Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts

Missing the Weekend on Manic Monday

 I rarely have those stereotypical Monday mornings everyone gripes about.
For the most part, Mondays are fun. I get to start work developing ideas I had over the weekend, or just enjoy some quiet time catching up in the studio.

Today wasn't one of them.

I overslept a bit, which means that by the time I had coffee and a couple of hours sucked away at the computer taking care of overnight urgent emails (totally my fault for even opening them before I had worked out)
 my morning run was entirely too hot to handle.

By the time I was on my way back, the Florida sun was on full blast, and I couldn't keep my headphones in my ears because the sweat was just too much for the iPhone earbuds that are too big for my freakishly small ears. Oh, yeah- my favorite earbuds finally died. 
The small ones that actually fit right. 
So, there's that.


I returned to my loving dog. I was panting much more than she ever does.
She greeted me with her usual insanity, and as I struggled to peel off wet work out clothes and start Monday laundry while making to-do lists in my head, I spotted the spots...

Guess I'm not the only one in a weird mood today.
I'm washing the bedroom throw rugs, too.

So, this week is going to be a crazy one.
I won't get to start new ideas, because I have so many errands to run and things to take care of.

I'm just going to share a few pics of my hike at Lyonia Preserve from yesterday.
Well, the ones I have on hand. Somehow most of the files were in RAW format and I can't see them on the computer just now. I have to remind myself to fix that before I take anymore photos.
Anywho-
Lyonia is one of my happy places.

The Florida scrub is so silent mid-morning, except for the birds, especially the federally threatened Florida scrub jays.
Florida scrub is a very unique ecosystem.

The plants that grow there make it through harsh sun, sandy soil conditions, sometimes even fire, and they have to ward off would be predators with pungent and sometimes poisonous oils to preserve themselves.
I'm keeping that place in my mind as I plod through my week-
and extra laundry.

What do you do when your week starts off like this-


but all you really want is this?



 Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail 

I hope your Monday is mellow,





April showers bring...


I'm busy as bee putting the final touches on paintings and framing work for the Mayfaire show this weekend in Lakeland, but I have created the first four printables for my Patreon Patrons.
May is full of flowers, and a few bees! 

These downloads are free for Patrons, and they will be available in my Etsy shop sometime in the next week or two.  

Now, I've got to get back in the studio! 
There's lots of work to bee done. ;)





World Penguin Day!

Today looking a little black and white?

It better be.
Boom! It's World Penguin Day!
(Different from National Penguin Awareness Day, and still cool.)

"How adorably awesome",  you say!

I totally agree.

It's also not complete arbitrary nonsense.

World Penguin Day coincides with the northern migration of penguins. They start to waddle north  in March and April throughout the world. They can be found in Antartica, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, the Falklands & Galapagos. 

Yay penguins!




May your World Penguin Day be awesome, and if it's not, may someone or something carry you through it.




Finding love in brokenness...

 This will be a quickie/almost wordless Wednesday. I'm posting from my mobile, but I felt this photo deserved a longer caption to describe what I've been feeling this week.
I'm sure most of us have been feeling the same after the attacks in Brussels, and the ongoing onslaught of political vitriol here in the United States. 


Finding love in broken things... 
It's always easy to see the beauty in nature, terrible and awesome she may be. 
It's not so easy with people...
Expecting the darkest of our nature and being only surprised by the good is too depressing a baseline from which to begin.
Fully understanding actions isn't always possible, but examining situations and reactions and how they relate to the entire "ecosystem" can't be foregone. 
Sometimes it takes looking deeply into the brokenness, to the root of the wound and heartache, to see  where healing and rebirth may begin. 
Focus on the good. 🌿
(I'll keep trying.) 💚

Wanderlust or WonderLust ?




Today I heard something that saddened me to the core.

While standing in line at a gas station, a woman was asking for directions to a local spring that I happen to frequent. I told her how to get there, and a woman standing behind me grumbled,
"Why waste your time? It's just a hole in the ground."
image source
I stopped, smiled, and turned around. "But it's quite a beautiful hole in the ground."
She looked down and grumbled again about it being a strange place.

It's a small, strange place, indeed. 
I'm strange. I guess I like pretty places that vibe with that.
It's a very historical place.
It was sacred to the Mayaca and Seminole peoples.
Its use was commercialized in one of Florida's first health spas. 
Green Springs
Green Springs is a naturally occurring sulfur springs in Enterprise, unincorporated Volusia county, Fl.
The tree you see to the left grows right out over the spring, then flips almost 90 degrees and grows toward the sky.  (It is crooked like an elbow.)
I've heard it said that first peoples believed this means there is a source of powerful energy from this spring. Whether or not that's true, it is a very attractive and interesting place to sit and soak in the sounds of the birds and the breeze in the trees.
You'll see the remains of steps on the bottom right from the days of the health spas when people came to soak in the healing waters of the springs.

On hotter days, the no swimming signs are ignored by a few brave and rebellious souls. 
They climb towering live oaks stretching out over the pool of emerald water and plunge down into a chilly 73F. 

The spring empties into Lake Monroe, which is chock full o' gators. There are also other dangers such as snakes, bacteria, and shallows, fallen logs, etc., so breaking this law is not exactly recommended.


Less than a mile down the ECR trail there's a marker for Garfield, a community that was formed in 1881 by a group of former Florida plantation slaves. A freeze in the late 19th century wiped out the citrus crop, and it was abandoned by the Great Depression.

The entire area is filled with unbelievable beauty and history.
But then again, so is everywhere.
It just takes a little wonder, and some wandering.

I'm a lucky girl to be able to take my trail runs and rides over this way.
This is precisely the exchange I've made for the conveniences and social circles of city life.
Today, I actually got to have a really cool encounter with a hawk and then see that hawk mating.
I have seen the beginning of spring and wildflowers blooming throughout the forests and fields.

Wanderlust is a very trendy thing lately.
I do love travel and discovering new things.
However, I think at its heart, wonderlust is the more appropriate term.

 

Yes, lady. Green Springs is a hole in the ground.
There's also a sense of mystery and magic in the air because of it.

Follow me on Instagram to see my artwork&play and to show me your adventures. 


Today I challenge you to find your wonder.

What's your hole in the ground?





Enough of my stories- what does this art say about you?


I actually started posting these images for a curator because these pieces, or reproductions of them, are going to be in a Nature themed/Earth Day showing here at a Central Florida venue.
I couldn't get my email to upload jpgs- so irritating- so I figured I'd post them here with links that I could email, but then I had an idea...

As an artist that happily lives out in the boonies, almost every painting I create is inspired by something I see in nature.
I usually share the stories behind them. 
(You'll find the link to a blog post or web page about the corresponding post if I posted one for that piece.)
But I'd really like to hear what these images inspire in you.


Get creative and let me know by 
posting a short story or poem in the comments.


What stories do these paintings tell you?



 :)
1.
 Birds of the Air
Birds of the Air

2.
 Dragonfly Druzy
Dragonfly Druzy

3.
Have a Ball

4.
Crow Moon

5.
Oleander Moth 

6.
Butterfly Fuchsia


7.
Spirit of the Fox

8.
Winter is Coming

9.
Wired
10.
True Blue Jay




What stories do these paintings tell you?

 Let me know!







An Owl Furze Wisdom

Most of you know I love painting animals not only for their beauty and unique characters but also for their interesting and rich symbolism.
I'm sure you also know that most plants and trees have an abundance of historical meanings, as well.
In my latest watercolor, I have paired the wisdom and intelligence we associate with the owl to the gorse, or furze tree.
Work in progress.
Work in progress.
This shrub, or hedge tree, is also sometimes called furze and is native to Europe and northwest Africa.
The bright yellow blossoms have a very long flowering season.
Between all of the different species of gorse, there will most always be sunny flowers to admire, hence the saying,
"When gorse is out of blossom, kissing's out of fashion".
The gorse has many layers of symbolism.
I won't bore you with more dry botany facts, but it's a fascinating plant and understanding its history and many facets can help you understand why it represents so many different things. Look it up sometime. :)
Here's a quick rundown of the powers or the furze;
Intelligence, protection, healing, love, vibrancy, light, industry, independence, fertility, symbiosis, intuition, hope, courage.
12" x 16", Watercolor on Arches Cold Press
12" x 16",
Watercolor on Arches Cold Press
While the furze does represent intelligence (because yellow is the color of the intellect), I choose the gorse blossom because its meaning is so much deeper.
Wisdom is not intelligence quotient.
Wisdom is a culmination of the head, heart, body, and soul.
Wisdom is discerning when to use what and just how much.
Just like most of my paintings, it was a personal reminder to seek balance and nature is where I find it most. :)



For customizable on-demand prints, home decor and apparel, visit my online Society6 and Cafe Press shops. 
*(Custom on-demand prints will not be hand signed.)

From Gray to Scarlet; Some science and spirit behind the red legend.


Last week I kept seeing Cardinals everywhere. He was on the trail everyday when I ran. 
He showed up in my yard. It was one of those things where I knew it wasn’t going to stop until I painted him.
I’m really glad I did. I needed him to remind me.


 There is so much I could write on the cardinal, but I'll save a few tidbits for the next painting he graces. ( I know he's not done with me.) Cardinals hold significance on many levels for me. I was born a Buckeye, so these fierce little songbirds will always hold a place in my “heart of it all”. (Along with Ohio, the cardinal was also named state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.)
They are gorgeous birds with a song that truly does sound like “cheer”. Seriously, youtube it. 
It’s even more special to me that the reddish brown and gray females of this species, while not as bright and bold in color, actually do sing. This puts a damper on the former theories that birdsong was only a male trait for sexual selection. For me, it’s a great metaphor for women everywhere. We have a voice, and it’s not all about mating. Sing on, sister!
Although cardinals do mate for life, which leads to this next interesting fact-
Male cardinals actually lose some of their brilliant crimson color while helping to rear nestlings. 
They are great parents that fiercely protect the nest. Dad birds. What?! I know, right?
 Artwork & Play in-progress

But when they aren’t being awesome bird fathers, they are territorial and aggressive. They are known for fighting with other crimson cards, including those they see reflected in glass.
Warriors, indeed. Cardinals can also be a warning symbol of aggressive vanity that might be holding us back.
It’s easy to see why the male cardinal’s fiery crimson plumage always captures our attention, especially on those bleak winter days. But there really is so much about these birds that brings me awe and peace, it’s no wonder that the final and most important symbol of a cardinal is that of an esoteric nature.
Many say that seeing a cardinal is representative of a visit from a loved one that has passed.

All of us live our daily lives with a certain amount of heartache for those we have lost.
Some days can be a proverbial blizzard. The forest is whipped with icy winds, the snow is blinding, our feet and hands are numb, and the tears freeze on our eyelashes. It makes it hard to see the path let alone keep on walking.
Then a brilliant flash of red reminds us it won’t be winter forever. The sun will shine. The snow will melt. The wind will subside. A song of Cheer.
I titled this painting Cardinal Direction with that in mind.
When we are mindful, seeing these birds can influence how we direct our steps and our thoughts afterward, even through the bitter cold winds. Thank you, Cardinal. 

Do you have a cardinal story?

                                    I'd love to hear it. Please, leave a comment or Contact me.  :) 


Leaf Peeping



Once again, we see my autumn obsession peeping through.

This piece is another version of my test sheet transformations.


I often have pieces of Yupo paper test or scrap sheets that call out to be transformed into pieces of their own.

I noticed some textures and forms that were asking to be shaped into a leaf peeper's vision.

I achieved this by lifting sections out with alcohol and a scrubber.
Click here for a larger view or to add this original to your collection.

So, that's what I saw!

What do you do with your art "scraps"?

Look at the birds of the air...



  September is upon us and another challenge has been posed. However, this month is pretty busy for me. I have a few prior commitments, so I don't think I can realistically crank out 30 paintings and get anything else done. (One painting usually takes me 2-7 non-consecutive days to complete.)
I've been a bit anxious lately with all I have to get done. Most of those things are self-imposed, but sometimes that's even more pressure. I'm resolving to at least try to post weekly (and daily if I'm lucky) the smaller paintings I do finish, here on my blog.
  Yesterday was a somewhat stressful, worrisome, and overall blah day. 
I took a walk to clear my mind and look to nature for some respite. I set the intention to see something that would bring me clarity and peace.
 Watercolor on cold press
Total size 15" x 17.5" including frame.
Click here for limited edition prints.

 As soon as I rounded the corner, I saw an unbelievable sight. Several dozen sparrows were flying around a churchyard field. They were diving, soaring, and circling at a frenetic pace.
In awe, I stopped to watch them for a bit. By the time I realized I really needed to take a photo of the birds, they were flying away. 

 This painting is inspired by that brief and beautiful encounter. It had an unexpectedly profound effect on me. Sparrows are a symbol for many things, among them freedom, creativity, and Love.
It was just the lift I needed.


  Birds of the Air cheered me. Marvin Gaye cheers me, too. I'll leave you with this Marvin version of a sparrow themed song. An oldie, but a goodie. 

Fly high, my friends.

~D. Renée













The Lawn Care Kismet

 Today started off like this.
 It wasn't exactly easy to get going with a couple pounds of pure sweetness slumbering on me. And by the time I got up and moving around, I knew today would be one of those days when it's hard to get a whole lot accomplished.
 After my morning routine and email check, I decided to dally a bit longer before getting into the studio to paint. Ten minutes turned into almost two hours (damn you internet!) and I had to unplug and step outside to get in the right frame of mind. I needed to realign, if you will. I laced up and headed to the trail.
 The first two miles of my run on the trail were hot and painful.
I was not enjoying myself at all. So, I decided to walk.
Instead of using the time to multitask by listening to a podcast, I took my ear buds out and listened to the symphony of the swamp.
 It was unusually loud today. The cicadas clicked and whirred to a soft roar. I spent a few minutes thinking about all I needed to get done, then a few more, and a few more. (I'm sure I was missing any inspiring animal encounters that were near the trail because I was so wrapped up in the to-do list.)
I stopped myself after mile four and forced my mind to quiet down. Every time a task would pop into my mind, I would counter it with an acknowledgment of gratitude. Eventually, the thoughts of thankfulness began to flow.
  I came to a bench where I sometimes stop to look up at the spanish moss swaying in the wind.
(I meant to take a picture of a huge turtle in the swamp, but I was distracted by this lovely creature and missed the turtle.)
I laid across the metal bench and stared at the sky. Today was the first day this week that thunderheads were replaced by fluffy white clouds rolling along gracefully. I thought for a moment that my heaven probably looks a lot like this. There will, of course, be a full spectrum of autumn leaves and smells in my afterlife bliss, but this was so close.
 I let myself be still. Not trying to listen, but allowing space for inspiration. Maybe a new idea for a painting? An animal muse crossing my path?
 Whether it is divine or just our inner self speaking, I strongly believe that in the quiet mind, we will find our guidance. Most of my biggest successes in my art and life in general have come from a still, small, but clear voice in this state.
                                                              Cut the grass.
Wait, what?
 Cut the grass.


The rain had kept my husband from cutting the grass this week and it was getting pretty long.
This wouldn't be a big deal, but we have a reel mower. ( No motor!)
It's my husband's way to get an extra workout and save a sliver of the environment when he does the lawn. I love him for it and it's really not too bad. It's one of the best push mowers on the market, but it is 50lbs and we have an incline on our lawn. Trust me, you feel it.
  So, after another urge to go cut the grass, I got up from the bench and walked the remaining two miles home. Podcasts lined up, wet towel on my neck and donning a visor, I pulled the Fiskar (yep, they make scissors, too) into the 88F feels like 95F yard.
 I battled the side section first, since it's on an incline, too. I had to go over it several times, adjusting the blade height down with each round.
After 25 minutes I had the side done.
I brought the mower to the front yard and did the first two passes trying to go downhill. This was going to be a long battle. I was starting to regret the 6 miles on the trail. I wasn't going to get anything else done today!

As I did the strip by the road, a large truck passed by and stopped at a stop sign. I heaved the 50lb beast back up to our Oleanders and tried to circle them. The sandy soil caught the wheels and I struggled, but got it back down the hill for another pass. As I neared the road, I noticed the truck backing up toward our house.
 The truck stopped in front of me and the windows came down. I'm sure I was a sight to behold. Red faced and soaked with sweat.

"You want a free mow?"

"I'll be alright. My husband usually does it, but I want to get it done before it rains again."

"You want it to look like you did it?"

 Long story short, these guys asked their boss if they should stop and come back because they couldn't watch me push that mower in the Florida heat. They wouldn't even let me pay them. I tried.

Since the owner, Corey, wouldn't let me pay him, I asked what his wife decorates with.
It turned out that his wife is a graphic designer and they were both in the printing business.
He said she likes turtles, but I don't have any Slow and Steady signed prints yet, so I asked if she likes frogs. I gladly gave him signed prints of Atoadment and Kiss It.

I did ask for cards, and you can be sure that Safari Lawn Care will be getting our business next time.
With a 3 person crew and professional equipment, they knocked it out in under 15 minutes.
It would have taken me over 3 hours.


 So, I actually did get a little painting done today, and my husband is spared from this week's bout with the lawn. Who knows, maybe a zebra painting is in my future.



Dragonfly Druzy


 After dragonflies kept appearing to me, following me, and even landing on me, I was a little baffled.
I would see literally dozens of dragonflies every day that I went on my trail run or ride. (Ummm, ok, so it's actually not very cool when you're zoned out while running and one of these big guys flies right into your face or lands on your neck.)
When they started showing up at my house, I knew I couldn't ignore it as coincidence. It was time to learn more about this mesmerizing winged animal totem.
 A few years ago, I was a volunteer at Hospice Savannah. As the art activities facilitator of a children's bereavement group and photographer at Camp Aloha, I often came across the lovely and comforting story of dragonflies.

I can't say that I undoubtedly think these visitations are a sign that a departed loved one is trying to communicate with me, but I do know that a wise woman looks deeper and considers how she might apply the traditional myths of such a coincidence to her own situation.
 Transformation, transition, transcendence, light, and seeing past illusion are just a few things dragonflies symbolize. They have also been seen as a sign of good luck, and the loose style I felt needed to communicate their energy fits perfectly into my luck series, so of course, I painted a dragonfly.

"Dragonfly Druzy" 11x14, Watercolor on Aquabord, © D. Renée Wilson, 2014
 Glittering light on dragonfly wings is very reminiscent of a druzy.
A Druzy is a fine coating of crystals that have grown on a rock fracture surface, and I've always been drawn to them. I thought it was a fitting title since the dragonfly can symbolize light and transition. Through brokenness and loss, we can often see light that would have otherwise remained hidden. 
Since I painted the dragonfly, I haven't seen quite as many on the trail, but I'm keeping my eyes open for the next muse mother nature sends to me.
This Dragonfly Druzy is titled and ready to find a new home! 

  Does the dragonfly speak to you?
It may be time to look past illusion and toward transition. Let the mystery and magic of the dragonfly guide you through growth and transcendence.





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