This last week has been a whirlwind of grief and the myriad emotions, fears, doubts that brings up (aside from the heaviness of the loss itself).
Not everyone will understand, and that is fine, we all walk different paths in this wild world, but for some of us the loss of a more-than-human companion can feel even worse than the loss of a human one.
It is all multi-layered and multifaceted and compounded on two other huge grief experiences this year alone, along with the general base layer grief and fear we have all been living through, for what, decades now? It feels that way. But you know what I mean, I am sure, have felt it to varying degrees in even the last couple of days no doubt.
I have been struggling, terribly, and pushing myself to work, work, work in order to try and take my mind off it all, which of course leads to its own bevy of problems. One thing I do know is that if I can focus on making art, if I can focus on the shifts of colour and light, the values and the details, then I can be transported to that secret garden, that secret grove in the forest’s heart where everything is calm and right and full of hope.
And so this week I have completed the first layer on an 18x24 oil painting of a Gang Gang cockatoo and flannel flowers - he, along with a female Galah and roses I finished the first layer of last week are patiently waiting for me to come back to them with their next layer of details. I have also prepared two larger panels - the largest I have ever worked on, 24x36” (60x90cm) and transferred the images for a peregrine falcon on one, and powerful owls (an Australian species) on the other. And while I look forward to getting back to these, they are a bit overwhelming at the moment with the sorrow I seem to be carrying with me.
I have decided to do a handful of new coloured pencil owl pieces for the (very exciting) upcoming Silent Flight book. These will all be available once complete too, as part of the original Silent Flight collection, though they are smaller in size. All of these will be made at 9x12” (22x30cm) for a couple of reasons - I need a quick win, man (well relatively quick) and I want to get this book made (the owls are shouting at me)
I finished the first today - in fact, it is 5pm as I write this, and I have been working on her since 6am with just a couple of hours break to refuel through the day, so I guess that is about 9 hours with pencil in hand (actually yes, my hand tells me that is about right!). I wanted to share her with you first!
She needs a name, don’t you think?
Send me your suggestions, and I’ll send the winning entry a 10% off coupon for my shop!
You get the sneaky peek though! I will be making this post public on Saturday, and I will choose a winner on, hmm, Tuesday next week.
Let me know in the comments, or reply to this email with your suggestions.
I can’t wait to hear what you all come up with!
Until next time, thank you for your support and for being here with the kindest words at the loss of my Sweet Seraphina, it has meant a great deal indeed.
The Lady of The Night
She is Graceful and Powerful
She is Strong and Soft
She is a Visionary and a Silent Warrior
She is Elegant and Free
She is Otherworldly and Present
She is Alive and Purposeful
She is Focused and Real
She is
Just IS
The Lady of the Night
So stunning, your work is just wonderful. I could look at them for hours.
Some names I was thinking of just as I saw her:
Skaði
Lyra
Galina
Echo