Rain and Life's Rhythms

 

Its raining today. Everything in me wants to sit with a nice cup of tea and draw while listening to the raindrops tap dancing outside. I am not unique with this thought. I've heard it so many times from others. The rain calls us to be still, to slow down, to be calm.  The birds outside are tucked away somewhere under large tree leaves or the eaves of a house.  Even the dogs and cats inside are more sleepy today.  

Of course slowing down isn't what we do.  We curse the rain or we choose to ignore it as we bustle around trying to get 36 hours squeezed out of 24.  I've been thinking a lot lately about the rhythms of life and how we press so hard against them.  It would seem to me that paying better attention to the patterns set by the Creator might be the wiser route to go.  That isn't an easy task in our culture.  

Our lists for "to do" are longer than our arms, and then just a few moments spent on popular social media is enough to remind you that whatever you might have gotten done today, surely you are behind what everyone else is accomplishing.   

I propose that we proclaim a respite from those dreaded lists and try, at least a little bit, to listen more to the rhythms of nature.  I propose at least one hour of each day be set aside to live life rather than run the list.  I imagine this will be life altering and life giving.  I'm going to try it.  I dare you to join me.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessonshttp://creativepencils.com

New Workshops Are Coming!

New workshops are on the horizon. Yea!!! I have 2 new workshops opening at Creative Pencils next week.  Both were created in response to the requests of students.  And both are using less than common pencils.   It is your opportunity to expand your pencil knowledge.  Double Yea!!

Panda in Pastels

Panda in Pastels is a drawing of a beautiful panda among the bamboo.  I drew the original as a gift for a new mother.  She had especially requested a panda bear.  Some of my students saw it while in progress and asked that I teach them how to draw one of their own.  I know you will love joining in.  In this workshop we use Derwent Soft Pastel pencils and I will take you through your drawing one step at a time.  Remember you can always ask me questions and show your work to me so that I can help you along the way.  I love looking at your work.  This colorful panda is a project that is suited to students of any drawing level.  

Lovely Wren

Lovely Wren started as a drawing I did at home just playing with my pencils.  One of my students saw it and requested a workshop so she could also draw a "lovely wren".  This drawing was created with Derwent Drawing pencils (sometimes referred to as Soft Drawing).  These pencils are very soft and layer in a very different way than regular colored pencils.  I think you will enjoy this new process and certainly your skills will benefit by expanding your knowledge. 

Dog Portrait in Graphite

One more bit of news is that the time for the Dog Portrait in Graphite workshop has been extended.  Due to my move, I am giving extra time just in case that complication was an interference for anyone else.  So, come on!  You've still got time to join in! 

Have a great weekend and remember to spend some quality time with your pencils.  I'd hate for them to get lonely.  Haha!


**CREATIVE PENCILS WORKSHOPS HAS MOVED TO CREATIVE WORKSHOPS**


Wind and Honey Creations

Winged Creatures of Surprise

Laura Carson of Artfully Musing created this unique and absolutely fun little book.  Laura is a very talented mixed media artist.  The cover of the book is made from dominoes that have been altered and altered and altered.  The creativity in this little book is abundant.  The theme is Birds and Bees.  Laura has covered every single spot with a unique touch that is just right and never over done.  And her workmanship is quality.  

A while back Laura was having a drawing on her blog.  I enter lots of drawings just for the fun of it, especially if I like what the prize is.  But I never win.  I usually even forget about signing up since I don't really expect anything from it.  But when I saw this prize I really wanted it.  So you can imagine my surprise when I received notice from Laura that I had won her new domino book!  

I haven't decided where and how I will display my miniature prize but you can be sure it will be someplace special where I will see it often.

Wind and Honey Creations

Shedding Season Has Begun!

Lydia has begun shedding earlier this year.  I don't know if that is a reflection of the harder winter this last year.  Or if it is a warning of the hotter summer to come.  I hope it is more about the winter passed than the summer coming.  We have a brushing session like this daily now as I attempt to save my carpet from looking like the yard.  But the funny thing is the clumps in the grass don't stay long.  The birds think Lydia's hair is lovely for nest making.  I imagine little baby birds all snuggled up in white blankets of Lydia's winter coat.  I wish I could be in just the right spot at just the right moment to get a picture when the birds come to gather.  They look so funny as they fly away with tufts of white hair hanging from their beaks - kind of like little Santa Birds.    

Wind and Honey Creations

Facing Forward

My journal has finally arrived for the Sketchbook Project.  Its funny how a little book with a plain brown cover can be such an exciting arrival.  Its blank pages hold potential for new ideas, thoughts, images, and creativity.  How much fun is that!?  The topic I chose for my project is Facing Forward.  Its seems appropriate to me as we come to the end of summer and prepare to enter September and Autumn.  I know most people think of new beginnings in January with the change of the year.   But to me, that always just feels like the middle of winter.  I'm sure all those years of school have affected my mindset.  September just seems more the time to face forward to new beginnings.

I found this precious little nest in the yard a few days ago.  It has been hot and dry here so there have been no blusterly storms to toss the nest out of the tree.  I choose to think its owner was also facing forward.  Perhaps her young little inhabitants had matured and grown to the point that they no longer fit in the tiny nest which is only about 3 inches in diameter.  Perhaps they are enjoying a feast with their friends on the watermelon I set out last night for the turtles.  Certainly there was enough for Cleopatra, Claudette, Miss Mae, and Goldie to share with the birds and even with the squirrels.

And as I think about facing forward, I've just come from my husband's parents house where we went through a box full of old family photos.  Some are quite old with no name.  It is sad that now no one knows who they are.  All we know is that they are family in some way or another.  Many of them are young, facing forward to their own futures so long ago.   I've included one here that I'd like to share with you for your own art projects.

More Fun Kid's Art

As promised, here are more examples of art created by my students last week.  The artists that created these birds and lemurs are 6 and 8 year olds.  Aren't they fun!

Now!  If these kids can make such fun, expressive, and creative art, then SO CAN YOU!  Just let go and have fun!

Music of Spring

This lovely young lady is sitting in the fresh air of a lovely Spring day.  The songs of the birds, the purring of the cats, and the hope of Spring create a beautiful music floating in the air.  This is my entry for the http://jeanette-soartfulchallenges.blogspot.com/ today.  The challenge was to create a piece using the image of the woman sitting on the bench with her umbrella.  I will be using this image for something nice that will be in my shop soon.

And you have seen this piece before.  It is one of my favorites. And just fits right in with the http://createdbyhandchallenge.wordpress.com/ for this week which is "My Heart Dances".  The original of this piece lives in my home.