Word of the Year - Intentional

I've noticed several people choosing a word for the year recently.  I always thought it was a nice idea but could never settle on just one word.  Five or Six maybe.  A list for the Pick the Word of the Month Club maybe.  But one word for all 12 months?  Oh my.  The mere thought of it made this right brained girl dizzy.

But as 2018 came to a close and I looked back I found that I had actually lived a word for those 12 months.  Follow Through.   ...oh!  I guess that's two words, isn't it.  Well if you say it fast enough it sounds like one word.  Try it with me.   Followthrough.   See?  It works.

Anyway, the realization that I had lived a word (or two) for a year made me rethink the idea of choosing a word for 2019.  And so, here at the beginning of a new year ...   oh       You're thinking its February, Elizabeth.  You're thinking its not the beginning of a new year any more.  You're thinking I've missed the boat for new year thoughts and new year directions ...  and new year words.  

Well, maybe not.  I mean, isn't the point to start looking forward to the days ahead with a new perspective?  Isn't the point to move forward from where we stand with a changed direction?   Isn't that true whether the date is January 1 or February 8?       Yes, I think so too. 

And so my word for 2019, my very first word of this year, is Intentional.  The more I think about it the more I realize it encompasses everything.   I can know what is best to eat for good health.  And I can eat it, most of the time, when I feel like it.  I can know all kinds of physical exercise that would be beneficial for my health.  I can want to do said exercise.  I can choose to do said exercise.  But I have discovered those mental exercises are not enough.  You have to actually get up and DO them.  Ugh!  And I can want to be more creative.  I can choose to spend more time creating.  But actually putting pencil to paper requires more than that.  It requires the intentional choice AND follow through AND doing it again tomorrow.  And then the tomorrow after that. 

Oh my.  This is going to be a year of stretching and growing. 

So I will be back here in this bloggy space INTENTIONALLY in a few days.  I hope to see you here too.  I've been working on a large project for the last year and I will be sharing more about it in the coming posts. 

Do you choose a word of the year?  What is your word this year?  And how has choosing a word worked out for you before?  I'd love to hear.  I always hear about them in January but not so much in December.













Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Quite A Winter For Turtles

I started this post a few weeks ago and then had to put completing it off until today.  So, yes, we are well beyond Spring now.  And I do apologize for the delay.   But the turtle story is interesting still.  So, I've left the Spring comments in.  .....Please be patient with me.  Haha!

Its good to have Spring flowers and Spring weather.  But its even better to have Spring temperatures.  Its been quite a Winter for the turtles.  If you've followed this blog for a while, you know that I have 3 rescued box turtles.  They live in my backyard.  They live freely as if in the wild.  But they have the protection of the fence.  Each of the three has a physical handicap that makes them vulnerable in the wild, especially when crossing the road.  So, they have lived happily with us for 15 years now.  There were some years when we had babies.  But we have no males now, so there are no babies.

Claudette with one of the previous babies

The girls have always taken care of themselves for hibernation, digging in when the weather dictated the need.  Their disappearance in the Fall always signals the first freeze.  And their reappearance in the Spring is always a surprise and a delight.  But with our recent move we have a yard made of Oklahoma red clay.  Think of those big ol' blocks of red clay at the art store.  It is just too tough for them to dig into enough to hibernate.  In normal circumstances, the girls dig in 2 feet deep to get under the freeze line.  But they can only get about 3 inches down in this red clay and even that takes a whole lot of work. 


So, this last Fall, thinking I had a great idea, my son dug a hole in the yard 2' x 2' x 2'.  We then filled it with nice top soil right into the hole.  Then we placed the girls in that soil and they dug in as the temperature was dropping.  We placed a couple of small logs beside the hole lest they come up and decide to wander around looking for a better place to sleep.  There was no better place but they aren't terribly bright to figure that out themselves.   That night we had heavy rains and storms. I didn't give it a second thought as I knew the girls were tucked into their lovely winter bed.  I was feeling pretty smug about it all.

The next morning I went outside to look around after the rain.  I was shocked to see that the hole filled with top soil was washed out and was now a swimming pool.  The clay was forming solid walls as if they were concrete.  Claudette Colbert was standing on a very small island of top soil that was quickly washing away.  I grabbed her and put her in a safe spot in the grass.  I could see Goldie Hawn in another mud hole near by.  Evidently she had found a way to crawl out of the swimming pool but she was still in quite a bit of water.  And I couldn't find Cleopatra anywhere!  You see these are box turtles.  They are not water turtles.  Like you and me, they can only survive in water as long as they can hold their breath.   I pulled up my sleeves and plunged my arms deep into that cold water all the way up to my shoulders.  I dug around thinking I would find her.    Nothing!    I looked around that area in case she had gotten out.  I worried.  I prayed.  I walked the entire yard looking into every little nook and cranny to see if she had escaped and crawled off.    Nothing.    My hands searched again in that frigid water hoping I would find her this time.    Nope!    I prayed and then gathered the other two in my two hands and took them into the house to warm up.  I didn't know what else to do.  I mean, there really wasn't anything else to do.

Cleopatra

So, I paced....... for about 45 seconds.  And then I was back out there arms swimming in ice water hoping to find what I knew wasn't in that water.  I checked every little hiding spot in the yard once again as if I hadn't just done that moments before.  And again, I prayed.

This time before I went back into the house I thought to try one more thing.  IF she had dug in deep in the bottom of the hole....  And IF she was below the water level and therefore safe....   And IF she were to dig up and come out of her soil bed....  Then she would come up into the water and would need a way to get out.  ---Actually, I wasn't even sure if that was scientifically possible.  But, you know.... what if..... ?!  

So thinking she would need to attempt to crawl out, I pulled away the log that was on one side of the "swimming pool".  And then it occurred to me that if she came up on the other side she would not know that the log was missing on the far side.  So I reached over to remove the second log.

!!!!!   THERE SHE WAS!  She was in an air space underneath that log.   Hanging on for dear life by only her front claws in the dirt at the top of the hole, holding only her nose above the water level!   Oh no!  How long had she been clinging there trying to live?  And how much longer would she have been able to endure before she wore out?  I snatched her up and took her in the house.

I had no idea what I was going to do with them.  Obviously they could not spend the winter in this backyard like they had done in previous yards.  I had "over wintered" a young turtle once.  Which just means keeping them in the house.  It really isn't best for them.  Their systems are made to hibernate.  And when I tried it she hardly ate all winter.  I stewed about her all those months.  I wasn't looking forward to repeating that!  I now know there is a way to prepare them for overwintering so that they adjust better.  But I didn't know that then.  Anyway...  I know this is getting long.  So, to make a long story a bit shorter, I found a wonderful site http://www.tortoisetrust.org where I learned about creating a hibernating box.  This was a great idea and they could stay in the garage.   But the next weeks would prove that our garage just didn't get cold enough for them.  They were cold enough to sleep but not cold enough to truly hibernate.  The result would be that they would sleep the winter away and starve to death before Spring because they would not be cold enough to slow down their metabolisms.

 

Then I learned at http://www.tortoisetrust.org that I could refrigerate them.  Not in the house next to the dill pickles!   But in their own little fridge in the garage.   So, not a few $$$ later in this turtle project, we became the proud owners of a small turtle fridge.  And they spent their winter like this.

As you can imagine I was really really glad when it got warm enough to get them out of that cold box.  Here they are enjoying their first Spring treat.  They don't live in this box.  But I got them out of hibernation a bit early so I needed to have them contained to enable me to bring them in during cooler nights and cloudy days until it was truly warm enough.   And now, well into July, they are enjoying their freedom and the warmth of lovely Summer weather.

 

As previously promised, here is another journal page.  I love the look of the graphite image layered with the watercolor and the black and white designs.  But I have to say that it is more challenging to draw over the writing than I thought it would be.  The lettering was quite a distraction.

 

 
Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

New Faces and More

This winter has been one of pondering and looking at old things with a new eye. I am moving in a slightly different direction with my art and it has brought about some necessary introspection.  Now, in the description of this blog I say that my art focuses on the delights of life, mostly on the relationship between children and animals.  And that continues to be true.   And in recent years I have spent much more time creating pencil art than painting or working in collage.   And that continues to be true.   The truth is the changes stirring now may seem much bigger to me than to the one viewing the art.   We'll see what you think in time.   As my pondering has been on a very personal level, I've not shared the process.  But soon I will begin sharing the artistic results.

In the meantime, I have completed two more faces for the 100 Faces in 365 Days project.  These faces are quite imperfect as they are journal faces and not polished completed portraits.   But as I perpetually tell my students, journal pages should be fun and free from the confines of perfection. And so I share them here.

This tiger cub is Derwent Graphic Pencil on Moleskine soft cover journal.  The paper is not the best for blending graphite and it is buckled as a layer of paint was added to the back of the page on another day.  I do like the expression in his sweet curious eyes.

This is a pretty small drawing (about 3" x 4") done with Derwent Tinted Charcoal on Strathmore 500 Charcoal Paper.  I've never been fond of charcoal paper as I don't like the grid-like texture.  I was hoping the 500 charcoal paper would have a less invasive texture than what I had experienced previously in lesser charcoal papers.  And it was better.  But the grid still shows more than I prefer.  

I usually use Vellum Bristol Board paper or Mixed Media Paper for charcoal.  It has enough tooth to cooperate with the charcoal but has no distinctive texture to distract from the drawing.  But its white and I yearn to draw on colors.  

I love the colors of the Strathmore Toned Paper.  The particular gray and Kraft brown are so pretty and they look amazing with the Tinted Charcoal.  But the paper is just a bit too smooth to work as well as I would like with charcoal, especially to get detail in shading.   I contacted Strathmore pleading with them to make Bristol Board Vellum in the Toned Paper colors.  They said they would consider it but asked me to consider their 500 Charcoal papers.  Besides the ever present charcoal grid texture, the charcoal paper colors are not the same as the nice pretty Toned Paper colors.  And so, I am back at square one.   So, that's my 2 cents on that matter.  

I am joining the bandwagon for Bloglovin'.  I know, I know.... I'm a little late on this.  But, better late than not at all, right?  I'd love for you to join me there.    Follow my blog with Bloglovin


 
Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

On My Worktable

This week I am enjoying the process of bringing these small canvases to life. They have been sitting in my closet for a very long time.  I have too many supplies sitting in that closet.  I've decided  it is time to stop waiting and time to start using those supplies.




It is funny how the creative process goes. I envisioned one thing and they are turning out very different that I imagined.  Sometimes you just have to go with the whirl of creativity as it comes through the room.   I like the new ideas better. I bet that's how it works for you too.

These are a combination of paint, artist's pencils of various kinds, ink, vintage paper, and more.   The lion is all original on the canvas.  But the sleepy tabby is a print of one of my graphite drawings.  Then he has been embellished further with paint, pencils, and ink.  I am thinking about doing more canvases that utilize my pencil drawings.  What do you think?

 

 
Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

On My Worktable Today

Currently I have two projects on my worktable.   I have been working on this lion for a couple of weeks.  He is drawn with Derwent Graphic Pencils on Strathmore Bristol Board.  He has taken so long because I've had other responsibilities that have kept me from working on him as steadily as I'd like.   He and I have to share stolen moments.  : )  I think that just makes our relationship stronger.  I know that sounds a little funny.  But I do feel I know an animal after I've finished studying every nook and cranny of their face and looked deeply into their eyes.  I do feel this particular lion and I are special friends now.   He still needs a few hours of work to be finished.   When he is complete, I'll also share with you the incredible site where I found the photograph.  I do have permission from the photographer to use his work as my model.  It is always better to work from a live subject rather than a photograph.  But I have the hardest time getting those lions to climb the stairs to my studio and lie down so I can draw them!!

 

The other project I've been working on is this workshop example for using Zest-It solvent with colored pencils.  I have used Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils on Strathmore Bristol Board paper.  I will be recording that workshop this week and offering it soon through my online teaching site, CreativePencils.  We are longing for Spring in my part of the world.  These tulips seem a bright promise that there will be color outside my window once again soon.  This will be a fun workshop for those that like to play with colors to create the shading and play of light on a subject.  If you would like to learn more about working with colored pencils, you will love this opportunity.   **More on the workshop in a few days. 

Wind and Honey Creations

On My Drawing Table Today

This is the beginning of a piece that has been in my head for a while.  Finally I am getting it down on paper.  There will be a surprise finish to it.

Remember this is the first day of Artful Gathering 2012.  You still have a few days to sign up for classes.  My Hopping Into Soft Pastels workshop is fun and anyone can do it, even if you've never drawn before.  You'll be surprised and delighted with what you learn and accomplish. 

Wind and Honey Creations

Christian the Lion

I spent a week in Missouri recently.  I took along with me the book A Lion Called Christian by Anthony Bourke, John Rendell, and George Adamson.  I've loved the story of Christian as shown on Youtube for a few years now.  And I've watched each version of it many times.  So the story in the book was no surprise.  But there were many details in the book that I had not known before about Christian's relationship with his two legged friends.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  It inspired this journal page created with watercolor paint and Derwent water soluable sketching pencils.

The story of Christian the lion is set in the late 60's in England where two Australian young men purchased a lion cub from Harrods Department store.  Can you imagine?  They raised him for many months living in their home with them. The three of them loved each other dearly.  When Christian was around a year old, John and Anthony (Ace) transported him to Africa where George Adamson, of the Born Free story, helped Christian learn how to live free and wild as was appropriate for him.  The video shows the reunion when John and Ace visited Christian a year later after living as a wild lion.  He had not forgotten them.  Rather, he greeted them with hugs and kisses.

Here is one of the many videos about Christian.  There are better ones but this one tells the story well, and I love the addition of the Whitney Houston song.

Wind and Honey Creations

Dreams of Africa and a Sophisticated Safari

This is a self portrait.  Well, not really.  But I wish it was.  There is just something about Africa that calls to me.  I love Africa, yet I've never been there.  Sophisticated Safari is an original digital collage that has been embellished with pastels.  She has a wistful look as she scans the map of Africa.  Perhaps she is longing for days gone by.  You may find Sophisticated Safai in my shop in 8" x 10" size ready to be framed. 

And since we're on an African theme, I'll share with you once again, my Lion portrait Wild.  The 24" x 36" original hangs in my living room.  But you may purchase an 8" x 10" archival giclee print in my shop.

Starting today and running through the month of June, I'll be donating 10% of all my sales to the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society in West Berkeley, CA. The shelter was destroyed by fire on May 20. They will need much help to rebuild.

Hearts For Haiti

The destruction and heartache resulting from the earthquake in Haiti has all of our attention.  Those poor people have experienced more in a few weeks than many of us will in our whole lives.  In response to this a shop has been opened on Etsy named HeartsforHaiti.  This shop is filled with items donated by hundreds of Etsy shop owners.  100% of the profits from every sale will go to Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.  I have offered 8" x 10" giclee prints from each of my shops in the HeartsforHaiti shop.  Please take time to check this shop out and see if there is something you might want to purchase for yourself or for a gift.  You can order with a good feeling knowing your purchase will be helping someone in need in Haiti.

Here are the items I have donated and also some of my favorite items from other sellers in the HeartsforHaiti shop.  See what favorites you can find in the shop.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, OH MY!

If you know much about me at all by now, you know that I am a member of EFA/Artists Helping Animals. And you know that I passionately love animals. Several of the members of EFA are preparing for a treasury by Vicki Diane called Artist Up Front. We have each prepared a photo of ourselves with one of our beloved animal friends and a piece of our art. I'm not really fond of putting my face out there but I'll do just about anything to help raise money that will help the animals. The picture I have chosen is unusual enough that I thought it might bear some explanation. So here is Daniel's story.

A few years back I was working at an animal park that rescued exotic animals. Most of the animals we had were previously purchased as pets by someone else. Quickly people discover that a lion or a tiger is not just a really big house cat and that they can not be trained like a dog. And even others discover that the baby alligator is not like some cute desert lizard. And unlike the mammal cats, the reptile alligator won't ever even decide it likes you. Zoos will not take these animals usually bred for profit. So, what to do? That is where we came in. We took those animals and tried to provide them with a safe and caring environment.

Daniel was brought to us at 2 1/2 months old after he had received a horrible head injury leaving him semi comatose. I spent 12 hour days with him the first week with him draped across my chest so he could hear my heartbeat. Not only did he eventually wake up and begin to fight to live, but also he and I had developed a very strong bond.

I wanted to name Daniel some really cool African name, since that was all of Africa he would ever know. But I was outvoted and he became Daniel. His injury at the back of his head left him with optic nerve damage and coordination and balance problems. He saw many doctors of various kinds. Much of it helped. But the veterinary acupuncture made the most difference.

Daniel was very affectionate and if I got about 6 inches from his face, I could ask him for a kiss and he would reach over and rub the side of his face on each side of my face. And he loved to rock. We had a special rocking chair that we would rock in when his head hurt. It comforted him. And later, well he just loved to rock for the fun of it.

At thirteen months of age Daniel started to have grand mal seizures as a result of his injury. Eventually one particularly bad seizure was so severe he was not able to escape it and he died in my arms.

Daniel was so precious to me. He brought healing to the little girl's heart inside of me in many ways. And I will always treasure those memories. But the truth is Daniel should never have existed. He was the result of breeding on a farm in the US that makes money by breeding and selling exotic animals - a place where he was abused. These animals should not be here. They should not be in cages. They should be in the wild in Africa (or other places for some animals) where they belong.

Whispers of Grace

Monday's Potpourri

Wow, Monday's sure do roll around fast. I think the last week may have had 2 Monday's.

So.....drumroll please.........here are today's potpourri picks.

My first choice today is a Mixed-Media Portrait by artist Pam Carriker. Pam includes portraits in much of her work. Pam's work has been published several times. It has a distinct look to it that is recognizable immediately. I love Pam's work and think she is one of the most talented artist on etsy. You will enjoy looking at all of her work at pamcarriker.etsy.com

mixed-media portrait

My next choice is another incredibly talented artist from etsy, SavageArtworks. These precious little ducklings were created with pastels. SavageArtworks has a very delicate touch to her work. You get a sense of what a treasure the creatures are by the gentleness in her work. SavageArtworks is a member of EFA/Artists Helping Animals.

Wood Ducklings

And finally, a wonderful photograph of a lion in a tree by RiverGreetings. I imagine this girl is hot, full, and ready for a nap. Isn't she absolutely wonderful. Of course, I have a great weakness for lions. This great photo is sold as an 8"x12" print. Proceeds from the sale of this photograph and others by RiverGreetings go to fund continuing philanthropic aid to the survivors of genocide in Rwanda. Please take time to look at more of RiverGreetings work.

Lion of Uganda

And last, but definitely not least, is my newest ACEO. This one is very dear to my heart. It is a print of a picture of our most beloved Mufasa, aka Fasa. He was actually my daughter's cat but we all loved him. He blessed us with his presence in our home for 11 years. And now he is sitting in the sunshine of heaven. This is my entry for the EFA July challenge.

Fasa

For information about having a custom portrait of your pet done, check out my website http://www.windandhoneycreations.com

The Lion King!

The Lion King is the most incredible experience of creativity I have ever had.  Actually this wasn't my first time to see it.  My daughter was in NYC for a semester on a scholarship/apprentice 2 years ago.  I went up to visit her and we got to see The Lion King on Broadway.  It was such a captivating experience.  I left determined that my husband and son must experience it also.  Yesterday we all 4 went to the off-broadway production.  It was wonderful!  If you have not had the chance to see it, you simply must.  It is worth the money and whatever driving you would have to do to get there.  I agree with a friend of mine who when asked what she thought could only close her eyes, shake her head, and hold her hands out.  It just leaves me speechless.