Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

The Original Sun Worshiper; Ring Tailed Lemur






 I hope everyone had a brilliant midsummer and you're staying as cool as possible or splendidly sweaty upon your preference and locale. 
 If you didn't have time to celebrate or it slipped your mind, remember that midsummer was celebrated around July 5 before the Gregorian calendar was adopted. ;) Another reminder that  cultures have tried to track time for millennia, and it's all a human construct anyway, btw making numerology a largely culturally subjective and egoic practice. You can visit this site to see a list of some in descending accuracies, with the Persian calendar introduced in the 2 C. BCE being the most accurate.
 Sooooo, back to the star of the show; the Sun. Funny enough, the center of our solar system doesn't have an official name, according to the IAU. Solis is obviously the Latin for sun, from Sol, the Roman equivalent to Helios, Greek god of the Sun. For that matter, neither do any of the inner planets nor our moon. This is where culture and human anthropomorphizations get involved.

 One of my very first memories is of having one hand on a sturdy sapling, swinging my body weight around and around it as my hand slid over the smooth bark. I pivoted on one foot, looked up and swung. I let the brilliantly blinding gold light enter my eyes and what felt like my entire being, again and again. And I sang. I sang songs to the sun. I was barely three. Most of my early vivid memories are just this. The sun and me gazing on it. I didn't have a name for it, That feeling. Jubilation? Bliss? I guess I didn't need one. I think that feeling is what humanity chases and gives a personhood in a god. A warm stillness. On the solstice it is with us the longest.
 We love to name things. Our meat computers have adapted perfectly for this. The dance of visual cortex and frontal lobe to Broca's area is something we can't get enough of- if you're at all interested in the psych & neuroscience and want to dip your foot in this, read this article and then hit me up for more- as a RH artist with crossed aphasia during migraines, I love this topic! Not being able to communicate or place words during auras was a scary and frustrating thing for decades. Once I studied it more and began to release the need to label, riding out the waves of non-verbal time has been fairly enlightening.
 Amaterasu of Japanese mythology
(Amaterasu of Japan)
 The Sun, whatever you want to call it, him, or even her. Yes, her. In Japan, the sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikame was the queen of heaven and earth. In ancient Mesopotamia she was Arinna. This theme crosses into Anatolia, where Hecate has her origins as a sun goddess that mediates between the upper and underworlds. (With no mention by Hesiod in Theogony of all the witchy traits later attributed to her.)  It can be Ra or Helios, who eventually gives way to Apollo, then Sol, and today we come back to another son that has a birthday celebrated in December and I think you get the point. My point? Every. Culture. Is. Different. And. Evolves. (Buuuut really doesn't if it thinks it's the "correct" culture and there's nothing new under the ...)
Our constant across the globe? The sun! Need warmth? Need food? Need light? Vitamin D? Serotonin? Awesome, me too. There's a star for that! 
 According to each group of people and their location, climate, etc., the folklore and resulting pantheon therefore religious ritual is going to vary, but without it there will be no life. Period. 
  That's why I chose to honor the solstice by visiting the ring tailed lemurs on Friday. I had the opportunity to see them in the Safari Park lemur encounter a couple of years ago during their sun-worship and it was a very cool experience. So against my better judgement, I brought one bottle of ice water & my sketchbook out into the 100+ heat index of the Central Florida Zoo. What followed was sweaty, sad, highly entertaining, but worth it.
-I have an unpopular stance with some fellow animal lovers-
One- Zoos can make me sad. Like really sad. Two- I still support zoos by being a member. Conservation, endangered species breeding programs, and education can make all the difference for a young person. Environmental protections aren't in place to save our animal brothers and sisters, so someone has to be the "bad" guy. Deal with it and or get to fixin' their habitat, my friend.

  Next to the spider monkeys (omg, you guys, we saw an actual monkey in the wild this weekend by our house but that's a whole other story) the ring tailed lemurs exhibit was obviously the biggest in the primate section. I'm betting this is because they are "famous" due to the movie Madagascar. That's where they are from, the southern end of Madagascar, along with 60 other species of lemurs throughout the rest of the country. I haven't seen the movie, but I've seen clips. Idk. I have thoughts that I'll get to at the end. anyhow- All lemurs are endangered due to habitat destruction.
   
 Back to the ring tailed lemurs- I was hot and dragging by the time I got back to their area, but they were fairly active. Active to the point it was a little difficult to sketch them. They were jumping about and eating leaves, then trying to find a comfortable position to sit, squat, nap, nope, climb, sit, squat, nap, nope, jump, hop, sit, etc. I was enjoying observing them and sketching croquis when a couple walked up (and after peering over my shoulder to see what I was doing) began watching them with me.  
 The two lemurs had been engaged in a mutual grooming session, and one was now trying to move to the seat the other had held. A bit of roughhousing ensued which very quickly broke off with the two running to separate areas of the enclosure. One of the lemurs began stroking his very long striped tail between his hands repeatedly.  The woman beside me began to comment how much, "He just loves that pretty tail of his! Show it off!" Then she laughed, walked off, and it got me thinking about one of my favorite (here read triggering) topics anthropomorphization in animal symbology. 
 What this lemur was actually doing by caressing his luxurious, long, striped tail was prepping for a "stink fight". The scent glands located on his upper wrists (and chest) secrete a strong pheromone that is unique to him.

Instead of engaging in violent spats, ring tailed lemurs waft their tails toward opponents and mark areas they want to stake as their own claim. What we were witnessing wasn't just grooming, and certainly not vanity- a uniquely human trait. It was a behavior that helps enforce boundaries and keeps confrontation from escalating to dangerous levels by using your very unique essence, so to speak. More sciencey details on stink fighting here.  I think that's a behavior to meditate on, don't you?

 The woman's comments, along with the lemur's unique homeland made me wonder what would happen if I looked up "lemur spirit animal" just for kicks. I personally don't believe in catchall copy paste guidelines from self proclaimed spiritual gurus, because honestly most of them are full of more bullshit than the rhino exhibit and don't know much about the animals they are talking about. Go figure. When I did, I unfortunately wasn't surprised. Most sites seem to copy and paste from each other and were a hodge podge of wishful thinking that works well with the Barnum effect and other cognitive biases.
These two were oft repeated to people searching for meaning of their "totem" & got me the most-
 "Spirits (sometimes creature) of the night" - Yeah. Lemur species are varied and most are actually diurnal, like the sun-basking ring tail. :) 
"Superficiality...manipulative" . 

free download for patrons
 Again, these are human traits projected onto a prosimian primate. I'm wagering the tail stroking and grooming behavior along with characterizations from a certain animated movie sparked this judgement. Let's maybe not put human traits on animals. Learn the animals, then glean what you can from how they behave on a personal and introspective level. If we're going to mash meaning into everything (and we are, it's how we roll) just be informed. I doubt the Malagasy people of Madagascar who thought the lemur was their sacred ancestor and had a soul would think they were superficial manipulative creatures. Oh, unless it's the Aye-Aye , a tiny species of lemur that  they thought cursed them with death if it pointed its weird elongated middle finger at them so they hunted it almost to extinction. Just an observation.  (Daaaaaamn, humans. Stop that already.)

You know about stink fighting. Here are some other basic facts.
They greet the sun every day in lotus like position, exposing their bellies. This warms them from the chilly night, prepping them for a day of foraging leaves, small insects, socializing, hopping about, etc.
They are matriarchal. Holla.
free download for patrons here
Prosimian (strepsirrhines)
They can learn patterns, be taught tool use, and simple arithmetic. 
They are good swimmers and can travel by raft, i.e. floating debris & vegetation. This is probably how most lemurs got to Madagascar from Africa and proliferated so successfully due to the lack of other primates.
Their name is from a Latin word for a type of specter, or scary restless ghosts, lemures.  
"I call [the creatures in this genus] lemurs, because they go around mainly by night, in a certain way similar to humans, and roam with a slow pace." -Taxonomist Carl Linnaeus- When he had discovered small lemurs and also classified the loris as a lemur.
Ring tailed, Brown, Indris, etc. lemurs are diurnal, it is mostly the smaller lemurs that are nocturnal.


 Ok? Basics down? I recommend going to observe them if you can. Then you can decide what the lemur is to you. As humans, we will absolutely find meaning in any and everything. Life has the meaning you give it. Cookie cutter meanings make cookie cutter lives. Just like all animal guide meditation/intentions, the focus should be personal. 
 I sketched a few poses. I had a nice time observing them and thinking about how we think about them. By the way, the lemur didn't get his spot. He found a new one. I sketched him trying to nap on it before he moved.
 The watercolor artwork featured on this post is a ring tail in his sun worship pose, with a circumpunt for the sun, upward equilateral for fire, and various intersecting lines at points for my own as a reminder of balance, harmony, and flow.
 It is a reward for tier 3+ patrons. If you're not a patron but dig it, you can purchase a print here. 
 You'll see in the other reward downloads based on the lemur that my idea of sun worship and recharging isn't as fire as everyone goes on and on about. What I got from my meditative time after the lemur solstice; 
There are no formulas for something that hasn't been yet. No wrote ritual or pose. No expectations from others of what it should be. Breaks are goods, naps are even better. No need to oust another or compete. You don't ever need another to give you permission or direction.
 download on Patreon

 That perfect spot, your place in the sun, it will be yours and yours alone. 

That said- excuse any typos, s'il vous plait. It's hot af and I need a swim break. It's pretty hot.
All tiers of Lemur solstice rewards are up for supporters on Patreon, and the July moon phase calendar for Tier1 +will be up Sunday.
See you soon, 
~D. Renée

Something wicked this way comes...


It's heeeeere!
October, aka the most wonderful time of the year, is back, and along with it all things Halloweenie.
The Patron reward printables are posted to the Patreon page, so visit there if you're interested in supporting art & getting benefits like freebie downloads & reward codes.
(This month's mid & top tier Patrons get treats from Paris! Read the post for more.)

If monthly subscriptions aren't your goodie bag but you like spooky DIY decor & coloring pages, swing by the NouveauNiche shop for a special bundle featuring 5 Halloween themed pages including one new (to Etsy) owl page. Patrons will remember this guy from last autumn!
And make sure to subscribe to the Collector's Circle newsletter on my website. You'll get a reward code to my Etsy shop when you confirm. :)

I'm heading out today to do a little fall shopping. (This girl needs some more closed toe shoes for the colder climate of the catacombs.) And I might pick up a few more things for our October tree.
What do you do to decorate and get in the mood for this season?
Let me know in the comments!

Happy Haunting!






All you need is love...



Simple, true, and it stands the test of time; All you need is Love.

For my Patreon supporters, a free PDF to print out and give to anyone this Valentine season. <3 

This design is also available as an art print and accessories in all of my print-on-demand shops, and as a printable card in myEtsy shop.

If you have any questions, just email me, message me on my Facebook art page  or contact me through my website.

 Thanks for the love!

XOXO,


Auld Lang Syne; lyrics to the song that makes me weep for no good reason



Last sketch of 2015 (probably);
 Life drawing, quick charcoal & pastel sketch on mi-teintes, Auld Lang Syne,
click through to read sketch narrative.
The Scots have given us many wonderful things, 
and tonight we will sing a tune that is perhaps one of their most far reaching creations.

Penned by poet Robert Burns, this song stirs my soul like no other.

It's one of the most beautiful songs in the world, and it is sung all over the globe.
It doesn't matter if I'm having a blast, this song starts and I'm all choked up.
Seriously. It's like this song embodies all the melancholy I could ever possibly feel in the span of five minutes.

Literally translated, auld lang syne means "old long since", or long, long ago, days gone by, etcetera..

For the record, it's basically a song about remembering people and times gone by, 
not about forgetting them, but you do what you gotta do on New Year's Eve.

(But My God, the line about the "seas between us broad have roared"...*blinks back tears*)

And taking a cup of kindness is raising a glass and toasting to times gone by. 

Below are the modern lyrics, because Scottish is hard. 

(Visit Scotland.org to learn more about Burns and the original Scottish dialect lyrics.)



Auld Lang Syne

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my dear*, 
For auld lang syne,


We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne,

(this "my dear" is sometimes "my jo" or love)


We two have run about the hills

And pulled the daisies fine;

But we've wandered many the weary foot

Since auld lang syne.


Chorus

We two have paddled in the stream,

From noon till dinner time;

But the seas between us broad have roared,

Since auld lang syne.


Chorus

And there's a hand, my trusty friend!

And give a hand o' thine!

And we'll take a right good willy waught, (goodwill drink of ale)

For auld lang syne.



Chorus

And surely you will buy your *cup (*pint)

And surely I'll buy mine!

And we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.


Chorus


 (yes, again)





Stay safe out there tonight.
May you look back with love, 
release what you don't need, 
and take a cup o'kindness~

Always





It's coming. Just breathe.

The idea that busyness = importance, or even necessity, is one that can rob us of 
health and happiness.

We can become so involved in doing that we forget to be.
I am a firm believer that we are human beings, not human doings.
With the upcoming holiday season, all of us are probably feeling some sort of impending busyness.
The pressure to do more, buy that, be there, etcetera.
Presence is the greatest gift of all, especially to yourself.
You cannot give to others if you are depleted.
This is a reminder to breathe.

Finding moments of stillness and focusing on our breath activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS).
This is the part of your brain stem that tells your heart to slow down, 
your muscles to relax, dilates blood vessels
and generally makes your mind and body knock it the f@#* off.

It can be tough to focus solely on breath if you're truly stressed and have little experience with a seated meditation practice.
Gentle yoga or tai chi is a good way to work in a moving meditation that focuses on breath. 
This way, you are distracted with moving postures and have less mental space to wander.
And while I do not join the throngs that tout coloring to be certified "art therapy",
 psychologists have found coloring to be calming and self-soothing for adult colorists.
This is probably due to the relaxation brought on by the repetitive motion and slowed, deepened breath of those in the studies.  


Or you could just go outside and see what you can find in the clouds. It works for me every time, and I usually get inspired to paint, draw something, or get a really nice chuckle. 
And we all know laughter is the best medicine of all. 

Breathe in freely.
Know that you are supported by life.
Most importantly, let it go. 
Exhale.
You don't have to hold on to that breath. 
There's another right there, just waiting to nourish you,
but it can't if you still have lungs full of stale, old air.

So seriously, just breathe.






A Halloween Tribute to the Florida Black Bears

So, okay, I procrastinated a bit this year. 
(It's been a little crazy this month.)
 We had to go to a couple of different stores to find a pumpkin. When we got home,
it rolled out and hit the driveway when we opened the gate to the truck, and it split! BUT I tried to make it work, and I wanted to honor our Florida black bears. 
I will not go into why (right now), but the science behind the "FWC" (the board of which was appointed by Governor Scott and is comprised not of biologist but of business men and woman) black bear cull was extremely bad, and basically sold over 3,000 hunting permits to kill an allotted 320 bears when there were only 3,000 bears in the state of FL at the last count. A state of almost 20 million humans. The fact that bear bile sells for half the price of gold... I'll save that for a later post, and hopefully you'll do some research on bears for yourself and see that many perpetuated myths just aren't true. 
My Cubs-O-Lantern
It was a challenge to carve around the split, and I do wish I had time to work on another. I think I'd probably carve a homage to our florida bats; another important species that humans are encroaching upon their habitat. 
Happy (almost!) Halloween, friends. Here's to remembering those that have gone, and to living peacefully with ALL those we still walk amongst. Man or "beast".

Here's the bear-o-lantern from all sides. 

Oh, and I almost forgot!

If you want a free coloring sheet download, just swing by my Facebook page and comment with your favorite Halloween candy.


Then, head over to my Patreon for the free download. 

What kind of jack-o-lantern are you carving?
Let me know in the comments. :)

You got it? How an "almost" naked picture and a couple of messages reminded me how awesome my job is.

The holiday shipping season is here, and it can get a tad bit crazy.
 As someone that ships artwork across the country, I always ask collectors to let me know when they receive their packages. I usually have the tracking info, but it's just easier to send a quick email, text, tweet, Facebook, or Etsy message. (And that way we don't have to enter irritatingly long tracking #s.)

 This week I sent my art babies out to new homes, from the chilly shores of Lake Michigan to the arid deserts of the west. Yesterday, I received a couple of confirmation messages that reaffirmed why I've chosen a path less traveled. (A path that is void of the proverbial steady paycheck or time I'm ever truly "out of the office".)

 First, I got a hilarious message that made me laugh when I skimmed it while eating lunch out with a friend. (She was on her phone, too. I wasn't being totally rude.)
To my "inside nudist" collector,
I appreciate that you wanted to take a photo of yourself with my art but decided against it. I probably would have had a ton of hits with that photo. Maybe next time you add a piece to your collection? ;)
On the naps, high five and take one for me. You deserve them. On your workouts, kudos and keep kicking ass. I've heard that dancing and jumping without a bra is actually really good for your breasts. So if you decide to ditch the underoos, maybe you could combine your clothes free zone with Zumba in your living room? I think a few minutes would do, as it might be a little uncomfortable. I'm going to go ahead and just recommend frequent massage for breast health. Your partner should be up to the task. 
 Thank you, B.K. You're a colorful gem, and that artwork suits you brilliantly.
Sometime I like to paint fun, playful images to celebrate fun, playful people. I'm so glad to have you in my colorful world. 

Kiss of Color

Next up was the kind of message that really makes the rough patches worth it.

"I received the painting and I am speechless!! I about burst into tears. Not being dramatic, I really did. I love this... You are a treasure, Renee. I am so glad we crossed paths."
-Rebecca

I'll always have to create some kind of art to keep (a portion of) my sanity, but it's connection of that sort that makes my work meaningful. I know that collector will forever have a space for that emotion, for whatever memory or story it is that moves her within that painting, upon her wall. I might have created the painting, but whatever she shares with it, is hers. She can look at it and revisit that place any time she pleases, every single day. I helped make that happen, and we're always connected through it. That's awesome. 
 Just this morning I checked my Facebook to see that the same collector and another deep collector had shared my art page. Just a couple of days before, an actress in the Florida arts scene shared my art, (I have to say I squeal with delight every time I see your gorgeous face on my TV, JB, and I'm so excited to paint this piece for you!) so I was feeling the love. I know they seem like very small things, but they are kind of like the internet equivalent to hugs, and I like good hugs. 

 Ah, the interwebs. The internet is crazy. It is a big place. It is easy to get lost. It is easy to get overwhelmed. It is easy to get frustrated and want to give up.  In the mean time, I'll be grateful for the dumb luck I've had and keep working. 
 Early this morning, I saw that my second highest traffic source to my Etsy shop was from Google France for my handwritten calligram portraits, to the example piece I did for a London firm for Day of the Girl in 2012. I have no ideas why, mind you. Looking at the stats is the extent of my internet savvy.
I  can hope that maybe one day, I'll get a shipment receipt message, en Francais, that is as heartfelt and fun as yesterday's were.

Thank you!


The Power of the Pumpkin; fall obsession & blaming my brain.



 






Falling
It's baaaaaaaaack!
 The first day of fall is upon us, and I'm all in. The sublime scent of pumpkin harvest wax tarts are wafting through my house. I'm slathered in fall scented lotion. The decorations and violet and orange lights are coming out after my art show this weekend. It might still be in the upper 80s here, but I'm making my own autumn, damn it.

 Naysayers have even posted things like this gem from Cheezburger.
Posted by Booboogbs
 I don't care. I'm wearing yoga pants, I love fall, and I'm about to tell you why.

  I know some people are sick of the pumpkin craze. From lattes to potato chips, food manufacturers are cashing in on the fall trends. But let me tell you it's not a trend,
it's a way of life. If heaven is whatever we love the most, my afterlife will be set amongst brilliant fall foliage and crisp autumn smells.


 I know I'm not alone. According to several polls, at least one quarter of Americans say autumn is their favorite season. Why? Like I mentioned above, there's the color, smells, food, the list is long.
Heart of it All


But all of the other seasons have their own distinct qualities in those categories. Why is fall such a celebrated season? I decided to look a little deeper and figure out why fall has such an emotional pull on me.

  I'll start with temperature and it all really unfolds from there. In most parts of the country, fall is the beginning of cooler weather. There have been a few psychology studies that conclude human happiness is maximized at around 57 degrees Fahrenheit. It may sound chilly to some, but doesn't that sound like a perfect temperature to don your favorite hoodie and hiking boots and go stomping about in piles of crunchy leaves. I'm sure you've all heard of "hoodie weather". It's amazing. It is my favorite and always has been. 
 As a school age child, I walked to and from school every day. 

Autumn Path




(What is it with current school pick-up "car lines" and why are they so insanely long?) 
Those walks home from school during September and October in the chilly Midwestern air were always the best part of my day.


Autumn Treat, plaster mini
 Sometimes I pulled my jacket tighter and found a sunny spot to sit and enjoy my latest library book (another smell I wish they could manufacture) or simply stare at clouds in the sky. There's something about the cerulean blue of an autumn sky.
 I've painted them, but it's just never the same.
Local Color

 If it was raining, I would hurry home on the glistening street littered with gold and crimson leaves. I usually walked into a house full of cooking (comfort food) smells and curled up on the warm couch to finish my book.

 Here in Florida, I get about 3 or 4 hoodie days a year. If I want to read outside, my book's pages sadly wilt in the humidity and the smell of sweat and sunscreen overpower any possible book aroma.




  Sure, I don't have to shovel snow, but wearing shorts year round is tiresome.
There's just nowhere to hide that extra piece of pumpkin spice roll. Hoodies, my friend, are perfect for that.

 Autumn in the heartland was a time for traditions. A time to slow down and turn inward, yet build new relationships, projects, and anticipate change. 
There were a myriad of fall activities for which I have fond memories; 
football and soccer games, harvest festivals, raking leaves, hay rides, Halloween, trick-or-treating, ghost stories, corn mazes, apple picking, my birthday, Thanksgiving, I could go on and on and on. There are many more personal reasons, too.


Autumn Treat mini; Windy Whirl

I won't divulge all those, but I can't recall an autumn in my formative years that wasn't exciting yet serene.

The bottom line is memory.

  Another cool thing about our brains is the way our physical senses are inventoried and cataloged while they are forming memories. Colors, temperatures, tastes, sounds and textures are all accounted for, but our olfactory sense is the strongest when our brains write and archive our memories.
Watercolor Web
 While other sensory information could be searched for retrieval, smells are like a shortcut into that specific memory file. A smell trigger can actually bypass cognition and retrieve memories and emotions associated with that smell.
(If you're into neuroscience, you might like this article that explains brain activity during this process.)






 I don't have those rejuvenating autumns anymore. Life in Florida is very different.
The temperatures here won't dip for several more months, and even then it's only for a couple of hours. A hoodie in the morning is quickly shed in the Florida sun.
I'll be busy with art shows and I won't be reading enough for pleasure. 

 I may not have the autumnal respite I remember so fondly, but I will try to boost my mood and cultivate that fall feeling with decorations and smells. 
I'll cook pumpkin soup and drink hot cider even though I'm in a sundress. 
I'll hang a cinnamon broom and listen to spooky stories on podcast while I paint.
Crow Moon
I'm buying all the fall flavors. 
I'm tricking my brain into remembering parts of me and my life that are sacred.

 So, the next time you sigh at the smell of some harvesty candle, ask yourself why.

 Thanks for reading, but I have to go. It just started pouring rain and I need to turn on the kettle.  
Harney & Sons Pumpkin Spice tea is delicious. 
It goes great with a heaping tablespoon of this manna on toast.
Pumpkin Pie Butter from Arizona Marmalade shop on Etsy.

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