I often sense expression or emotion in animals, even more so, animals evoke something within me. Animals have had a hold on me since I was a child. Back then, I imagine the passion was pure excitement, perhaps it is now the quiet pause that animals evoke that resonates within me. Or maybe it is the desire to listen and observe that animals seem to possess… a desire to listen, observe and reflect which is likewise inspired within myself. Perhaps I see in animals an escape from the noise, noise, noise of our world.

In the not-so-calm moments of perfect slobbery unconditional love from a dog or other beloved animal, our hearts are still calmed. In the delightful sounds of birds landing and taking off in a massive group, or eagerly getting at the bird feeder, our hearts smile. I see God using His creatures as reminders of important pauses, reflections and soulful tranquility to embrace.

After having a few losses these past years, yet having too many blessings to count, I found myself needing to let more color into my personal palette. The brighter colors that I added to my supplies over the years, yet I was too hesitant to use (much like the blessings in my life), have started to trickle out, and it feels like pure joy. I have also found myself, in every subject, embracing less of a pure focus on realistic accuracy within my work (perfectionism), and allowing more imagination, play, memory, reflection and personal sentiment to dance with the occasional lonely realism within my work. I thank God for the eyes to see, ears to hear, heart to feel and for an easily distracted mind which I now embrace.