Sisters Three -Paint Party Friday

I have a busy weekend ahead and last week I was just swamped.  So I am re-posting this older pen and ink piece, which was inspired by a vintage lithograph.  This drawing portrays the wonderful relationship between sisters of all ages.

Here are my dear friends Melissa, Casandra and Lyric when they were very young.

Thank you for dropping by, your comments give me much joy.  May blessing and hope be yours, sweet Friends!  Happy Paint Party Friday.

Bright Eyes -Paint Party Friday

This is another drawing I did awhile back.   I love the grace and artistry of the Art Nouveau style.  Alphonse Mucha is one of my favorite artists of all time.  You can often see his influence in my artwork.

Above you see my lovely reference model Lyric.  I've had the blessing of knowing her since she was born.  What a dear person she is.

Thank you for dropping by, even though I'm a bit late in getting this out.  Your comments always are a bright spot in my day!  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Plumage -Paint Party Friday

Here she is, my lovely Melissa.  She is as kind and sweet inside as she is beautiful to look upon.  She's one of my adopted girls and I love her dearly.

Here is my reference photo.  Isn't she lovely?  I'm so blessed by this wonderful young woman's friendship.

As you can see, I am posting an older drawing again.  I am still struggling with this illness and am having a hard time completing all the things I need to do before I leave for Idaho next month.

April is a difficult one for me.  It is my Beloved's birthday next Wednesday.  He would have been 75 years old.  This May we would have been married 36 years.  I have been missing him a lot lately.

Still, there is joy to be seen in the sunshine, friendship and family.   God has put so many good things into my life--I have only praise and thanks that God has walked this heartbreaking journey with me every step of the way.

And there is His promise, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they WILL be comforted."  Matthew 5:4

Thank you for dropping by and thank you for your good thoughts and prayers.  I am sorry I took so long to post this week's artwork.  Dear ones, you are always a big encouragement--I look forward to your visits here! May the joy of Springtime be yours. 

 

Swans -Paint Party Friday

I am re-posting this piece.  I am still not feeling well.  I go back to the doctor this afternoon.  Thank you for your patience!  I will have some original artwork for you next week--hopefully!

I adore fairy tales.  Over the years I have read many stories about swan sisters, brothers--such imaginative, wondrous flights of fancy! 

In this piece, there are two swans, one of which smiles at the viewer, while the other flirts outrageously with the first. Both are the lovely eyes of the swan maiden.

Above you see my beautiful model Melissa.  She has been an inspiration from the very day we met--which was just after she was born! Her Mom and I are best buds and I am grateful to this lovely young woman for her kindness and sweet heart.  She is my good friend.

Thank you for dropping by.  Thank you for your good thoughts and prayers.  I'm still under the weather a bit.  I hope to be back to normal soon.  Dear Friends, you are always a big encouragement--I look forward to your visits here!  Love, joy and peace to you, dear ones!

 

Beautiful Mom and Baby Nikolas -Paint Party Friday

This drawing was a gift for my sweet Melissa.  She has a beautiful baby boy, who's chubby grin and gleeful chuckles bring smiles to every face.

Above is my reference photo.  Melissa is such a good Mom--and to think I've known her since she was that age!  :D  I am SO blessed.

I hope your Christmas was a blessed one.  With my sweet Mumsie and dear children, this Christmas was precious, full of laughter and music.   
Thank you so much for your visits. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, dear ones!  Thank you for your visits.  They are always an encouragement to me

A Beautiful and Ancient Story -Paint Party Friday

When I was a little girl, I could not figure out what all the hoopla was about Santa Claus. It was a charming story--but the problem was, I knew kids from school who were pretty good all year long (myself included), who did not get tons of Christmas gifts.  On the other hand, kids who were mean seemed to have it all!  I remember thinking, "If Santa is real, then he's not very fair."

"Us kids" didn't have much in those days--but thinking back--we were very happy. We were poor, but we didn't know we were lacking in anything. Some say my childhood memories sound like a fairy tale, or something out of a book.

As a child I loved the romance and danger of the ancient story of Joseph and Mary. I was intrigued by the singing angels, shepherds and the tiny baby miraculously conceived. Then there were wise men who followed a shining star to where the child lived. They brought him wonderful exotic gifts.

There was even a jealous, deceitful king who sought after the child's life--yet miraculously, through the intervention of angels, the family escaped certain death.

I am still filled with awe and wonder as I consider the mystery and beauty of that wonderful old story.

Merry Christmas sweet Friends.  May the beauty and mystery of the season fill your hearts with joy!  Thank you so much for dropping by.  Your visits are an encouragement to my heart! 

Come Hither -Paint Party Friday

"Come Hither," says the maiden of sultry eye and golden green hair.  She who longs to walk upon dry land with two bare feet.  Perhaps the miracle will happen, perhaps not.  When the moon is full, she will sing her siren song until the day her impossible dream comes true.

Have a lovely week, dear friends.   I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving this year!  I had the blessing of watching five cousins get re-acquainted.  What a joy that was!  God bless you, and thank you so much for dropping by. Your visits are encouraging! 

Picture of A Sister's Love -Paint Party Friday

This is a piece of art I created years ago.  I don't have time to scan, copyright and post something new this morning--there's a lot going on this weekend--so I'm re-posting this sweet picture of a sister's love.

I have always loved the story of Miriam. She was an Israelite who long ago, was enslaved with her family, in the land of Egypt. The Pharaoh at that time became afraid of the Israelites because they had grown so strong and numerous. He ordered the midwives to destroy every newborn baby boy. When the midwives refused to do so, soldiers were sent. It must have been a terrible, frightening time.

Thus Miriam's baby brother was hidden for three months. When they could no longer hide the little fellow, his mother came up with a novel idea. And so the tiny baby floated upon the waters of the Great Nile River in a papyrus basket coated with tar and pitch. His sister followed at a distance, hidden in the thick reeds.

Miraculously the Pharoh's daughter was walking along the river's bank seeking a place to bathe. She saw the basket and sent one of her servants to get it. When she opened it, little Moses was crying, and this touched the Royal lady's heart.

Then Miriam bravely stepped from the reeds saying, "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" So the Pharaoh's daughter paid Moses' mother to be his nurse. The royal lady loved the boy and adopted him as her own son. Moses grew up to be a great man, who saved his people from terrible cruelty and slavery.

His little sister's gentle love, bravery and loyalty are an example to us all.

Happy Paint Party Friday dear Friends!  Have a beautiful day and thank you for dropping by--your visits bring joy and encouragement to my heart.

The Pit -Paint Party Friday

Because of lack of time this week, I am re-posting this drawing I created years ago.  This piece is a favorite and carries a lot of deep meaning for me, especially now because in this journey, I realize am just now emerging from the depths of depression. 

Corrie Ten Boom, survivor of the prison war camps of Nazi Germany wrote of her experiences in a book called The Hiding Place. She said, "There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still."

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The first time I read this amazing woman's book, I was profoundly moved. Confronting death, starvation, disease, and the worst kind of cruelty from her fellow human beings--in the face of absolute, abject hopelessness--Corrie Ten Boom's faith grew.

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Remembering her wise words fills my heart with wonder and hope.

Thank you for dropping by, dear Friends.  Your visits make me smile--your comments are a delight to my heart.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Star Baby Lullaby -Paint Party Friday

Before my niece was born over 11 years ago, I drew this picture as a shower gift for her Mom.  My sweet Sis still has it! 

I am posting the drawing today in honor of another niece, my sweet Melissa, who only a few minutes ago, gave birth to a beautiful little baby boy!

I am so proud of her!  I hope you are all having a wonderful day.  I know I am! 

Blessings and peace to all of you dear ones.  Thank you for dropping by--your visits are such a joy.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Dreaming of Baby Nicholas -Paint Party Friday

I have the most lovely niece in the world.  Haha.  And as you might guess, I am about to become an auntie!  I'm so proud of this beautiful young woman.  I decided to do a series of drawings with her and baby-in-tummy.  When I'm all done--she'll get a print of each of the drawings.

I'm thinking about putting out a coloring book for women who are pregnant!  I am not sure how popular such a thing would be, but I think it might be worth a try!

Above you see my sweet Melissa.  Her Mom took this wonderful photo.

And Happy Father's Day to Tony, who loves Melissa with such sweet strength and devotion.

Thank you for coming by--your visits are such an encouragement to my heart!  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Green Eyes -Paint Party Friday

I am SO busy this week I have scheduled this pic to post on Friday. It is a piece I created long ago--but it is one of my personal favorites of all time. 

This is my sweet Melissa.  I love to draw her face--I've been drawing her since she was a little girl.  There's something so lovely about this young lady.  She is not only beautiful to look at, but her heart is equally as precious. 

And when I put pencil to paper, magic happens.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear ones and Happy Paint Party Friday!

 

Grapevines in Spring -Paint Party Friday

Here she is, my Lady of the Grapevines.  I had so much fun putting the detail into this drawing.  One day she will be in my coloring book featuring these beautiful creatures--it will be out sometime next Summer, entitled Fairies, Fine and Fair.

Above you see my lovely models Emily and Melissa.  They are so sweet to pose for me--Melissa on the right, is the young lady featured in this drawing.

It is so beautiful outside today--Spring has finally arrived almost overnight--here in the Willamette Valley.

Have a beautiful weekend!  Happy Paint Party Friday. 

Good Morning! -Paint Party Friday

It has been so difficult to be online this time of year with pending taxes and year-end items all combining in one huge cloud of paperwork.  I took some time to draw last week--just a page or two.  I am studying a wonderful book on cloth and how it wrinkles.  This lineart drawing is the result.  I really like drawing cloth.

Have a lovely day, dear ones.  The sun is shining this morning.  I hope you had a lovely weekend, dear Friends.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Dear Girl -Paint Party Friday

I love to draw my sweet Friend Melissa.  We have been pals since the day she was born.  I drew this ACEO back in 2006.  This particular drawing is no bigger than a baseball card!

I apologize for putting up a drawing from the past, but I've been incredibly busy getting ready for Thanksgiving, and haven't had much time to draw.

Due to a terrible loss of data, I don't have my original reference picture, but I do have other pictures of her--so you can see why I love to draw my dear girl's face.

Isn't she lovely?  I am SO proud of her--she has grown into a lovely young woman, not only beautiful outside, but inside as well.   

Happy Thanksgiving dear ones--there is so much for which to be thankful.  Happy Paint Party Friday all you wonderful people!

Thumbelissa -Paint Party Friday

One of my favorite fairytales is the story of Thumbelina. The story chronicles the adventures of a tiny girl born in a velvety red tulip, in answer to her mother's wish and prayer.

She has many a perilous journey, but in the end she is rescued, flying away on the feathery back of a sparrow. Her friend brings her to a garden where the fairy folk live in the flowers. (I'm sure the garden must be mine...) There she meets and falls in love with a fairy prince. On her wedding day the fairies give the girl a pair of clear sparkling wings.

I have a collection of old fairytale books, and in the most ancient version, the tiny girl was called Thumbelissa. It's a toss-up as to which name is the most beautiful!

I am going to be out of town, so I'm posting this drawing from 2006.  My model was lovely Melissa, when she was a young girl.  I don't have the original reference pictures to share with you, but I'm sure you will  recognize her wonderful face.

I'm SO grateful for my life-in house sitters, for my watchful neighbors and the policeman who lives across the street.  It makes traveling so much easier to do.  

God bless you, dear ones.  Have a lovely week and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Friends of the Forest -Paint Party Friday

This drawing has the whimsical idea of the woodlands pictured as a person and the wolf as friend and defender of the forest. 

I have always loved wolves.  In fact, my senior paper was all about wolves.  Wolves live in family groups called packs. They live in dens, which are small caves or a hole dug in the ground. It shelters a mother and her pups weather and protects the little ones from animals who might want to make a snack of them.

Like human families often do, all wolves in a pack help take care of the younger ones. When the pups are very small, other pack members bring food to the mother so she does not have to leave the den. Wolf pups love to play, stalking and pouncing on each other.  Baby wolves also find toys to play with, such as bones, feathers or the skins of dead animals.

Wolves are amazing animals.  Though they can be solitary and lonely (I often feel like howling myself), I admire their loyalty to family and the friendship they share with one another. 

 Above you see my lovely model, Miss Melissa.  She is a wonderful inspiration to me.

Happy Paint Party Friday, my precious Friends.  May God bless you with joy and unexpected laughter.  Have a beautiful weekend and thank you for dropping by.  ((hugs))

Waterfalls -Paint Party Friday

One never knows what one might see near a waterfall. In the woods where I played as a child, places where the water fell through the forest were wondrous. Down through Leprechaun Valley there were playful little waterfalls tumbling over rock and mossy rill. There were small clear pools where the sunlight would glisten down through the vine maples, to reflect dapples of light up into our faces.

I have not lost my love for waterfalls. My family and I visited Niagara Falls in 2001 and 2002. Someday I shall draw the dancing mist maidens I saw there.

Happy Paint Party Friday, all you wonderful artists and beautiful people. God bless you, dear ones.  Have a lovely weekend and thank you for dropping by.

The Pit -Paint Party Friday

This morning I was looking through some old drawings and came across this one.  It touched my heart SO deeply.  There is no pit so deep, that GOD is not deeper still.  These are the words of Corrie Ten Boom, a survivor of a Nazi Concentration Camp during World War Two.

I was outside watering, when I had the overwhelming feeling that any moment my Beloved would come striding around the corner of the house with that wonderful smile of his.  The one he had just for me.  The feeling was SO strong...and I waited...

And then I remembered he was gone.  It  was heartbreaking.  I miss him so much.

There are many of us who've lost friends and family we love.  Each of us wrestles with that pain, sorrow and loss every day.  These words, this drawing is for you.  You are not alone, dear ones.  If you are lost in the depths of sorrow and despair, He is there beside you. 

Happy Paint Party Friday, all you wonderful artists and beautiful people. May God bless you, dear ones, especially those of you who weep, with His joy and peace.  Have a lovely weekend and thank you for dropping by.

Love's Eternal Kiss -Paint Party Friday

I attended the wedding of Tony and Melissa last week.  It was a beautiful wedding, one I will always remember.  This is my wedding gift to them.  It isn't finished yet, but when it is, I think it will be beautiful.

Above you see my reference photo.  Taking pictures of this lovely couple was SO much fun.  This is one of my favorites.

Happy Paint Party Friday, all you lovely artists and beautiful people. May God bless you, dear ones, with His joy and peace.  Have a lovely weekend and thank you for dropping by.