Hen

Yep, another hen.....  There's something really great about the steely eyes of a rooster or hen, surrounded by the blazing comb and wattle, and the pop of the colorful and feathers.  I've done a couple other sketches of hens or roosters, and enjoy exploring their beauty.

In my last post, I spoke of my goal to send out a doodled envelope to a group of friends from my youth that had significant impact on my life. This week's post goes out to a second fellow (pictured below).  Matt and his good wife have created a friendship with us that surpasses mere friendship.  Do you have anyone in your life that are friends, but must have somehow really been family in the grand scheme of things, despite no blood relations?  These two have consistently been people with whom we feel we can be at ease, at home, loved, without pretense, and just enjoy one another.
I did a hen for them because of the hen's ability to gather in their loved ones and provide safety for the little ones.  Matt and Marlene have ever been the "gatherer's" for our little group of friends, and I'm grateful for the glue that they have been for us and that they continue to welcome us in.

This envelope was done with gouache, pen and ink, acrylic and a spot of prismacolor.

Contemplating the Robin's Fall

Much has been said in the media for the past couple of days about Robin Williams.  I, for one, did not know the man, only some of the characters that he played (but played well.)  My wife and I spoke tonight about the impact of his life, his loss, the demons he must have been fighting, the good he did while here, and other things.  When I was younger, my favorite movie was The Dead Poet's Society.  I watched it over and over, and felt a desire to LIVE.  It's fitting, then, that in my little sketch of Mr. Williams, it is accompanied by a poem.