Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Farewell to Summertime

"In the fields of summer, I will dance away with you..." Sirenia, "Glades of Summer"

This has been a beautiful summer. I have swum, explored, gardened, and dreamed. Now it's time to say goodbye and welcome fall. Here are some images from my summer.


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Anne Girl

L.M. Montgomery's character of Anne Shirley has always held a special place in my heart. As a girl, my imagination was captured by her, and not just because she had red hair and lived on Prince Edward Island; she had flaws like me, such as being too stubborn, holding grudges, and being a little too romantic. I loved nature, and she loved nature. I hated certain boys, and she hated certain boys. I fell in love against all my protestations, and she did too.

No surprise then that I sat down to paint something pretty, and what came out, quite by accident, was Anne Shirley. I didn't realize it until I'd painted the last strand of hair, and then I said to myself, "Well, if it isn't Anne Shirley." She has the red hair, perfect little nose, and flowers in her hair.

Rather appropriate I think, with fall coming on to astound us in all its wild, red glory.













Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Water Nymph

Summer is the perfect time to be a water nymph.

water nymph7 by NerySoul, http://nerysoul.deviantart.com/



Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Girl of the Limberlost

One of my favorite books is A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter. I read it so long ago that I can't remember if that book is what inspired my fascination with moths or if it merely spoke to it, but in any case, it is a well-beloved book to me. So, in an effort to explore the photo editing program Gimp, I created this collage, and found out that Gimp is wonderful! It's free, and very powerful, and decently easy to use.

Girl of the Limberlost by Grace

closeup of Girl of the Limberlost

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Caught by the Kelpie

Rain Approaching Hathersage Moor by Andy Hemingway


It has been a while since I've shown my face here, but I have good reason; I've been chasing the Muse through the rain. So much rain has fallen here for July that I'm beginning to wonder if I somehow slept through summer and now it's Autumn... but I don't care either way. I'm busy reveling in the rain and the newest form of my muse: the Kelpie.




I've a million ideas for a painting of this wonderful beast. There are many wonderful depictions of the Kelpie, and here are some of my favorites.

Boy on White Horse by Theodor Kittelsen, via Wikipedia

The Nix as a Brook Horse by Theodor Kittelsen, via Wikipedia
Now, I'm off follow my muse while I listen to a siren of a different sort...

Monday, July 8, 2013

Fireflies

photo by T. Kiya, source Wikimedia commons

I will tell the fireflies
To light up the night all around you
I will make the darkness light
I'll paint the sky all around you

~Cecile Corbel, Fireflies

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Summer is Honeysuckle

To me, there can't be summer without honeysuckle. Ever since I can remember, full-blown summer has been heralded by the scent of honeysuckle wafting along on the warm, humid air. It's what makes that warm, humid air bearable, even enchanting. It smells like fairytales and wild adventures and true love. But best of all, it holds a delicious, sweet secret ready for the taking... ask the butterflies and the bees if you don't know of what it is.


photo: http://www.carolinanature.com/trees/loja.html