He was a great, great friend.

So far Forever Young, Teri C and Mim are doing "Animal Wednesday."

Everyone is welcome to participate!

Journaling Coast to Coast

Years ago I met a lady through the mail when I joined a postcard group that she started. We really hit it off and are still friends today, many years later. She has a journaling blog and I keep promising her I'm going to start one. I finally had the idea that we should each buy one, do an entry and send them to each other for the next entry. At the end we'll have 2 journals that we've collaborated on and we'll each have a nice keepsake!

Here's the journal I started. The cover was just the stripes and I added the design. And here's my first entry, a two page spread. Now it's winging its way to New Jersey from California for Em's entry which I know will be fantastic! I'll post them all as they are created. Thanks for looking and sharing our journey!

Cactus Monday # 1

Well, I said I'd try to participate in Cactus Monday with Forever Young, Teri and Margaret, so here's my first entry. I used to send out designs to greeting card companies a long time ago. This is one I dug out of my archives. I've sold the original, so this is a scan of a crappy color copy. The original was more vibrant. I call it "Blue Cactus." i know....genius title!

IF : Pet Peeves

I didn't know how to go about illustrating my list of pet peeves, so I decided to come up with a cartoon idea for one of them that the local newspaper is running a contest for and kill two birds with one stone.

My husband has become completely addicted to the TIVO like capabilities of our new TV. He records everything just so he can fast forward through all of the commercials. If there's a particular moment he likes, he'll rewind it and replay it a hundred times. If the remote control seemed glued to his hand in the past, the newer version has officially been grafted to his right palm. It would take a skilled surgeon and the threat of divorce to separate the two.

I actually have several pet peeves. Here are just a few more not represented in pictures.

I can't stand it when people don't use their turn signals. My crystal ball is dirty, so I have no clue where you're going when you stop in the middle of the road. Also, if you see me waiting on the corner to see what you're going to do, please let me know instead of making me linger there another half hour.

Gum snapping! Please stop it right now. Nobody wants to hear you chew gum like a cow. Do it in the privacy of your own trailer. (My apologies to trailer dwellers with manners.)

People who carry their pets and never let their feet touch the ground. Where's the logic in that? Oh, I think I'll carry Foo-Foo everywhere so she won't have to use her legs and then her muscles can atrophy and her bones can weaken and she can get early arthritis. Yay!

And a few more without going on and on...snobs, people who judge, people who care about your "pedigree', pah-leeeze! People who don't let their pets in the house, and people who won't let you off the phone until you snap at them after politely telling them 10 times you have to get going.

Other than those few things, I just let stuff roll right off my back!

(For Illustration Friday's prompt : Pet Peeves)

Six Word Memoir

I was invited by my super friend Forever Young to come up with a six word memoir. That's a tall order! Here are the rules...

1) Write a six word memoir and post it on your blog. Feel free to add an image.

2) Link your post to the person who tagged you.

3) Tag 5 more blogs and link to them.

4) Comment on the tagged blogs and invite them to participate...no pressure :)

This was a hard one for me. How can you come up with a memoir in six words?

Here's the best I could do!

Born Poor,

became wealthy in friendships.

I'm tagging the following friends...

Princess Pepper Cloud

I'm With Sully

Sketched Out

Ronni fairy Girl

Creative Art Journal

Play only if the spirit moves you!

IF : Heavy Thoughts

Sometimes the smallest things can weigh heavy on our minds. If we were to take baby steps in solving our problems, we would get where we need to go without being overwhelmed by the task at hand. Keep an open mind and be open to new possibilities. Release the idea that you "can't" do something and then chip away at it bit by bit by bit. The heaviness of the situation will just fall away and become a distant memory.

Please see my moleskine entry here.

collage from magazines and digital embellishments. For Illustration Friday: Heavy

I Love Getting Mail !

Look at what I got in the mail from 2 wonderful ladies I met through Illustration Friday! I'll bet everyone who comes here knows them. The first ATC is from the incredible Kim Coles from "I'm With Sully" fame. I feel like she's become my little sister :) And look...it's Sully! My dog has a HUGE crush on him. How adorable is he?! Thanks Kim, I love him!

The other wonderful ATC is from one of the sweetest ladies on the blogsphere, Tammy from "The Heartful Blogger." I don't think she had any idea how much I love love love black & white tuxedo kitties. What a wonderful surprise! I love the spreading toes as he snoozes the day away. What a great card! Thanks Tammy, you made my day :) And here she is, newly pregnant and surprising me with a gift out of the blue. I'll be sending something for the baby as soon as I know what she's having ;)

It's the little things in life that make a huge difference. Thanks, ladies, for making my experience here a joy!

IF : Garden Patterns

One of my addictions is patterns. I love painting them, buying them on linens and paper supplies and decorating with them. I mix and match the most unlikely ones together. As long as there's some color harmony going on, it works for me. I find patterns to be cheery. I've recovered my dining room chairs in vibrant garden motifs with linen napkins from import stores. This is a painting I did of one of my favorite tablecloths that I bought at a flea market, only in real life it's in reds and oranges. I wanted the contrast of the blues with these vibrant nectarines, which by the way, were delicious and juicy! Many artists are often inspired by gardens. Botanical illustration has been around forever, and just look at how many nature journals are out there.

Gardens are magical, healing places whether it's a small one on your kitchen windowsill, a plot of grass on your rooftop, or vast acreage filled with wildflowers and fruit trees. It's all good! So do yourself a favor and spend more time in the garden.

acrylic on canvas 24" x 30" Illustration Friday prompt: Garden

IF : Leap in a pile

I just finished this illustration to go with a poem a friend wrote to submit to Highlights magazine. How could I not post it this week? I'm actually going to get to the studio at some point today or tomorrow to paint something else for this word. Still, I wanted to share this one...especially for my good pal Ms. Froggie!

Here's the poem by my friend, Richard Robins.

Some frogs are green.

Some frogs are brown.

Some are skinny,

Some are round.

Some are big with

bulging eyes,

While others are a

miniature size.

For Illustration Friday's prompt : Leap

acrylic and colored pencil on Canson pastel paper

See other Leap post here!

Book Meme

I've been tagged by Ronni to participate in a book meme. Here's the book I've chosen, and here are the rules.

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).

2. Open the book to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence

.4. Post the next three sentences.

5. Tag five people.

Here's my entry...

" It may be important for you to inform others who share your space--family, friends, or roommates--that for now your image work needs to remain private."

"Showing your creative work to others is part of the joy of self-expression, but only when you are ready to and feel supported and safe about doing so.

There are some benefits to working with another person as a witness to your process, particularly if that person is skilled in understanding how creativity helps and heals. Many people who consult an expressive or art therapist have already found their creative source on their own and have been using it for some time before they decide they want to work with another person."

I've tagged so many people lately, this time I'm tagging all who want to play!

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 : Theory...do animals have souls?

I usually try to come up with an animal related theme when contributing to the word of the week at Illustration Friday. Animals are such a big part of my world, it doesn't feel normal to leave them out of my posts. I knew what I wanted to do for this week's word, "Theory", but I first had to find the right model on Google. I was looking for an animal with a soulful expression to represent a point I'm going to make which is, I find it hard to believe there are people out there whose theory is 'animals don't have souls.'

Animals are known to make choices to help people, their own species, and often times other species. Animals come from a place of pure kindness unless someone has beaten it out of them. They're unjudgemental and love unconditionally. They respond to our emotions, and even if they're ill-treated, they're quick to forgive. They love us no matter how fat, thin, bald, ugly, or ignorant we may be. Animals are used as therapy aides in hospitals, nursing homes and classrooms all over the world. They can even detect when we're ill by picking up certain chemical signals our bodies give off. Many dogs and cats have been known to actually nudge their owner in a place where there is a growth starting, and thus saving many lifes. They lie grieving by the bodies of loved ones who have passed away, and many have waited for years and years by a door or on railroad tracks, wherever, for their owners to return, never knowing they passed away. Just waiting, waiting at the last place they saw them. It breaks my heart.

So, do I think animals have souls? You bet. They're pure kindness of heart and my life is richer because they're here.

Now look into this guy's eyes and tell me you don't see an old soul.

I thought so.

Click here to see what this post has caused :)

acrylic and colored pencil on scrapbook paper for Illustration Friday's promt: Theory.

I Love You This Much....award!

The very talented Aspa has bestowed the 'I Love You This Much Award' upon me for which I am very grateful! I'd like to pass this one along to my animal loving blogger-buds. The ones who mention their pets in many postings because they're part of the family. You know who you are! But for those who don't know you...here's my list. I'm With Sully, Sketched Out, Forever Young, Ronni, Kate and Debra Kay. Thanks for making me smile, laugh and cry about our pets, and for celebrating the awesome creatures they are!

Love & Peace Meme

Zari tagged me for the peace and love meme so we can all spread the word to send loving energy and thoughts to the places and people that need it. What a great idea! I'm asking the following blogger pals to do the same. They are...Ascender Rises Above, Aspa, The Odd Neighbor, Deli, Designing Fairy, Forever Young, I'm With Sully, Ms. Froggie, Princess Pepper Cloud, Roberta Baird, Sketched Out, and Tusen.

C'mon people...send the loooove!!

IF : How I'd Choose To Spend My Money

"If I had a penny, I'd buy a rainbow in a jar and when I got home I'd open the lid and share it with my friends."

This is a story I wrote many, many years ago called "If I Had A Penny." The premise of it is about this young boy who wanted to change the world by spending his money to help the environment, animals and mankind. I love digging out my old stuff and seeing how timeless some of these subjects are. I know this is how I'd choose to spend my money too, if only it were that simple.

For Illustration Friday's promt: Choose.

watercolor and micron pen on bristol paper.

IF : Blanket

I went to the studio with two ideas in mind for this illustration. This is what eventually evolved three hours later. I then came home and "Googled" 'Native American Wisdom + Blanket' and this is the quote that appeared. I feel compelled to share it.

"Before our white brothers arrived to make us civilized men,we didn't have any kind of prison. Because of this, we had no delinquents.Without a prison, there can be no delinquents.We had no locks nor keys and therefore among us there were no thieves.When someone was so poor that he couldn't afford a horse, a tent or a blanket, he would, in that case, receive it all as a gift.We were too uncivilized to give great importance to private property.We didn't know any kind of money and consequently, the value of a human being was not determined by his wealth.We had no written laws laid down, no lawyers, no politicians,therefore we were not able to cheat and swindle one another.We were really in bad shape before the white men arrived and I don't know how to explain how we were able to manage without these fundamental things that (so they tell us) are so necessary for a civilized society. "
John (Fire) Lame Deer Sioux Lakota - 1903-1976

acrylic, Prismacolor pencils, patterned paper

(click to enlarge...and click here to see another blanket!)

"You Make My Day" Award

Awwww, I've been bestowed with another honor from a few fellow blogger friends. Many thanks to Roberta Baird, Suana,and Debbie Egezio. The truth of the matter is they make MY day, as do all of you who take the time to stop by and leave comments. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love sharing my art with you and being inspired by you!

In keeping with the rules, I'm passing this award on to 5 bloggers who I haven't tagged yet, and who always manage the time to stop by and leave me a kind word. They are Ammon, Deli, Nicole, Ellen Byrne, and to Forever Young as a birthday gift!! Some of you may have already been given this award. If so, then just let yourself feeeeel the love! Feel free to pass it on to 5 people in your blogging life who make your day. I just did!

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)