Announcements- Shooting Star Day & a Yay!

If you follow me on Instagram, you might already know that 






  
today was Shooting Star Day! 🌠

What's a rockhound to do on this happy Shooting Star Day?
 Pull out the meteorite fragments and paint a meteoroid inspired watercolor, of course. 

2- I'm very happy to say that I will be exhibiting my art in the 53rd annual Space Coast Art Festival this November, Thanksgiving weekend. 
Port Canaveral is very close to some of my favorite people, and the port is always fun on a holiday weekend.
I'm hoping the show turns out to be a great kickstart to the holiday season.
I have a few projects and vacation in between now and then, though. 
So I really have my work cut out for me.
I suppose my wish is that it all falls into perfect alignment, smoothly and full of bright spots, like the gorgeous night sky over the ocean after a long day at the shore.


To add this small shooting star to your collection, visit my Nouveau Niche shop.

What's your wish? 




National I Love My Feet Day & a Haiku Collaboration

Today is National I Love My Feet Day!

I created a piece that fits today's theme and am very excited to share the first in a collaborative series with poets and writers.
But first...

If there's one thing I'll never understand, it's those people that can't go barefoot.
You know the ones. They hate feet. They hate their own feet. They always wear socks. 
They turn their noses up at other people's feet. 

I don't have a foot fetish, but I seriously love feet. 
What's not to love about a mechanism that houses over 7,000 nerve endings?!
28 bones, 30 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments working together to support the rest of the amazing machine that is my body.


I don't even have "pretty" feet. My second toe is much longer than my big toe. 
(Seriously, sometimes it scrapes under on the sidewalk.) 
My feet are long with really high arches, and big, bony ankles.
 I wear a 9 1/2 to a 10 depending on the shoe, and I'm short of 5' 6" on my best posture days. 
Unless I'm somewhere that requires shoes, I go barefoot most of the time.
Therefore, I don't have the softest of soles. 
I also run and walk long distances, which leaves me with callouses and blisters.
But you know what? Those long, rough feet carry me for miles and miles.
They root me down into balancing yoga postures, and they bring me much needed joy when a rough day calls for a dance break.

I created this piece to remind me to take more time to honor my feet, but also of the connection our feet gives us to the Earth and its energy.

I am very honored to share with you my watercolor and ink illustration and the haiku it inspired, written by award winning writer and director, Quirine "Q" Dongelmans.




Rooted are the feet
To Mother Earth, universe
Show them loving care

Thank you so much to Quirine for collaborating with me on this project.
I absolutely love her writing, and I hope you do, too.
You can visit "Q's" page and read about her and her work by  clicking here.

If you like the illustration Grounding you can visit my DPW gallery to see a detailed view without the text. The unframed original will be in a low bid auction this month.

Okay then, I'm going spend some qt with my infrared foot spa. 

Thanks for stopping by, and I really hope you give your feet some extra love today.
They deserve it, and so do you.

XOXO,







Always be a mermaid...

 


 Well, it is a tad bit cooler than it was last week, but still way too hot for much outdoor activity unless it involves water.

The UV is 10 out of 10, and the "real feel" is a balmy 103 F.

Here are 4 of my fave little shells from my time at the beach and one of the 5 newest coloring pages available for instant download.

You can pick up the watery instant downloads in my shop, or on my Patreon page

And FYI, mermaids go topless, so I guess this really is adult coloring. 😆


It's also a bonus Freebie Friday for Patrons on my Patreon page
so head over to support my project for as little as a $1 a month and get free coloring downloads that you can print again and again. 

What do you do when it's too hot outside?
 I guess I have plenty of work to do, but I need some playtime...

🌊 Always be yourself, unless you can be a mermaid. Always be a mermaid. 🌊






Wildlife Wordless Wednesday



(To read the description of this image of one of my favorite trees

Happy trails!
~D. Renée

Summer reading suggestions?



 What's on your summer reading list?
 Let me know your suggestions in the comments.

I'm about to embark on a studio prep session and then a long run of commission & personal work, which means I need some new audio book suggestions!
I read everything from non-fiction and bios to fantasy and sci-fi. I have an e-reader subscription service that provides audiobooks so I can still get "reading" done while I work. Although I must admit, when I'm really in the painting zone I need to re-listen to a chapter or three.


 Here are my top three that I've recently finished:
It's not surprising at all that it won the Bellwether prize for fiction.
  • This I Believe; The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman, an incredible compilation of frank and candid essays from Americans of "all walks of life". This is one instance where I soundly recommend listening to the audio version, as you will hear clips of the original recordings from the interviewees and editors. It gave me chills, and was utterly inspiring and completely heartbreaking at points. The entire program is only 53 minutes, and is worth a listen. 
The book is based on the NPR series, and you can visit thisibelieve.org to hear many, many more essays. 


  • The Universe Versus Alex Woods, Gavin Extence
I really can't write anything deserving enough of this book. It's one of my favorites, by far.
The inclusion of astrophysics, neurology, spiritualism, pacifism, and the ethics of one's right to a dignified death all in one?
A hundred times, yes. 

I'll let you read this review by Susanna Rustin, if you like, but this quote sums it up nicely.

"Extence's hugely likable first novel is a fairytale for rationalists."




Okay, your turn!
What lit is inspiring you this summer?

Let me know. :)
May the muse be with you!

~D. Renée



The Universe Supports You; Wordless Wednesday

This summer's got me like...

Take it off to put it on.


To add the original ink & watercolor sketch to your collection,

visit my Daily Paintworks or click the Bid button below.

Flamingo Friday




I've obviously been on a flamingo roll lately.
I'm a bird lover, but these tropical beauties are unique, and I really like unique.
They stand out. They are elegant and really specialized for their environment.


The printable July rewards for my Patreon Patrons followed suit.

You can get them by pledging support on my Patreon page, or swing by my Etsy shop and get an instant  download, easy peasy.

Speaking of Etsy, 
I put together a lil' flock of fabulous pink things for Flamingo Friday. 





I've also listed another of the small watercolor flamingo studies on Daily Paintworks.
These auctions give collectors and artists a chance to add a small originals to their collections at an affordable price. :)
Click to see more or Bid

Thanks for stopping by the blog.




Don't be afraid to stand out.
Stay flamboyant,
stay weird,




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