Fun With Foxes

Here's another sketch I did from a photo by my friend, Sally Vennel.


And here's today's resulting watercolor painting using the sketches from her photographs with some imagination and artistic license.

Fox Face on Facebook

My photographer friend, Sally Vennel, posted an album of her foxes on Facebook this week! Truly wonderful images of amazingly gorgeous creatures, the new pictures inspired me to do some sketching today. Here is Sally's photo and my working sketch from her reference. This drawing is not meant to be a finished piece of artwork. Her photos are copyrighted, so it's always proper to get permission before posting other peoples' work or if you are copying photos to be used in artwork that will be for sale. I usually draw from photos for concept, structure and design exploration, often using reference from 6-8 photos for a single painting. The practice helps to develop and refine my seeing and improves my hand-eye cooridination. During the summer months of June - August, I draw and post a new image everyday on my sketchingeveryday and drawingeveryday blogs. I teach drawing classes and workshops and I am currently getting ready to do a drawing demo at an art show next week. See lots of Sally's beautiful photos on her Natural Images By Sally Vennel Blog.

Koala Bear Sketches and Painting

Check out my "off season" post I just put up on my Sketching Everyday Blog!

The Grass Is Always Greener!

Here's Tigger enjoying an early morning nibble today.
I got our cats a growing grass treat from the pet supply store last week. They were a little confused at first and very apprehensive. You could see it in their face that couldn't understand why I was letting them chew on the grass.
Usually I have a conniption when they gnaw on my plants! They quickly got used to the privilege however and have pruned the blades down in no time. It better start growing faster or I'm going to need another.

The Social Networking Craze

I am now on Twitter! Check it out and give me a tweet!

Barack Obama - Our New Leader - Inauguration Day

I'm in Inauguration overload! It's very quiet in cyberspace today, so I bet I'm not the only one! With my Obama obsession, I've been unable to tear myself away from CNN & CSPAN on my little studio TV today. WAAAHOOO!
I haven't felt this way since election day!! It's just so exciting for me. I'm tapping into so much positive energy! I've had to reach for the tissues more than once. Hey all you good people, DO YOU FEEL THE SPIRIT? Gotta go... Obama and Michelle are walking down the Pennsylvania Ave. parade route right now!! The first and last time they'll be doing that, I bet. What an awesome presence!
Sorry to divert from art here, but it is just such an important occasion in many of our lives -here in the US and beyond. Finally, CHANGE has taken root!

Artists Working Mightily

This week I am expanding my base of experience by participating in the SmARTist Tele-summit with Ariane Goodwin's lineup of Art experts. More than 200 artists, designers, photographers, writers, poets and craftspeople have signed up this year. "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear!"

A Friend's Suggestion

On Facebook, I have an album of my whimsical snowman paintings. My photographer friend, Sally Vennel, from Colorado, wrote; "Loved seeing all of your snowmen - but you need to have one with our foxes. - Snowy is asleep in the snow on the deck chair at the moment, since I shoveled away his home made nest." Sally often sends me photos to use as reference, so this is one that I have permission from her to use of "Snowy" in his snow nest.


With the power of suggestion and a great shot to use as reference, I came up with this new snowman painting today. What do you think of it? I hope it brings you a smile!

GROWTH

Many people and events continue to contribute to my growth as an artist and human being. My new foray into creating commercial images, along with my current mentors and influences continually shape my spirit and my work. For all you artists and quote-a-holics, go to Robert Genn's Resource of Art Quotation Pages for hours of perusing and unbridled inspiration!

SmArtist TeleSummit Launches This Thursday!

Holy Cow! What an awesome tele-seminar preview with Mari Smith tonight. It's so exciting.... I can hardly wait 'til this Thursday!! The SmArtist Tele-Summit really accelerated my career in 2008 and now I'm ready for more knowledge and greater quantum leaps in 2009!! 1,600 artists, writers and poets were on the call tonight, oh my! : -D If you are an artist, do yourself a favor and find out more about this great learning opportunity before it's too late. Just click on the link to the right.

200th Anniversary - Passion Post

This is my 200th post here on my web log! Like my art, blogging is something that I find great pleasure in. You could say, it's something I've become quite passionate about. My hope is that my various topics here will entertain, enlighten and possibly help to light your fire too!

A Wonderful Story For Animal Lovers!

See the CBS video of a true story of best friends, Tarra the elephant and Bella the dog! It'll make your heart smile and your eyes a little misty!

Oaks - A connection Between Earth & Spirit

Oak trees can live to be a hundred years old or more. The wood strengthens with age and can become as hard as steel.


A quote from a book I enjoy; "Of all trees, the oak is the one most often struck by lightning and so it is seen as a path of communication between Spirit and Creation."

The Symbolism of Trees

Trees can symbolize many things. Some of the most common are family, healing and strength.
The symbolism of trees is as vast and varied as the species that inhabit the earth. The most revered species in earth-based Celtic spirituality is the Oak. This tree is synonymous with power, honor, wisdom and longevity. The word "Druid" has its roots in the word "duir" which is the Celtic term for oak. They believe this tree embodies a strong positive spiritual and magical power which gives it dominion over all the other varieties. Physical attributes of the Oak are usually associated with male qualities and are often aligned with various Thunder Gods, such as Zeus and Jupiter.

I came across an interesting site about the symbolism of trees called "The Unfading Tree by Big Green Oak". On this site is a test to see which tree you are. I am a Maple. What type of tree are you? You can read about the symbolism of various types of trees here also. Root System: Tree Symbolism

Hummingbirds, Cardinals and Owls, Oh My!

This year's Christmas Tree in my studio has a Bird Theme. I've got more hummingbird ornaments than any other type. What a surprise! Ha, ha! See photos of my favorite hummer ornaments and vote for your favorite on my Squidoo Lens, "Five Steps To Happy Hummers"!

This Testimonial Really Fuels My Fire!

Sometimes people say the nicest things. This note really made my holiday week extra special. Thank you so much Pat!


"I wanted to drop you a note for a special thank you for the great work you did for Stacy!! She was feeling a little apprehensive about turning 40 this year. Creating a special painting for her has been the highlight of the year for both of us. I can't thank you enough for your thoughtfulness and efforts with this one of a kind gift. Your talent is truly wonderful and we are thrilled to have your art work in our home. Thanks again!!" ~ Patrick M. Kennedy ~ 12/22/08

Holiday Tradition, Alive and Well

When all the girls moved out of the Sandy household, it became a yearly tradition to get together at Christmastime and have a holiday cookie party. Each sister and Mom would make a couple of different kinds of cookie dough and we'd all get together and bake them, eat and share them.


That way we all ended up with lots of kinds of great cookies that lasted us well into the winter. Now that the family is spread out all over the East Coast, Denise and I are the one's in this area to carry on the tradition. In Florida, Mom and Gaile still have cookie parties and Ellyn in SC will soon continue it with her daughter, Meadow. What kind of holiday traditions do you keep alive?

Are You A Present Peeker?

Tami Close, aka, The "Fun" Coach, is one of my many new friends on facebook. She's also the head of a group that I belong to called, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". Tami's currently taking a poll... peek or no-peek? Did you peek at your presents before Christmas? She adds; "I'll be the first, my name is Tami, and I'm a peeker!"

I responded;" My name is Sandy and I am a reformed peeker! One year as young teens, my sister and I found and carefully unwrapped every present our parents got us that year. My mom knew, but she never let on. It sure was a let down for us on Christmas Day when there wasn't a single surprise under the tree. I learned a big lesson that year. I've been a non-peeker ever since!"

I'd love to know if you guys out there are a peekers or a non-peekers too!

Here today is a scan of a Christmas card I created and sent out in 1978!

Holiday Nostalgia

Nothing brings out the nostalgia in me like the holidays. It's a time when we remember childhood thrills and celebrations with family and friends.


Incidents like mom's "Hallmark Christmas" that went terribly wrong did not seem humorous at the time however. In retrospect, some of our holiday bloopers have turned out to be the most treasured family memories. So when things don't go as planned, stay positive and remember, chances are, someday it'll make for great stories and maybe even holiday nostalgia later on.

"The message of Christmas is that the visible material world is bound to the invisible spiritual world." ~ Author Unknown

"Christmas; that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance; a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved." ~ Augusta E. Rundel

The Optimist’s Creed by C. D. Larson

The Optimist’s Creed, written almost 100 years ago by Christian D. Larson, is still as powerful and relevant today as it was back in 1912 when it was created. I hope you find inspiration and comfort in these thoughts now at Christmastime and throughout the New Year.


Promise Yourself
Also known as The Optimist's Creed

Try reciting these statements with the words, "I promise" before each line.

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something special in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature I meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

~ Christian D. Larson