Tortoise and Hare

Recently, a very courageous friend of mine, made a choice that showed a deep amount of bravery, despite how he may have been perceived by those around him that didn't know all the circumstances.  This friend had been working towards accomplishing something, a mission that would take two years of his time wherein he would be serving others.  However, as he entered into that task, he realized that in order for him to accomplish what he needed to accomplish, he would need more preparation.  On his own, he went to those that had helped him get there and expressed his need to return home.

It would have been easy for him to just give up on the dream, give up on the expectation that he had placed upon himself, but has continued to work towards getting back to where he could serve in a capacity that he has looked forward to serving.

I've thought a lot about him this week, and how his diligence, despite barricades and obstacles, has inspired me to stick to the task at hand regardless of the challenges.  My mind kept going back to the story of the tortoise and the hare, and how, despite challenges that seemed to doom the tortoises success, were overcome because of diligence, tenacity, and long-suffering.  I don't remember all of the details about the story...whether or not the onlookers of the race laughed at the tortoise for thinking he could win, or whether the hare, in belching self-confidence also made fun of the seeming unfit contender, but I remember that the tortoise won.

I'm grateful for my friend's example of continuity towards goals despite potential feelings of inadequacy.  Onto victory for him.

Here is the envelope that I painted for him this week, which carried a note of thanks for his inspiring race.

Done in gouache and pen and ink.

Anchor of Friendship

There is an elderly gentleman and his good wife that allow my son and I to visit them on a regular basis.  He is turning 89 tomorrow, but is as young at heart and as chipper as they come.  While completely blind, he still is out on the sidewalk every morning getting his exercise as he moves around his apartment complex greeting the neighbors.  He and his wife are like surrogate grandparents to me and my family.  Every time we come they have new stories, and we just laugh, enjoy each other's company, and I marvel at his good nature and happiness despite having been through so much.  He proudly served in the Navy during the Korean war and has great stories about his time on the sea, but I doodled this anchor and life buoy envelope, not so much for his service there, but because of the anchoring friendship and uplifting influence he has on me and my son as we go and visit them regularly.  Happy Birthday to him!  And I hope he'll be around a while longer so that I can keep hearing his amazing stories.

This was done in pen and ink, and gouache.

Wheat, not tares.

A few weeks ago I listened to a gentleman in my neighborhood, that I respect deeply, share with a group of listeners of how he had overcome a debilitating addiction.  I was so impressed with his sincerity and the yearning invitation that he made to those that he was addressing to be courageous enough to seek out the help that can come to those that are humble, honest and submissive to a higher power.  I continued to reflect upon his kindness, but also his remarks, and decided to do an envelope for him thanking him for the boldness, and transparency with which he shared his story.  I reflected upon the many times in the scriptures wherein the wheat and the tares are spoken of.  Both look similar as they are growing, but one bears fruit that is desirable.  I let him know that I appreciated the "fruit" he was bearing and his invitation for others to seek to do similarly.  This is the doodle I sent to him.  This is done in gouache, pen and ink, with acrylic background.

Another Digital Doodle

I haven't posted for a while, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been busy.  A couple of years ago, I made a goal to paint or decorate an envelope for someone every week, and send them a letter to accompany it.  Despite my inattentiveness to posting, I'm still keeping the goal on track.  This was another digital doodle that I did using the Procreate app.  I did this for my dear mother and sent it to her for mothers day.  She is the best mom in the world, patient, long-suffering, faithful, and she puts up with me...did I mention patient and long-suffering?

Digital Doodling

I haven't posted anything for a while, but I haven't been stagnant either.  I've been trying my hand at digitally creating art, and there is quite a learning curve for me.  Yet, I am enjoying the immediacy, the vibrancy and ability to morph and transform what is being worked on with relative ease.

The need for me to use art to try to help brighten the lives of others still needs to be a constant for me, so I have been trying to figure out how to use the digital image in connection with the "envelopes" that I have been sending to others previously.  I tried printing right on top of the envelope and it didn't come out well.  So, I decided to print the image on photo paper the same size as the envelope and am putting them right in the envelope with the letters that I send off to accompany the doodle.

Here are the last two that I did.  Again...a work in progress, and I hope to increase my ability by continuing to play with this medium, but these went out to two individuals that I care about, and that have recently faced some very challenging situations.

The first, I did because....(NEWS FLASH)....I love insects.  But also because I recently listened to an amazing discourse on the need for us to act similarly to the monarch butterfly.  You can hear the brief discourse here...it was very inspiring.  The gentleman who received this letter has been an example of how to unite, how to love, how to watch over and help others, and I have been the beneficiary of his kindness.  He recently lost his wife to Leukemia, and this went out to him with my love, condolences and a wish that I was back in Georgia to enjoy his presence again.

The second was done for a friend who has been facing the very real challenges of raising a family and watching a child make decisions that are self-destructive.  It's been inspiring watching her trying to determine how best to help, to love, and yet, to continue to reinforce acceptable boundaries.  The letter I sent to her spoke of the realization that I had, when younger, that the true determination of something's strength can only be found when it is put under stress or trial.  For example, a spider's web, although beautiful to see and to watch being made, is only brought to it's full purpose and potential when something is putting pressure on it.  Interestingly, something as frail looking as a spiders web has been found to be stronger than steel or Kevlar.  I sent her this little doodle to remind her that the test, although challenging, is what may help her see her own strength, and purpose.

I hope you enjoy.

These were both done in Procreate.

Wings for another friend

This week's envelope goes out to another neighbor who has been facing the challenge of their first born baby wanting to come much earlier than it should.  She and her husband have been at the hospital indefinitely while they work through all options to keep baby in the womb for further development. 

 

I chose to go back to painting a butterfly.  One cannot watch the transformation from a caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly without looking at the process, the struggle that each phase presents to the insect, and the resplendent result without seeing meaning in their own life.  Trials, if reacted to patiently, give us strength and beauty.  Somehow, this struggle for my neighbors, in time, will give radiance to them.  And, no doubt, the ability to soar through future challenges.

 

This is done in gouache.

 

...to gladden the heart

In a conversation with a family member this last week, I listened to someone that I care about express her frustration about the challenges that she is facing, about feeling adrift at times, not knowing quite what she should be doing and questioning what the future will look like.  It was hard to hear that she was struggling.  Yet, we have all been in those fiery furnaces wherein we have to make decisions to either continue forward with faith, or to shrink.
My thoughts have gone back to her repeatedly this week, wondering what counsel I could give, or what reminders I might send to help her to see herself, and the world in the light that would help her in this struggle.
I came across a scripture this week that was impactful, and meaningful in this regard.  It states:

"And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances...with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance—

Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;

Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;

Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;" --Doctrine and Covenants 59:15-20

 

I was struck by the reminder that all the things in this world, even down to the tiniest creeping thing, were created for the use of man, God's children, and that he has an anxious desire to please our eye and gladden our heart.  It was helpful for me to remember that this is one of his characteristics, a desire to see us happy.  Knowing that, and knowing that we can call upon him for assistance through the rough parts, is comforting.

 

So, today, I painted a little bug envelope for my family member that I love, but who is struggling.  I sent her a letter to remind her that even the littlest, beautiful things were given to us to help us be happy, and that the same being who was careful enough to create beauty in the little things, is anxious to orchestrate happiness in our lives, as we permit Him to do so.

 

I also used a little insect, because this person's knickname when just a little girl was "bug."

 

 

This was done primarily with Gouache and Prismacolor.