Facebook asks, “What’s on your mind?” An inane query meant to incentivize us to keep posting as if we need reminding that our brains function with thoughts…
This morning I answered “What’s on my mind?” with this- Flying Squirrels
The beauty of swirling dying color against the relentless blue of earth makes furry little animals magical
I created this flying squirrel with Tombow watercolor markers (quite wonderful) and a touch of Prisma pencil (buttery color pencils) for details. The photo background was added using the Canva program (the poor artist’s Adobe)
Since the annual UFO Fair this past June, I’ve turned myself into a mad monster merchant selling all measure of cryptid ilk. Yup, I designed prints, magnets, stickers, cards with mugs and totes waiting beneath Mothman’s wings. As a participating vendor at the Alien Fair, I’d passed up several opportunities to sell original artwork which I’d been using expressly as background decor (I’ve always had a difficult time parting with my original art). For this harvest festival, I turned some of my original paintings into 11 x 14 prints. Well, weeks of spending money to make money finally arrived on October 16 and it did not disappoint.
My monetary goal at these events has been, at the very least, to make the vendor fee back. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to have leapt a few monsterish bounds beyond my goal each time. More importantly, I’ve overcome my trepidation of being on the other side of the vendor experience. I remember well the feeling of ‘shame’ when passing by merchants, some alone beneath their canopies, all those years ago at the flea markets and fairs when I wasn’t interested in shopping their wares.
No matter how many calendars or daily planners we mark off, we never cease learning about ourselves. I never imagined that after all those visits to outdoor flea markets, festivals and fairs with my husband and children, that I’d become a seasonal vendor who can handle getting sheepishly or brazenly passed by when my creative work isn’t appreciated or wanted. Though I’ll never understand why some people refuse to find a soft spot for critters with massive fangs, killer claws and bloodlust in their veins;), I’ll continue merrily along my quest of meeting festival folks and chatting up creatures or the weather or the strange light fair-goers might have seen that disappeared into an inky night sky.
When the world gets cold, our experiences and memories are often the things that warm us with their Bigfoot feet and Yeti breath.
I hope you are all doing well.
xo am
P.S. I must thank my husband, Keith, who sacrifices his only day off during the week for these events. He is also kind (and wise enough) to buy his insane wife morning ‘pre-vending’ bloody marys:)
since Halloween is near and my soon-to-be printed (yea) book
is due mid-December or earlier (yea)
I’m posting the only verse in love of the monster
that pays direct homage to this most wicked and deliciously sweet celebration
love of the monster, is a black and white illustrated book color was added here to protect the innocent;)
spectacular glow against the robust purple grey sky leaves spiraling in wind directing thin branches to bow unreal color drenching the landscape but what am I seeing not glorious scratched pencil lines and spinning circles into ovals with broad maws and wild fur sharp orbs and blocky nostrils I’m hearing too many voices the wind is a sailing eraser paper falling like leaves when almost home I look up through a tree these these are the falling papers this is the wind this is what I need to remember this is why I have eyes sketches done for students to demo different animals…
picture taken when I returned home from subbing
while standing in my driveway looking up
Dear Friends,
Last week at 5 AM, as the giant husband and I were taking our morning walk, I noticed something quite beautiful. The sleepy, white moon was preparing to let the sun take over. The road surface was slick from the previous night’s rain. Though the street was dark, it appeared illuminated by starlight. Wet leaves of orange, russet and gold were reflecting moon glow. The fallen leaves flickered atop the black asphalt. Their angular shapes shimmered as stars do in the night sky. It seemed for a beautiful, brief moment that the earth had flipped over onto her lovely head.
Autumn Leaves
Thank you. May you dream of stars in heaven and on earth. Fallen Girl mixed media collage created after witnessing stars on the road.
anntogether 