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Category: Nature Art
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Transforming
For a long stretch of my preteen years I thought of being a zoologist. I would collect Wildlife Fact Files that my wonderful parents subscribed me to. I felt the dazzling power of both order and knowledge creep into my bones. Alas, the allure of chaos, artistic whimsy, and teenager laziness won out and I lost the scientific prowess of my youth. But this watercolour and ink sketch does give me some sense of street cred, that I never lost my ability to observe the natural world and record it, interpret it, and commune. This beautiful python caught my attention as I image searched for the perfect snake to draw. I knew I wanted a blood red circle behind it…red is such a potent colour that to me conjures life and death cycles, earthly power, and rites of passage mostly commonly found in women’s rituals. Snakes are symbols of magic…and transformation…once I had a dream that I was walking through crowds of loved ones and everyone had snakes dropping out of their clothing. It was a potent vision. For some cultures, dragons take the place of snake worship…yes I feel the truth in the umbrella family of snakes and dragons even if they are slightly different tones they feel like kin.
As we collectively move and shift, transformations can be triggering, uncomfortable, even painful. But they’re proof of growth. They’re an indication that we are part of nature, as the ever-shifting world around us is never static neither can we be.
Prompts: what part of the transformation cycles brings you the greatest joy? Do you pay attention or just brace yourself and hold on? do you process inwardly or outwardly?
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My Dragon
We all have this innate ability to connect to animal totems. Some of the wisdom for me has been taught by Native American vision quests, Japanese guided meditations, or the various oracle cards I’ve picked up along the way (which is an amalgam of many voices). Most importantly, I grew up using my boundless imagination and have kept my heart open.
Imagine my wonder when a new teacher came into my life. Her name is Yvette Sitten. She mixes two of my favourite things…beautiful smells and connecting to guides, spirits, ancestors, oh the modality is hard to condense if a few lines.
Anyway Yvette has many products that connect the user to dragon energy. In a guided meditation she asked us to tune into a place, a sacred place of our very own, and to show ourselves our very own dragon guide. My dragon came right away into my vision. The dragon has a mossy ancient peace to it. And it is sleeping. She asked us to draw our dragons and meet back up later to share. Here mine is.
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luna moths and kingsolver
One of my favourite authors of all time is Barbara Kingsolver. And of her many amazing works is a book called Prodigal Summer. One of the main characters is an entomologist who has prophetic visions involving the Luna Moth. Kingsolver’s imagery and poetic fiction style weaves through my own love of nature and all its creatures. I truly love making my own pieces that contribute to the act of communion with the natural world.
I chose a luna moth not only because of the book but also because I’ve used her before, in a tattoo design for a dear sweet childhood friend of my sister’s. Well she’s my whole family’s friend. I love how animals can weave their way through people’s lives and enrich our stories.
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For Miranda
I have recently befriended an amazing woman named Miranda (aka Panda). She is probably at this moment HEAVILY pregnant with twins. Having only known her for a brief while but still finding such a DEEP love for her, I was inspired to share a bit of my style/ love language by making her some art. I knew I wanted it to be in the vein of the watercolour circles I’m such a fan of right now but I wanted to intuit what animal to use in the gift.
Cut to her baby shower. I found myself in the midst of a sea of people I didn’t know, watching her friends shower her with their love and joy. It was lovely, and I saw how calm and radiant Panda was…and then oh!! I met her partner Andre. He was this ray of sunshine too! What bliss…to know a few souls were coming into this world being held by two such sweet warm parents. His playful energy caught my imagination, and I realised Andre has sealed the deal. I was drawing foxes on the painting I’d started. So here’s the final piece, before I frame it and give it away. For my sweet friends.
May you have a healthy and beautiful birth and childhood, two little ones. However you two present, I know you will raised in a house full of laughter and play. Can’t wait to meet you.
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My spirit animal
One creature that has an extraordinary power to move me is the humpback whale. I’m drawn to them, and as a child would listen to tapes of their songs as pastime. They’re in my dreams, they’re powerful totems and symbols of love, song, family, and mystery. Painting and drawing them always fills me with a sense of success and peace.
When I started the water colour circle series I figured a humpback would feature. I usually gift my art but I think I’ll keep this one for myself, to remind me of who I am.
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Druid Avocado
My homage to this incredible artist avocado stone faces and I have recently fallen in love with a lovely man who reminds me so much of this little guy. So I made a few versions of this but they’re not for sale because it’s really the IP of the amazing Jan.