A fairly special one for me this week, as today’s post is inspired by what would have been the time of Beltane celebrations. As it is, we celebrated at home in our own little ways, and in the case of myself indulging in my usual habits! Drinking and of course drawing, the usual stuff...
“Hikyaku - literally "fleet feet" or "flying feet." These running messengers played a critical role in delivering items and messages, given that in Japan's mountainous terrain, other modes of transportation, like horses or carriages, weren't very practical.”
Elias Rosenshaw (under the name Sage Stanley) 2/9/2023
Acrylic paint, paint marker, and gel pen on canvas board. 18" x 24"
On display in the "Nocturne" virtual gallery at www.119northweatherly.com March 9 - April 30. Can be purchased for $200 (plus $35 if framed).
Note: The date is an approximation. I created it to submit to the show, but forgot the exact date I completed it.
These illustrations are part of an ongoing series on anxiety I started in early April 2018, as part of #The100DayProject. (See @helloanxiety_illustrated on Instagram to see more complete stories of each individual). This project is an extension of the fear illustrations I've been creating since 2012 (www.fear-illustrated).
April has truly started off on a high note: 3 days of warm weather (a rare occurrence in an early Chicago spring), I finally did double-backs to the floor at gymnastics, found out I won a few art contests, and I got my first COVID vaccine! It's nice to have things starting to work out, even if it is just temporarily.
Meet Dr. Lorna Breen. She was in the trenches of the front line inside the New York hot zone during the first wave of the pandemic. She saw the massive influx of patients she knew she could not save (29,000 deaths reported in April, 2020). She contracted the virus and after recuperating, went straight back to work. A week and a half later, the hospital sent her home. Her family intervened to bring her back home to Charlottesville, Virginia. During her visit with her family, she seemed “detached.” She passed away April 26, 2020 at the UVA University Hospital in Charlottesville from self-inflicted wounds.
"She tried to do her job, and it killed her… Make sure she’s praised as a hero. Because she was, she’s a casualty just as much as anyone else who has died."
—Dr. Philip C. Breen, Father
Dew drop flowers - Watercolour and gouache. 7" x 10" Cold press watercolour paper. April 26, 2020. I've been trying to improve my skills with this medium.
Today the 26th April is Alien Day so happy Alien Day everyone. In space no one can hear you scream but if this was behind me on the bike path you would definitely hear me.
I've been going through my sketches, both completed and incomplete, and found a drawing of a young Sumatran Tiger that I began working on around two years ago, but never completed. I'm actually relieved that I didn't draw it earlier, as it has allowed me to gain more experience in illustrating this stunning creature, which is unfortunately a species at risk of extinction.
A few facts about the Sumatran Tigers...
The Sumatran tiger Panthera tigris sumatrae*, the smallest tiger subspecies, is critically endangered and stands as the final surviving species of island tigers. Poaching poses a significant danger to Sumatran tigers as hunters target them for their skin, bones, and canines. Additionally, habitat loss caused by oil palm, coffee, and acacia plantations, further endangers these big cats by reducing their prey availability and pushing them closer to human habitations.
It is estimated that there are fewer than 400 mature individual tigers in Sumatra in isolated pockets of protected land. Three of the protected areas are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites but all are in danger of losing this status due to threats from poaching, illegal logging, agricultural encroachment, and planned road building. It is for these reasons the Sumatran tiger is classified in the most severe IUCN status: Critically endangered.
Description: The Sumatran tiger is the smallest and darkest tiger subspecies and tends to be more bearded and maned than the other subspecies. Male tigers can expect to reach somewhere in the region of 120kg and 8ft from head to tail vs females who average 91kg and 7ft length.
Breeding: Female tigers are sexually mature at about 3 or 4 years of age, and males at about 4 to 5 years. Mating may occur any time during the year, but it most frequently takes place from November to April. The information was obtained from conservewildcats.org. Thank you.
#indonesia #criticallyendangered #sumatrantiger #amateurartist #tigerdrawing #tigersketch #tigercub #sketchadayapp #october2024
Here is one of 3 illustrations I made for customizable postcards, available for purchase at @cava.galeria.
I wanted to make a silly #goose with a fun #hat
I finally did it. I completed my 100 gestures Challenge. You can do a gesture in 2-3 minutes (or even faster if you are trained), so you can complete such challenge in 4-5 hours. I decided to do gesture drawing as a habit, take some extra time to select poses which I find interesting and draw on most of the days at least one gesture. I started in April and now I'm done in December, which means 7 months later. As it is now a habit I will not stop drawing gestures after the challenge, but I passed a milestone. Thanks for watching.
I started this oil painting in Feb 2020, and finished it in April the same year. I guess it's a tribute to Welsh beaches in winter - miles of sand, and barely anyone around.
