A Cyclic Poem

"History is a cyclic poem 

written by Time upon 

the memories of man." 

 ~Percy B.Shelley

Alcohol Ink On Yupo Using Only Ranger's Mushroom Ink

"History is gossip well told."

~  Elbert Hubbard

Technique And Skills Absorbed

"Technique and skills must be absorbed 

and wrapped up and put away to become 

such an integral part of yourself that they 

will be revealed in your work 

without your thought."

~ Shoji Hamada

Drawing With a Brush Exercise

"Skills can be found, like lost items 

that have always belonged to you. 

If the spirit of learning is there, 

the passion of creation 

will never die." 

~ Melissa Jean

Double Your Odds

"Every skill you acquire 

doubles your odds of success." 

~ Scott Adams

Drawing With A Brush - Control Exercise

"Artists get better by sharpening their skills 

or by acquiring new ones; they get better by learning to work, 

and by learning from their work." 

~ David Bayles,

Searching Yesterday

"If you want to understand today, 

you have to search yesterday." 

~ Pearl Buck 

8 x 10" Alcohol Ink on Yupo

"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. 

That myth is more potent than history. That dreams 

are more powerful than facts. That hope always 

triumphs over experience. That laughter is the 

only cure for grief. And I believe that love 

is stronger than death."

 ~ Robert Fulghum

Distracted But Committed

“Persistence. Perfection. Patience. 

Power. Prioritize your passion. 

It keeps you sane.”
  ~ Criss Jami

I'm really distracted from drawing at the moment, all wrapped up in 

getting ready for my fast approaching  one woman show.

 I do try to keep my commitments though, so here's today's 2 min. gesture attempt.

You Are A Rhinoceros ... Charge On!

"Your life is like a river.

Keep the water flowing

and you will be refreshing,

life-giving, clear and beautiful."

~ Scott Robert Alexander.

"You are a rhinoceros!

There is nothing you cannot tackle."

 

Many years ago, I read an awesome little book called:

  Rhinoceros Success

 by Scott Robert Alexander

see more about it here ...

Some Pony Love

"All horses deserve, at least once in their lives, 

to be loved by a little girl."

~ Author Unknown

 

  

"No heaven can heaven be, 

if my horse isn't there to welcome me." 

~ Author Unknown

Beanie Baby Pony Drawing

"You don't have to be young to find comfort in a stuffed animal."

"In a world where everyone seems to be larger 

and louder than yourself,

it is very comforting to have 

a small, quiet companion."
-Peter Gray

Embrace Your Second Wind

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind 

to find out they've got a second."  

~ William James 


"Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer." 

~ André A. Jackson

My hummingbirds are zooming around in full throttle here and already fattening up and training for their long upcoming journey. For this summer's hatchlings, it will be their maiden voyage and probably the most dangerous one ever. They've got a lot to learn and many hundreds of miles to maneuver and survive through until they come back to me next spring. You can see a couple of short recent videos on my facebook page here.

I love hummingbirds and they continue to fascinate and inspire me.

They are a strong symbol to me of enthusiastically accomplishing that which seems impossible.

Just Keep On Going

"With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, 

all things are attainable." 

 ~Thomas Foxwell Buxton

 

"Success seems to be largely a matter of 

hanging on after others have let go." 

~ William Feather

Stick-To-Itiveness

"There is no telling how many miles 

you will have to run while 

chasing a dream." 

~ Author Unknown

"Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over." 

 ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Ugly Duckling

"The ugly duckling is a misunderstood universal myth. 

It's not about turning into a blonde Barbie doll or 

becoming what you dream of being; 

it's about self-revelation, 

becoming who you are. "

~ Baz Luhrmann

Almost every paining I do, goes through that awkward (ugly duckling) adolescent stage.

I have learned to just keep going however, because when you quit, you cease to grow and even if

the piece does not turn out well, the lessons learned are invaluable.

The ugly duckling is a misunderstood universal myth. It's not about turning into a blonde Barbie doll or becoming what you dream of being; it's about self-revelation, becoming who you are. Baz Luhrmann
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/bazluhrman509247.html

The ugly duckling is a misunderstood universal myth. It's not about turning into a blonde Barbie doll or becoming what you dream of being; it's about self-revelation, becoming who you are. Baz Luhrmann
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/bazluhrman509247.html

The ugly duckling is a misunderstood universal myth. It's not about turning into a blonde Barbie doll or becoming what you dream of being; it's about self-revelation, becoming who you are. Baz Luhrmann
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/bazluhrman509247.html

Value Sketches

"Known by most of us as value sketches, 

most of us are too lazy to do them, yet

we know they can strengthen our work." 

~ Lorna Dockstader

 

"It's impossible to make a picture without values. 

Values are the basis of any 2D work of art." 

~ W. M. Hunt

On Teaching Drawing

"On teaching drawing...
Start lightly, then go dark." 

~ Peter William Brow

"Value (or the use of light) is our best ally as an artist. 

 Don't think for a minute this is not in your control." 

~ Steve Childs

Edges and Values

"Edges must be held by tone values, not lines." 

~ A. C. Leighton

"Make the mid-value shape the biggest one 

and make the light and dark shapes smaller, 

but never equally sized. 

One or the other should dominate." 

~ Ron Ranson