Nothing Fills Her Emptiness

Endless aching, sharpened need.

She has squandered her very being. She no longer cares.

Nothing fills her emptiness.

Only possessing the void, she fills it.

Sniffing, inhaling, swallowing. She gulps down the burning.

Welcoming the numbness fuzzing behind her eyes--

It fills her mind, trails down her limbs.

Then blessed, hated release . . .

But only for a moment,

Only for a moment.
Then again the crushing pain.

The lies, her unending struggle.

Many have tried to help.
Only a miracle can save her now.

I believe in Miracles . . .

"I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness." (Ezekiel 34:11, 12)
(This poem is my expression of grief over a beloved young friend, who is lost and in grave danger.)

Giraffe Laugh

I created this wise guy of a giraffe, as a Christmas gift for our sweet Mumsie. Mom is just the greatest--she has always loved and collected giraffes. She says because of her height she knows how they feel, and harbors great sympathy and love for them.

Mums is indeed a tall, large-boned woman, but she is willowy and graceful in her movements. To watch her working in the garden with her customary grace is a joy. To see her green eyes sparkling with good humor, and to hear her contagious raucous laughter is to join in with her. I loved seeing how much she enjoyed this Giraffe Laugh.

Happy

There is nothing so happy as a small dog running in the wind. This little fellow is so happy he's airborne!

Angel in a Window

Monday I had a precious time with my youngest sister. We packed sack lunches and sat upon a marble bench far, on the gentle hill where people come to honor those who have passed on. It is a quiet place, peaceful. One can feel undercurrents of joy, tragedy, love, remembering, grief, hope and relief.
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I don't know why, but I've always been fascinated by cemeteries. After lunch, camera in hand, I went for a walk. It was a lovely sunny day. Clouds chased across the skies. I paused for a moment. How astonished I was to catch an angel's face reflected in the geometric shape of this window. She has the same face of the cloud angel I captured in the same vicinity a week ago, when a rainbow encircled the sun.

Above is the angel as I first saw her. She was only there for an instant.

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Fabric of the Forest

This is our darling Daka, who is a delight to our lives. When I created this picture of her, the name Fabric of the Forest popped into my head.

In the forested beauty of family, this wonderful woman is an intricate part of the very fabric of our lives. She is of the older generation---those who have been before---who are the fabric of that which holds us all together.

June Bride

I created this pen and ink drawing for a dear artist friend of mine, soon to be married. She loved the dress so much, she said she wished she could find one just like the drawing--the dress, of course, was born in my imagination.

I have more pen and ink drawings than those to which I add color. The reason is that to add color is to add another 2-6 hours of work to a drawing. Ah, if only I had the time...

Enigma

I caught a mysterious face in the clouds this afternoon. It was amazing to see how well-formed his eyes and face were even before I began painting. I haven't quite figured this fellow out. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter. (grin)

Below is the original cloud formation I caught on camera.

Red Bird on the Wing

Red Bird on the Wing is the first commissioned piece I've done in many years! The color drawing will be used for the cover of a book written by one of Mom's writing students. Linda is a wonderful writer, and I can hardly wait to see the finished project..

When Linda first brought the idea to me, I created five pen and ink "thumbs" of what could be done. Her response to them is one I will always treasure. Here is an excerpt from what she wrote: "I'm just thrilled with the pictures. Your style is so like my inside. You have a bit of magic and nostalgia in your work. I am so smitten! How talented you are." .

And how privileged I am.

Porthole

Here is another of my early drawings. I was in my late teens when I created it. This is the story of a dying planet, from which the inhabitants escape through a porthole into another reality.

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It has always been a favorite of my long-ago doodlings. There's something, some feeling I caught here, which I can't put into words. Perhaps you can.

Elvis and His Hat

Elvis De' Boombaugh was the undisputed King of our household. I still laugh at the antics of that big scamp of a cat. Our huge orange Main Coon has been gone for three years now, and I still miss the dear lug.

Here Elvis is wearing a woven hat one of the kids made for him.

Angel Blessing

Here is an angel I caught over overhead, poised in a prayer of blessing over our home. I often see them over and around our house.

Joyful Genies

I have always loved Genies. The story of Aladdin's Lamp was a childhood favorite. As a youngster, I Dream of Jeanie was the television show of choice.

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I own three "Genie" bottles, one of which my darling Sissy gave to me as a birthday gift just this last weekend! Beautiful!

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With a little imagination, you just never know--if one looks hard enough, one might actually see a real Genie!

Hidden Friends

Here is another early graphite drawing. I was around 19 years old when I drew this interesting picture. I've always loved to hide things in my drawings. Can you find what I hid in this picture?

Forest Face

It seems my darling Sissy has let the "cat out of the bag!" Yes, it is my birthday! Ya know, the older you get, the younger you are...right?! Thank you dear Sissy and friends, for your kind greetings--you've made this day special, and I even shed a tear or two. You are WONDERFUL!

I was wondering what I should post today and it suddenly occurred to me a self-portrait might be appropriate--so here I am, dear friends, as a tree. (grin)

Angel Face Over Resting Souls

Tuesday I went to lunch with my youngest Sister, who works as a receptionist at a local memory garden and mausoleum. We had a delightful lunch sitting on the green grass, beneath the spreading trees.

Just before heading back home, I stood for a moment and gazed out over the peaceful hills filled with the headstones and memorials of those who have gone on. Then I noticed a rainbow around the sun...looking closer, I saw an angel. But then I shouldn't be surprised. What better place for an angel?


She appears to be looking up at a small heart-shaped cloud. Below is the original cloud angel I saw.

Dance of Rain Cloud

After last week's storms, this whimsical lineart drawing seems so appropriate! There are times when rain soothes my soul. One of my favorite sounds as a child, was the sound of rain drumming on the tilted ceiling of our upstairs room. I still love that sound.

Moonlight surprise

I created this graphite drawing when I was around 19 years old. As you can see I've always had a great imagination. So--what do you think the story is here? There's a subtle undefined feeling about this drawing which I cannot put into words.

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I'd love to hear what feelings, thoughts and stories this picture brings to your mind.

Glow Face

I often see faces in the skies. Here I have desaturated the original photo, to better show the glowing face I found in the clouds on a soft spring day.

Here below you see the original cloud. You can clearly see the definition of nose, hair, eyes and chin!

Menagerie

This little doodle is a sample of some of the cartooning I've done over the years. When I'm doodling, I often draw people and animals in great clumps of penned personality--hence, the name of this doodle--Menagerie. (grin)

Old Yellow Eyes

There is something compelling in the gaze of the wolf. There is a shrewd intelligence which captures my imagination. Fiercely loyal to family and friend, the friendship of a wolf--carefully won--is to be respected.

The Coffee Shop Faery

Here she is, as the Coffee Shop Faery. I've known this enchanting lady for years. She is not only beautiful, but she's an amazing cook, whipping up delectable prize-winning pastries, to the delight of those who visit the Coffee Shop.

Her Romeo

Her Romeo is a fella with wings. A sweet friendship indeed! This drawing is to honor my little Friend Pretty Boy--now in birdie heaven.

When I was in my early 20's I lived in Gramma Jenny's basement. Grammie and I had a little parakeet named Pretty Boy who was just delightful. He was stuffed with personality and quickly learned to speak.

He learned entire sentences! I taught him to say, "Praise the Lord, I'm an Eagle." Grammie said since she was no preacher, she'd teach HIM to be one instead. And she did. He would say things like, "Believe in Jesus and live with Him forever," and "Read your Bible every day."

He was the most adorable little bird. An old boyfriend taught him to say, "Beautiful Beth!" It seemed that Pretty Boy knew who he was taking about because when I would walk into the room, that bird would preen his feathers and say it nonstop!

I had a special little whistling sound I would make. Pretty Boy learned the sound and for years afterward, even after I'd moved out, whenever he would see me he would get all happy, chortle our special whistle, then chant, "Beautiful Beth," over and over.

It was a sad day when Grammie called to say she'd found our Pretty Boy permanently asleep in the bottom of the cage. We both cried.
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Animals are a great deal more intelligent than we know. I will always miss that little fella. And I'm sure I'll see him in heaven someday--perched on Grammie's shoulder.

Happy Puppy

Here he is! A VERY happy puppy gamboling across the skies. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him out the front door of our house. He was such a graceful, joyful little fellow, I laughed outloud as I took his picture.

Below is the original cloud as I saw it that day.

Papa and the Pink Cat

This is Papa. Papa is one of the most lovely down to earth people you could ever meet.

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In this picture, you can see Papa is really an elf. You would never guess it to look at him. I surmise he must be an elf because of the magic he does with cement. Papa is a true artist. He can turn cement into an authentic looking wooden porch, or add color to make the most lovely rock walkway imaginable.

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Papa is so gifted, in these hard times, he does not lack for work. People know the incredible quality of service he gives, and of his honest, hard-working nature. I consider it a great honor to know this wonderful, gifted artist.

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Here a pink cat is perched upon his shoulders because it chose to do so. I have NO idea how it ended up in this drawing. (grin)