Los Pajaros Amados-SkaDaMo/2014

The Beloved Birds

My Dia de los muertes journey has led down some side roads. I found El Pajaro on one of these. I am always drawn to images with a printmaking quality so I adapted this iconic Loteria pictogram image into my Los Pajaros Amados.

The owl and the raven

I got you a puppy for your birthday!

My mom had a labrador. His name was Boo. He was the last dog love of her life.

For her birthday today I had an urge to give her a puppy. Not something alive and wriggling–too much work and worry. But a blue-black labrador pup who would look at her with those eyes the way Boo did.

Happy Birthday, Deane! I love you.

SkaDaMo~2014/Chicken Memorial

Ode to a Hen

I like chickens. I like to eat them, and I like to paint them. I have handled many chicken bones in my time, but I have never taken the time to paint them.

This post is dedicated to Brennan and Mia, my favorite chicken lovers.

Beech Face

Leaf Portraiture

Beech Face/ Maria

In my first Vermont winter in 34 years, I am re-discovering the fashions of autumn. So many leaves!

I cannot get my hands on my usual Beach Face elements, so I’m deploying leaves instead. Inspired by another look at Lois Ehlert’s superbly clever Leaf Man, I have been using leaves in various ways to create portraiture.

Sabin clothed in rhubarb

The rhubarb plant can supply an entire wardrobe!

Sabin in the autumn

And sometimes only one is needed.

Tula tiara

With the leftover riches, I made arrangements and left them in the woods

SkaDaMo~2014

Seabiscuit

another memorial-this time for all the dear, dead ponies.

Remembering the beloved dead~SkaDaMo2014

Remembering the dead has always been hard for me.

My latest loss coincided with Halloween and Dia de los Muertes and that has made it oddly easier to bear. I had a ready outlet for art therapy.

  

I began by memorializing Tula, and then, needing even more therapy, I moved on to Georgie and Chihiro, and Queen of Heaven.

The blazing hot palette set me free.

   

Finally I painted this regal, reclining cat.

May they all find a home in the Happy Hunting Ground

#SkaDaMo2014

Vote~SkaDaMo2014

Every activity in everyday life is more fun if a Border Collie is doing it.

That includes exercising your franchise as an American voter, tomorrow November 4, 2014

#SkaDaMo2014

SkaDaMo~2014

Why draw?

for practice, for fun, for history and remembrance, to be in the moment–all good reasons.

Add one more.

To be part of a pop-up, temporary community of kindred spirits during a very dark, very chilly month.

I may not be present  and accounted for on every day this month. but I will try to do SkaDaMo 2014 with as much verve as possible.

My first weekend of November was spent in Florence, MA with dear RISD friends: Barb and Maureen. We spent happy hours in Maureen’s kitchen, which sports an impressive pot and pan collection.

Barb enjoys her coffee black.

Maureen grows her own thyme.

I look forward to the rest of this month.

#SkaDaMo