To Remember

Inspired by a recent post from friend/artist/blogger Dori Stuffer I created a drawing to honor her love and dedication to animals in need. 

They find their way to her, large and small, winged and furred, and live out their lives in a small sanctuary in Bavaria Germany.

In 2013 I blogged about my visit with Dori in Germany and have remembered many of the animals some of which have passed away very recently.

As an artist I deeply connect to memories and events through art, sometimes symbolically or figuratively, the lines and paint are a conduit to the soul's expression.

Here my friend is shown with some animal companions that have died. An alpaca, white dog and chickens, a black sheep and cat all huddle around their caretaker while a sheep walks toward them. He is a red ram and is only partially drawn for he has only died a few days ago.
He was called Pauli and had a big personality. I'm sure his absence will be felt for a long time to come.

I go among trees.

Thinking of  the words of Wendall Berry on a recent winter walk.

I go among trees and sit still.
All my stirring becomes quiet around me
like circles on water.
My tasks lie in their places where I left them
asleep like cattle.
Then what is afraid of me comes
and lives a while in my sight.
What it fears in me leaves me
and the fear of me leaves it.
It sings and I hear its song.
Than what I am afraid of comes.
I live for a while in its sight.
What I fear in it leaves it
and the fear of it leaves me.
It sings and I hear its song.

By: Wendell Berry

Those enchanting Monarchs

Many Monarch eggs were found this year. Although I shared some with other Monarch Mavens, I was able to successfully release nine healthy and strong butterflies into the world. Here you can see a newborn just a few hours from emerging from it's chrysalis, clinging to a leaf while it's wings dry completely. In the background another Monarch feeds on nectar from a variety of flowers grown especially for butterflies.

New sheet metal art

Happy February

I have just finished a new sheet metal Angel.

Acrylic paint and crayon.

Also am working on a cat with kittens.

summer drawing, ink

          Small sketch of a girl and bird together.

Snow in Spring

Birch Panel Painting and the Reoccurring Bear

 Black Bear comes to visit in Winter.

Acrylic paint and crayon on birch panel 9x12 inches.

Birds. Goats and Bears

Sheet metal birds in branches.

Black Capped Chickadee.

Black Bear goes for a walk. Last June the Northern Illinois area had a very rare visitor. A black bear was spotted in several counties sleeping in trees, munching on tender spring plants and ambling across fields for much of the month of June. A few people were frightened but most were delighted to have a rather large teddy bear in their backyard. After a while the bear disappeared and was the topic of discussion in chat rooms, bus rides and probably every diner in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Painted sheet metal bear shows the route he traveled on the reverse side.

The Space between Summer and Autumn

The small space between the last days of summer and Autumn have 

inspired me to linger longer when I'm outside doing chores.

Feeling the last warm days and smelling the dry leafy air as I hang laundry

on the clothesline, I can hear crickets in the grass and a Bluejay call overhead.