Warm weather is on it’s way! We made it folks. We survived another Winter! Although, I don’t know about everyone else but this was one of the most mild Winters we have had in a long time. We had maybe two good snowstorms but other than that just rain and wind. Now it’s already getting into the high 50’s and low 60’s; I live in upstate New York! That’s insane!
So it’s time to put away the hoodies and get some new spring tees out. Let your skin soak up the sunshine and sport one of my awesome tees that I have available on Teepublic. I never formally announced my arrival to Teepublic but I now have a store through going on a few months now. I just ordered one of my tees before starting this entry so I am very excited to get that in the mail! This is the one I ordered:
I love the color! It matches my mandala beautifully! There are so many colors to choose from and I have a bunch more designs in my shop so check it out and let me know what your favorite one is!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you had a great season! Sending warm wishes and happy Spring vibes your way! Check back soon for more artwork and awesome merch!
I am always on the look out for the newest biological discovery. I love cryptozoology and I find it fascinating when scientists discover things about animals and nature that seemed improbable or maybe even impossible. The weird, the strange, the oddities of nature. Long story short, I came across an article that inspired my latest piece.
The article was explaining the rare occurence of a hermaphrodite cardinal. Half of the bird is female and the other half is male. When this occurs it is called a bilateral gynandromorph. Gynandromorph comes from the greek words “gyne” (female), “andro” (male) and “morph” (form or shape). There are several species known to have hermaphrodites such as reptiles, crustaceans, and even butterflies! Scientists believe that all birds are capable of producing gynandromorph offspring but it has only been noticed in birds that vary in color between males and females, such as the cardinal.
Mostly cardinals have been spotted perfectly split down the middle with a vibrant red on one side and a calm yellow on the other. When I saw the image of one, taken by a Pennsylvania couple at their backyard feeder, I was amazed by the beauty of it’s plumage. I immediately added this animal oddity to my list and couldn’t wait to get started!
I have always wanted to create a piece based on duality. It was interesting to create two sides that are similar to each other but at the same time exact opposites. The female side is done with circles where as the male side I used a square pattern. The colors are also opposing yet the shadowing and vibrance is the same.
I’m very happy with how the cardinal turned out. I never intended to create as many bird drawings as I have, it just kind of happened. I just love feathers and their patterns and colors! I am naturally drawn to birds so therefore they are naturally drawn by me! See what I did there! 😉 I used Arteza water color pencils and Prismacolor art markers along with a micron pen to get the thin black lines. I can only hope that maybe one day I will see one of these beauty’s with my own two eyes!
Have you ever seen a hermaphrodite cardinal or maybe another species in the wild? The butterflies would be really cool to come across too! Share your story in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by this week! Check back soon as I will discuss the symbolism of having cardinal as a totem!
Stay vibrant, free spirits!
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I have “Cardinal Duality” prints and other cool stuff available in my shop!
It is devastating the harm that the recent fires in Australia have caused. The fires started in November of 2019 due to extreme drought and record breaking heat waves. Over 100 fires are still active today all around the country, causing more threat to everyone around. So far, over 7 million acres have gone up in flames and with it an estimated 500 million animals. Many organisations are working tirelessly to rescue and treat as many animals as they can.
Wildlife conservation and animal welfare are two topics I am very passionate about. It has been my dream to reach the point with my artwork that I could make a difference when help is needed. That’s why I am excited to reveal my latest piece I have been working on in honor of Australia’s wildlife.
I put a lot of heART into this piece and I am so pleased with how it turned out! It is now available in my shops at Redbubble, TeePublic and soon Society6.
((*Update* Edited – 4.1.2020*)) The first two months this piece was posted, I donated 100% of the profits to WIRED Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation. With the help of other wildlife lovers, we raised enough to make a great donation! To keep the drive going to protect Australia’s wildlife no matter what issues they face, I will continue to collect 25% of all profits from this piece and make another donation at the end of the year. ))
Help me raise money to further protect the Australian wildlife! Animal Activism through Art! I cannot wait to start making a difference by combining my greatest passions, art and animals! Thank you for stopping by today! Please share and get the word out!
Here are some other organisations accepting donations:
I am very happy with how my “Sloth Totem” turned out! I stayed completely care-free the entire time I worked on this piece. I didn’t know how it would turn out in the end but I didn’t worry about it. I just let it happen and it happened well! I have shared this on social media and so far it is getting a lot of positive feedback.
I’m not entirely sure why people love sloths though! To be honest, I think they are a little creepy in real life. I can totally get on board with the calm and chill lifestyle though!
I will cover the symbolism of sloth after Inktober is completed. I shared a FSM Update to explain everything that is coming up in the next month! Make sure you give it a glance to see what’s in store!
Speaking of store, if you would like your own print of “Sloth Totem” it is available in my shop here.
You can also find home decor, apparel, accessories and more with my “Sloth Totem” piece. Click here.
Thanks for stopping by! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think about sloths. Cute or creepy?
Stay chill, free spirits!
“The main thing is to relax and let your talents do the work.” -Charles Barkley
I have a lot going on in the near future. I have several projects in the making. Things are gradually slowing down with my landscaping job so I will have more time for my art!
We have two more days until Inktober so I will focus a lot of my time to completing this. I finally decided what theme I will follow this year and surprisingly it will not be horror! If there are any gamers out there you may know of Elder Scrolls Online, ESO for short. They have created their own prompt list for Inktober and it is my husband’s favorite game. He streams it live on Twitch.tv at RabidClown_Gaming. If you love the game too, check out his channel! I thought it would be neat to combine our interests this year and follow the ESO prompt list. If your not familiar with the game it deals with dragons, monsters, sorcerers, warriors, kings and queens….a huge realm of fantasy to vaguely sum it up! I enjoy drawing fantasy but never give myself the opportunity. Now it’s time to give it a turn.
I will also be spending all of October preparing for an Arts & Crafts Show that I will be participating in! It is November 3rd and I will share a separate post about this as the day draws closer with more details. I am currently working on a group of mini canvases. It has been a couple years since I’ve worked with the minis and I am having so much fun with it! It has also been a couple years since I have done an art show so my nerves are a little frazzled. For the most part though, I’m very confident in how it will turn out and I’m not procrastinating this time! That is a huge help for keep stress levels down!! XD Here is a sneak peek at some of the minis I will have at the show.
After Inktober and the art show, I’ll be picking back up with my totem animal symbolism posts. I had to take a break over the Summer because I am too busy working long hours with my landscaping job. Now that the colder months are ahead of us, the work load starts to ease up and I have more time to concentrate on my totems again. Since “Sloth” was a popular piece I will study this one and share with you what I find. After that I was thinking about tackling the panda. Who doesn’t love pandas, seriously!?
Aside from all of this (yes there is more), I have started dabbling with digital art. You may have already learned about this from reading my previous post, It’s A Digital Age. I am making mandalas on my laptop and phone using the program AutoDesk Sketchbook. It is so much fun and is just another way for me to express myself no matter where I am! I still have a lot to learn as far as digital art goes but I have made the first step. I would eventually like to get Adobe Illustrator since I am more familiar with it.
That about sums up what artwork is ahead of me! Busy, busy, busy! I have never felt more motivated though! I’m confident I will be able to get everything done with ease and make strides with my talents!
Thanks for stopping by this week! Make sure to check back often to see my 2019 Inktober collection grow. I will share one sketch for everyday until the end of October! Share a comment below if you are participating and I’ll be sure to follow along with you!
Happy October, free spirits!
“Get busy living, or get busy dying.”– Stephen King
At work today, we were planting trees in a mulch bed where a Killdeer was squawking at us, puffing out her feathers and chasing us away. We soon realized she had eggs she was protecting. We drew a circle in the mulch so we knew not to step there. Though she chirped her annoyance at us the entire time we worked, all was well in the end! I never would have guessed what beautiful eggs they have!
They have been around for about 50 million years starting with their ancestor, Paraceratherium, the largest of all rhino species. They stood over 16 feet tall at their shoulder! This ancestor is also shared by horses and tapirs. Rhinos have actually been mistaken for horse-like creatures before. After being described by a historian around 400 BC, the myth of the unicorn began. A magical beast with a horn atop it’s head. The horn was said to have the power to protect one from poisoning if used as a cup. They were prized in medieval times and rhinos and narwhals were hunted to provide the gift of a “unicorn’s horn” to the king. Even today the rhino is poached for it’s horn which is used in traditional Chinese medicine, powdered and used for fevers. Unfortunately, this and habitat loss has led to the extinction to certain species of rhino such as the western black rhino and the northern white rhino.
Rhino might appear to be a lumbering brute but is in fact fast and agile for it’s appearance and is seldom aggressive. Males will use aggression when defending their territory. They will charge head on but not attacking with their horns as one may think. Their horns are actually soft being made out of keratin. They instead use their teeth, the lower incisors which can reach up to five inches long! They typically live solitary lives, only grouping up during mating season. A group is called a crash.
So what ancient wisdom do these creatures hold? They are strong and heavy, planting themselves firmly into the earth. They teach us to be grounded and stay connected to Mother Nature. Rhino holds all the wisdom needed in life. If rhino has come to you, it is time you believe the same in yourself. You know the answers; you have the wisdom. Be strong with your decisions and know why you are making them. Rhino knows when to use aggression and when to be gentle. We, too, should practice this balance. It is time we take the knowledge we hold inside us and use it to charge forward in life. You know what is best for you. Take that and run! Do not hold yourself back! You can go far if you take out self-judgement and fear.
Be careful not to trample others as you stampede through life with your newfound confidence. Help them as you go. Share your wisdom and help others find their own inner knowledge. We all have rhino’s ancient wisdom inside us. It is time to put it to use!
I hope you enjoyed learning about the rhinoceros with me. I sure learned a lot I hadn’t known before. For instance, the word rhinoceros is derived from two Greek words, “rhino” and “keras”. Together they literally mean “nose horn”. Thanks for stopping by this week! Check back next Monday to learn what squirrel’s message is!
Until next time,
“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
My newest totem animal piece is in honor of Sudan, the last male northern white rhinoceros. You may have heard that he died a few days ago from a leg infection and age related problems. There are only two northern white rhinos left, both older females. The western black rhino was declared extinct in 2013 and unfortunately the northern white is not far behind. Scientists are doing what they can to attempt the creation of a “science lab” offspring but any success in achieving such a feat is uncertain.
Extinction from natural causes can not be prevented but this sadly could have been. The northern white rhino, a subspecies of the southern white rhino, has arrived at such a fate due to poaching and loss of habitat. It is truly sad to know there is still so much negligence in the world. So many humans still believe they are truly superior to any other living creature. It’s sickening.
Please, animals are not here for our amusement. They are not here to decorate our homes. We do not need to wear them to look good. We do not need to kill them to slice off a horn, some skin, a skull, a lucky foot on a keychain….Seriously? Why? Stop spending money on this shit people! It is terrible, cruel, horribly selfish and ignorant.
(Ahem)…Anyways…
…my latest piece was very calming to create (if you can believe it, haha) and I’m very happy with how it turned out. I still need to add the color but this will mostly be shading. I mean, it’s a white rhino so the color should be easy! This piece remained simple but sometimes that’s how it goes. It seems to work with this gentle giant’s demeanor. I will have a new totem animal post ready for Monday morning with the symbolism for Rhino.
Is there anything you’d like to add about Sedan or northern white rhinos? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Thanks for stopping by.
Until next time,
“Since the beginning of time, we have been the guardians and the healers of the forest. We have too long forgotten the magic powers of nature. The time has come to call on them again. Remember: all the magic of creation exists within a single tiny seed.”
Owls are everywhere! There are over 200 different species of owls in habitats ranging from deserts to forests to snowy tundras. They are all around us yet we seldom even notice. Being nocturnal and having fantastic camouflage, they could be right in front of our faces and still go unnoticed. But if you are one of the lucky ones who has witnessed this avian king, perhaps they have a message for you.
No, it’s not your invitation to Hogwarts. Although Owl represents wisdom, it is what makes them wise that I find most interesting. Owl sees through the darkness where others cannot. Owl is a silent flyer, in order to swiftly snatch his prey in the dead of night. He moves through the night without even a single swoosh from a feather. Native Americans have called them “deceiver feathers”. Deception is Owl’s way.
His eyes are not spherical but instead immobile tubes. This is why Owl can rotate his head 270 degrees to be aware of everything around him. Owl’s ears are asymmetrical on either side of his head so he can hear multiple dimensions.
If Owl has presented himself to you it may be time to heighten your senses to see everything more clearly. Pay attention and broaden your perspective to better judge a situation your in. You may come off a little intimidating to others but this is only because you can see through the dark. No one can deceive you when you have the vision of Owl.
Owl might be warning you that you are being deceived by yourself or another. Beware of others who may seek to harm you. Owl is associated with white magic and also with black magic. Make sure you don’t end up on the wrong end. Stay sharp and strike with the precision of Owl when necessary.
My mother would hear an owl calling in the night from time to time. A short time later a loved one would pass. Whether it was a family member or a beloved pet, the Owl seemed to deliver the warning. Death is another symbol of Owl. Though it should notalways be taken literally. Sometimes the call of Owl represents the death of a chapter, renewal.
I hope you have found some insight on this week’s post. What experiences have you had with Owl recently? There is a lot more symbolism that I didn’t cover today. I would love to hear your story in the comments below!
I am very pleased with how this piece came out. I really enjoy incorporating Zentangle and feather patterns. Theye simply go together. It just shows how there are patterns through out the universe, just repeating….repeating…..over….and over….into a beautiful existence. All the same, all connected. It just depends on how far back you stand and look. Thanks for stopping by this week.
Raccoon is a powerful totem. These fuzzy ninjas of the night represent protection and generosity. It is common for males to band together for greater strength against predators or other male raccoons from different territories. A group of raccoons is called a gaze. The gaze will have a dominant male who will stand watch and defend the group while the others forage for food. The best morsels will be given to the dominant male as a sign of respect and gratitude for the protection he offers. Raccoon is generous and protects the young and elderly. They are the guardians for those who feel like a dark horse, the underdog. They offer strength and wisdom gained from self experiences.
If Raccoon has bumbled it’s way across your path, it is time to share your wisdom with others in need. Does anyone around you need help or guidance that you can offer? You possess knowledge that you have worked hard to obtain. It is time to share this with others. Do not become a crutch but rather equip them with the tools necessary to obtain their own strength. Lift them up, dust them off and show them the way. Speak up when others speak ill behind another’s back. Do not tolerate unfounded judgement and gossip. Recognize the guardian within you. The protector is always rewarded for their great deeds. Though beware of those who refuse to help themselves; those who are lazy and greedy. They will drain you of your resources while refusing to learn how to stand on their own.
Perhaps it is you that needs to be lifted up. Are you stuck in self pity and feeling like you’ve hit rock bottom. Change your perspective and see the strength you hold within. Do not become a victim but fight. Help someone. Do not become selfish but instead be giving. The gratitude and appreciation you will receive for helping another will give you the boost of confidence you need.
On the contrary, Raccoon could be warning you to take time for yourself. Female raccoons often live solitary lives excluding mating season and when raising young. Have you been giving too much energy and have left nothing to care for yourself. An empty pot feeds no one. If you do not tend to your own needs first, you will have nothing to offer those who depend on you. Take time for yourself and recharge.
It’s no surprise that I enjoyed creating this piece. I enjoy creating all my totems yet I believe Raccoon may be my cutest so far. I still need to add color to
this piece as well as moose and owl. I’ll talk about Owl symbolism next week! My prismacolor pencils are preforming beautifully and I can’t wait to finish these three totems completely. I have much more coming that I’m excited to share with everyone. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning the different totem animals with me. I know I have!
What raccoon stories do you have to share? Leave a comment below and thanks for stopping by this week!
Until next time,
“Don’t call me raccoon. -I’m sorry. I took it too far. I meant trash panda.”
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Sources: Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams & David Carson
If Owl has presented himself to you it may be time to heighten your senses to see everything more clearly. Pay attention and broaden your perspective to better judge a situation your in. You may come off a little intimidating to others but this is only because you can see through the dark. No one can deceive you when you have the vision of Owl.
