Wordless Wednesday ... well, almost

This is for my friends in Oklahoma and Texas where we are at almost 60 days now of over 100 temperatures!  

Wind and Honey Creations

On My Worktable today...

Here is a glimpse of what I am working on now.  She is being drawn in graphite - Derwent Graphic 8B.  I do almost everything in 8B.  This isn't the best copy of the image but I just took a quick photo rather than a scan.  This swan has a secret.  And her secret will be revealed when she is complete.  I'll post her here when she is ready to share her surprise.  This piece was inspired by a young friend of mine who has overcome difficulties in her life and is moving forward with joy and strength.

And this is what else is on my table.  Kenya thinks swans are boring.  He is quite sure that he should always be the subject of my drawings.  --funny.....he's yawning but really it kind of looks like he's laughing!  Can you hear him?  HaHaHaHaHa!!!!

What is your newest project?

Wind and Honey Creations

Wordless Wednesday

Wind and Honey Creations

Faces From Eureka Springs

 

These are the faces of some of the friends we made while in Eureka Springs.  We spent an afternoon with them thoroughly enjoying their company.   These beautiful cat faces belong to some of the residents of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.      

 

The refuge takes in all kinds of big cats that need a home - usually because someone thought they could keep a wild cat as a pet.  Then one day the bobcat started spraying all over the house or the cougar shred the couch.  Or the tiger began to show some aggression acting like, .... well, a tiger.   Imagine that?!

  

What in the world makes people think they really can make a pet out of these cats?  No one loves them more than I do.  No one would absolutely love having a lion lying around the studio more than I would.  But its just not realistic.   And even if you could, it isn't fair to the cat to be so confined.

 

Turpentine Creek is a sanctuary so they do not do any breeding or selling of the cats.  They simply provide them with a safe home.  They attempt to make their habitat as conducive to what is best for the cat as is possible.  They are a non-profit organization.  So, funds are always an issue.  Some of the cages are smaller than is ideal while they wait for funding.   I wish I had a bundle to share with them to make all those cages as large as possible

 

My son is a gifted photographer.  He took lots of great shots for me. I will be able to use them for art reference.  I'm so excited to get started.

Wind and Honey Creations

A Few Days in Eureka Springs

I recently spent a few days in Eureka Springs, Arkansas with my family.  We each came from our separate places of residence and met there.  Two of the four of us had been there before.  I was one of the ones that had not.  We enjoyed our time together and enjoyed the unique atmosphere of the town.

The locals complained of the unusual heat they were experiencing. But we LOVED the moderate temperatures compared to the 110F plus temperatures we had been experiencing for weeks prior to our trip. 

This is the Sweet Spring noted from the 1800's for its sweet water.  The spring is down a number of very old winding steps. 

This vintage water fountain still works.  The fountain and this wonderful old bench are both by the Sweet Spring.

The whole town has a laid back atmosphere to it which was just what we were needing.  We visited art galleries, quaint shops, and antique stores.  Each of the restaurants we visited were extraordinary.  Of course photography was not allowed in the galleries.  And I guess I was always too hungry when in the restaurants because I never remembered to take pictures there.  

I would LOVE having a studio on the top floor of this building!

I especially noted the vintage and unusual musical items I found.  Arkansas is a very musical state.  

I'll share a few other images with you on another day.

Wind and Honey Creations

Just a Bunny

I've been working on this bunny portrait.  This is a crop of the face area.  I've created him in graphite but added just a touch of watercolor on his ears.  I first learned of this technique of adding just a bit of color to a black and white drawing by studying the works of Clare Turlay Newberry.  She was the artist that first inspired me to begin drawing.  Newberry had a wonderful gift of capturing the softness, the fullness, and the delight of an animal with just a few simple lines drawn usually in charcoal.  Time magazine said of Newberry, "Clare T. Newberry is the best cat artist since the Egyptians."  Marshmallow was my first Newberry book and remains my favorite.  It is the true story of the introduction of a bunny to Newberry's own pet tomcat; and of their eventual warm and loving relationship.

Wind and Honey Creations