Sunday, May 31, 2009

Guardian Angel

Angels are sent to protect people, especially the innocent and vulnerable. I remember when we were kids, my cousins, siblings and I stood together on the road, at the top of the trail to Deer Valley. But when we tried to go down into the woods it was like an invisible wall stood in our way. Every time one of us would decide to head down--a feeling of uneasiness, or fear would stop us like an invisible wall. We finally gave up. We went home and played games in the circle lawn instead.

It is such a vivid memory. To this day I wonder what danger we would have faced if we had gone down into the woods then.

I believe in angels. Our little one came through surgery with flying colors, and all is well. Her sweet mother said she felt the tangible presence of angels as her tiny daughter was wheeled off to surgery.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Faery Kisses


There is nothing more beautiful than faery kisses--they are magical and full of sunshine. The model for this picture was a teenager when I snapped this photo of her. She is one of the loveliest people I know in real life! This morning, as I type this, the lovely lady's little daughter is having surgery to close a hole in her heart. I would appreciate your prayers.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Spirit of the Mountains

When we were children, our family would go camping every summer. Those were glorious times, filled with adventure and intrigue. Even as adults, camping was a special event.
Before I was married, my fiancee joined my family in a trip to Strawberry mountain. Even the name sounds wonderful doesn't it?

Anyhow, one early afternoon while the guys and kids were at the lake fishing, Mum, Sissy and I watched in amazement as an old pickup barreled into the next campsite. In a rush and a frazzle the young couple threw a tarp over the entire vehicle, then climbed into the back of the truck to huddle beneath.

Suddenly there was a deafening bellow of sound comparable to what Rip Van Winkle must have heard--the powerful awesome thunder of nine-pins echoing back and forth against the mountainsides to rumble down into the earth between our toes.

Then it began to rain. It started softly enough, but quickly grew in intensity. Then our fire started to go out--we rushed around, gathering sticks and burnables from the surrounding woods, tossing more and more wood onto the fire until it raged and spluttered against the onslaught.

Rainwater ran unchecked from the crowns of our heads, into our eyes and faces. Hair wet and whipping, we kept adding to the flickering flames, as the skies grew ominously darker, and cruel lightning split the skies. Thunder boomed and the wind howled, throwing handfuls of rain and hail sideways against our aching bodies.

But the fire roared back in pure spite--so when the rest of our group tromped their cold and wet way into camp, warmth and firelight greeted them. As fast as the rain fell, the fire warmed us. Steam rose from our clothing to mingle with the downpour. And we smiled at one another, reveling in the pure adventure of it all.

Then, as quickly as it came, the storm departed, leaving the air clear and full of sunshine. Our neighbors came out from beneath their tarp, folded it up and went on their way.

The mountains can be dangerous and caprices. But in contrast to the violence which sometimes makes itself known, time spent in the mountains can be filled with the stillness of starlight, the aroma of pine, the crackle of the fire and poignant, fragrant memories of family togetherness.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Bright Angel

I've been doing some reading about WW2. I collect little books. The Great Answer is a little book in my collection written in 1944, by Margaret Lee Runbeck. In this book are stories of incredible supernatural intervention during wartime. I can't help but believe that a bright warrior angel was sent to aid the soldiers who fought to save those who were powerless to help themselves, and who stood against evil for what was good and right.
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In honor of those brave men and women who fought and died, and to honor those who continue to fight for the good of our nation and other peoples across the world, I post this Bright Angel I caught hovering in the skies just a few days ago. .

Below is the original cloud formation.

I would like to add here a quote from my Sister Clytie's blog. She wrote what I feel so eloquently I cannot add much to it.
I would also like to extend my remembrance and thanks to those
soldiers who did not die in battle ... who came home to lead separate lives.
Because they carried home the "ultimate sacrifice", and somehow
managed to live with it the rest of their lives.
I also thank the families of ALL soldiers -- those lost in
battle, and those who came home changed.
Because when you see what these brave soldiers have seen, have
done what they had to do ... you die a little. It may not show for years; the
scars stay hidden in their hearts. And their families who see (and saw) them
suffer, also feel the pain.
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On a personal note ...
Thank you to my grandfather, who served in WWI.
Thank you to my father, who served in WWII (and was a POW).
Thank you to Uncle Kelly, who served in Korea.
Thank you to Uncle Joe, who served in Vietnam.
Thank you to my (Clytie's) ex-husband, who served in the first
Gulf War.
Thank you to my (Beth's) nephew David, who continues to serve in
the Army Special Forces Unit
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You all have our everlasting gratitude
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On a more cheerful note, my incredibly talented Sister Clytie has a new blog to show off her vast card collection! I'm so excited! Check out Random Cards at http://clytie-randomcards.blogspot.com/ She has some beautiful cards I think you'll love!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Oh, NO!


This is a color pencil drawing I did for my darling Mumsie. Her idea for a children's book is wonderful. The story comes from her own childhood and is charming. I surely do hope and pray a publisher will pick it up one of these days! In the meantime, I continue to work on the pictures and layouts.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Baby Smiles

Little person in the skies,
Who are you?
I often see you smiling there,
Sometimes when I'm blue.
It makes my heart a little lighter,
In all that I must do.
Knowing you are happy,
Leaves a precious clue.

I often see this little one's face in the clouds. He always seems to be smiling. Makes my heart shine on days I feel sad. Below is the original cloud.



Thursday, May 21, 2009

Fragile

Every woman, though she may not want to admit it, has a fragile side. It is the part which, when explored, displays a mysterious beauty. The fragile soul of a woman is her strength. In her vulnerability, she is strong and cannot be easily broken.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Daisies!

The sun has been shining, and the daisies are beginning to open. The smiles on their cheery flowery faces do indeed distill a feeling of happiness into the air. Here you see the little daisy faery who lives in my garden.


Here's a question for you! If you were a flower, what kind would you be, and why?

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Fanged Fury!

One semi-sunny afternoon I was driving my son home from school. Because of the magnificent scenery out that direction, we often took the long way home, tooleying lazily along the empty country road, talking and gazing over vast vistas of hill, tree and sky.
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There was a quiet companionable moment. The wheels of the car crunching over the gravel road and the sun shining down through a million drifting clouds, infused my heart with peace.

Then my son scared the life out of me. Suddenly he gave a whoop and a yell. "Stop, Mom," he shouted. "There's a dragon up there! See it?!" Peering up through the window, I stomped on the brakes, and we slid through the gravel to a flying stop.

Car doors hanging madly askew, we leaped out of the car. I, with camera in hand, my long-legged son loping across the road, excitedly pointing out the fanged fury he saw in the skies.

I looked. And indeed, there WAS a dragon in the sky! What an intelligent young man! This dragon is one of my very first cloud paintings. Because I did not have a Wacom at that time, my artwork was painstakingly done with the mouse.

The small photo below is what the original dragon cloud looked like! Enjoy!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Sara, the One-Eyed

Here is brave, gentle Shara, who's greatest goal in life is to love her master and to protect her family.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Oak Tree Faery

In honor of faeries everywhere, I'm reposting the Oak Tree Faery. Here's the story behind this pen and ink drawing. As a child, I imagined there were Gnomes living beneath the oaks in our vast front yard. Their names were Lester and Jenny.
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There were two huge oak trees, one beside the house, and another quite close to the road. At the base of both trees there was what looked like a small doorway. I imagined Lester and Jenny's snug home beneath the trees. I was sure there was an immense network of rooms and tunnels between the two oaks. I often thought I caught glimpses of their twinkling faces from behind the trunks of the trees.
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Sometimes I set breakfast up for the faery folk on an old mossy log. I would find a broad toadstool mushroom for the table, leaves for plates, a bouquet of violets hastily tied with a piece of grass; and tiny liken shaped like cups, for their morning dewdrops. For you see, just as my parents always had a cup of coffee when they awoke, so I imagined the wee folk would drink a jeweled dewdrop, warmed by the sun.
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A carpet of bluebell flowers grew in spring. In my dreams I heard the faeries playing wonderful music on the bell shaped flowers. Spring was a busy time for my imaginary friends. They colored the flowers, and tended baby birds in their nests when their parents would fly away to dig worms in the warm brown soil.
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In summertime, I found faery rings beneath the fir trees in the cool forest behind our home. Once I dreamed I danced with a winged prince, and the faery folk awarded me with a set of gossamer fairy wings. I dreamed the prince and I flew above the oak trees. I still remember how the trees and our home looked from overhead.
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I often saw star flowers bursting their blooms in the woods. They were beautiful, shaped like white shooting stars. In my imagination the faeries often wore these flowers in their hair. When the colorful spotted bug houses fell from the oak trees in the Fall, I imagined Gnome versus faery bugball games. Tournaments, where the victor won a crown fashioned of gold and red leaves.
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In wintertime I was sure I saw faery children joyfully sledding across the skies on big fat snowflakes. I saw their artwork etched in the ice on the windshield of my Dad's car.
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When I was in the hospital fighting for my life, I drew a picture of one of the faeries I imagined playing in the tops of the big oaks, as I remembered her from my childhood.
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I am so grateful for the fanciful imagination God gave to me when I was a little girl. Many of my drawings reflect that youthful imagination. To this day, in my mind's eye, I can still see the faces of my tiny faery friends.
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As the poet Kenney Merlo once wrote, "She sings a song that is simple and merry, God's littlest angel that He calls a fairy."

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Gonna Get the Birdie!

Here he is, that plucky Independence Angel! (grin) It seems whenever I catch him in the skies he's always up to something mischievous! I wonder what he will do with that big birdie once he catches it? Tch tch tch!Above is my photo of the original cloud formation. Enjoy!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Star

This is another lineart drawing of a young lady I've known since she was born. You will see her face in many of my art pieces. I absolutely love to draw her. Her face is so intriguing and has that illusive whimsical quality.

Indeed she is dear to my heart.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

My Bliss

First of all HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
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Second of all--here is my most recent cloud painting. I was so inspired by the spirited challenge from Painted Garden, that I finished this cloud painting lickitysplit, and since it's been done, I've been chomping at the bit, to post it! Here you see the cloud which portrays My Bliss. If you look closely, there is a faery hidden nearby. You may have to click on the drawing to see....

Below is the original cloud which caught my fancy. I took this picture of a stormy sky out over our back fence. Since then the trees have unfurled all their leaves, and it does not look the same.

Happy Mother's Day, all--may you have much joy this day.


Saturday, May 9, 2009

Treasure Within

This drawing is a reflection of the poignant memories of becoming a Mom for the very first time. The idea of a child growing inside is such a beautiful and intimate miracle. I am very grateful for the children God gave my husband and me. We have been immensely blessed to have them in our lives.

Friday, May 8, 2009

The Lady and the Lambs

In honor of Mother's Day I'm re-posting The Lady and the Lambs.
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This drawing is dedicated to our own darling Mumsie. When Mum was young and unsure of herself, her Father gave her a picture--he told Mum she looked just like the lovely woman in the picture, and that she was beautiful. A few years ago, Mum and I actually found a copy of the original drawing on a card, so I bought it for her. I loved the old photo so much I used it as my inspiration for this graphite drawing.

Now here's the fun part! I photographed my drawing (it is very big), and ran it through a new photo enhancing program I was learning at that time. The resulting picture was infused with a brilliant rainbow of color.


I was astonished, and oddly, I never was able to duplicate those colors again. There's a little bit of a miracle in every day, don't you think? And to be a Mother is one of the greatest miracles of all.
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Happy Mother's Day!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Little Princess


I've decided to dedicate the rest of this week to Motherhood.
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This is a drawing I created for my brother's son's darling baby girl. How Dow would have loved to hold his tiny Granddaughter in his arms. I can picture that quirky little smile on his lips, and the pure delight beaming from his eyes. I am so happy our brother lives on through his son, daughter-in-law and Granddaughter.

In the future I plan to draw her inside of a rose--as her name is Rose.  She is a dear little girl.
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Happy Mother's Day!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Captured

And so the fairytale goes. Through no fault of her own, a lovely princess is put under a terrible enchantment. The only way to save her is to capture her when she is in her true form, then hold on tight as she changes. To let go would mean certain death, to hang on would be to face his greatest fears.
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Only true love will triumph, because only true love has the courage to stand firm in the face of overwhelming danger and fear.
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Our hero bravely seizes the girl in his arms. In a whirl of mindless fury she changes into a menacing sharp-toothed tiger. He grimly hangs on. She becomes a great eagle who's cruel beak and talons wound his straining arms. He tenderly catches her in his hands as she melts into a sparkling dewdrop. And perserveres when she threatens him as a fierce fire-breathing dragon.
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When she lies exhausted in our hero's arms, he kisses her and the enchantment is broken.
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And of course, they live happily ever after.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Girl in Cloud Coat


How astonishing to find this lovely girl, with her plush foofoo cloud coat and spectacular hat floating across the skies. I wonder why her hand is outstretched? Any ideas out there???
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The smaller photo is the original cloud, which I photographed in the skies over the back fence as I stood there in the alley. (grin) Sometimes the most unusual and loveliest of things can be found close to home.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Little Cloud Pal


This shaggy little fellow is one of my first Cloud Paintings. He has such a winsome personality. My camera caught him mid-bounce! I love the way he seems to want to play and the laughing adoration in his eyes. What a dear little cloud pal!

My paintbrush was a computer mouse--a rather awkward brush to be sure! It took me a couple of days to finish painting him. Today, with my wireless paintbrush, what once would have once taken days, I can accomplish in half that time! What a blessing!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Faery Flair

Once I drove to the beach. What a lovely day it was. Climbing the rocky cliffs above the ocean, I happened upon this little faery. She wasn't a bit afraid of me. We talked for a bit, while she wove crimson flowers into a crown for her hair.