Joyful Purpose

Draw what you love!

When in doubt draw what inspires you, what you have a passion for, what you love!  If that is chickens, tea cups, hearts, faces, or critters then so be it!  I find that we often fight our natural urges to be creative for fear that it isn't current or hip or "artistic" enough.  When you are true to what you are passionate about it shows.  

For me more often then not that is horses.  They have been a constant part of life and being since I was 7yrs old and still are to this day.  I can't imagine my life without them.  For a long time I fought this constant attraction to put them in my artwork for fear that it wouldn't bode well with others.  I finally came to accept that hey, this is who I am!  I love horses, chickens, goats, owls, ravens, hawks and pretty much any furry or feathered critter.  LET FREEDOM RING!

So today be free to draw or paint or collage the things that you dearly love!




 

Raven Studies

This weekend I worked on studies of ravens in preparation for a series of  wildlife watercolor works.  I am exploring the use of paint, image and words.

I used the words of my go to inspiration Mary Oliver

Ravens

I don't know what the ravens are saying this

morning of green tenderness and

rain but, my, what a collection of

squallings and cracklings and whistles, made

with the ruffling of throat feathers and the

stretching of wings, nor is it any single speech

one to the rest, but clearly, an octet, since

they are eight coal-black birds with

dark-brown eyes. I have been in this world just

long enough to learn (not always easily) to love

my neighbors and to allow them every

possibility. Maybe the ravens are talking

for some ultimate vicious but useful purpose, or

maybe it's only directions to the next mountain, or maybe

it's simple, silly joy. "hello, ravens," I say, under

their dark tree and, as if courtesy were of

great importance, they turn, they clack and spill their

delicious glottals, of no consequence but

friendly and without the least judgment, down and

over me.