True North

I love Paulo Coelho's book, The Alchemist.  If you haven't read it, you need to.  It's not even a request, it's an order!  I read the book sometime in 2004 and the book so moved me, that for the next 6 months, I didn't read anything else.  I just re-read the book over and over.  Strangely, I think that the prolog is the most powerful part of the book.  Coelho states that everyone is in search of their "personal legend" and that it is our responsibility to harness our gifts and share them with the world.  In doing so, we are making the world a better place to be because we are fulfilling what it is we were meant to do.

It seems simple enough, however Coelho also states that many times people are right at the doorstep of realizing their dreams and end up backing down from them due to the fear of actualization, because let's be honest, what's next after achieving something so great?  Do you keep moving forward with it or do you seek out the another path or chapter as part of your "personal legend" journey?

The task served up is even more interesting when I think of the kind of world we live in - how many of us are actually doing what we love?  When have we been in a job filled with so much excitement and curiosity that we stay up all night lost in the creativity and joy of it all?

At the time that I read The Alchemist, I was starting my first year of teaching, which any first-year teacher will tell you is the worst year of your professional life EVER.  I won't go in to all of the challenges teachers face as I know many of us have heard an angry teacher tirade.   But I bring it up because I had always dreamed of going on to earn a PhD in art history. While I got accepted to the top two schools of my choice, I just didn't have the money it would take to see me through.  In that moment, becoming a teacher seemed like an "honorable mention" to me.  This made that first year even harder, because in my mind, had I really followed my personal legend?

After nearly ten years in the education world, there are so many things I do love about being a teacher - the small souls so delicate and sweet that I meet and share time with, the hope they give me about our future, the time I serve as a witness to amazing transformations that take place... the examples can (and do) go on and on.

The cherry on top of all of this is that I now have my art business which gives me the opportunity to share my art and love for art with people around the world.  How amazing it has been to chat with a lovely lady from Germany, or a nice man in Egypt, or to look at who is viewing my work and learn that several individuals from France, the UK, or even Thailand have visited my blog or shop!?!

I share all of this with you, because I feel inspired by these events in my personal and professional life.  I refer to them separately, but isn't it interesting how intertwined they both are?  The personal and professional?  And what of that "personal legend" stuff?

Perhaps it is ever-evolving and a journey that reflects what you want to see, and at times, what you need to see.

I think that so long as you are traveling North, your True North is always right there - waiting for you.

All items displayed are featured as a part of my Etsy Treasury. Check it out at  https://www.etsy.com/treasury/OTI1Njg1MnwyNzI3MjA1MDU0/true-north?ref=fp_int_treas

Busy As A Bee...

Things have been pretty busy around here!  On the rebound from the holidays I find that I am trying to catch up to catching up. (Sigh) But in the between times, I've managed to work on some new illustrations.

One is part of my Native American series that has shifted to focusing on Alaskan Native Americans and wild life that live there.  In addition to the polar bear I illustrated with Athabaskan tribe tattoo markings, I am adding a humpback whale with Inuit designs from traditional basketry, clothing, and facial tattoos.

The other illustration is inspired by Valentine's Day, which I know isn't for a few more weeks, but I can't help but be inspired by the "warm-fuzzy" vibe and all of those cute Fair-Isle scarves I see all the guys and gals rocking in this snowy-cold weather.  In this illustration, I just love the vibrant colors of the birds against the deep red scarf with sweet little hints of purple and blue stitch designs.

Both prints are available in my shop at www.etsy.com/shop/WildHeartHistories

Much more to come in the followings weeks, so please come back soon!

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by!

Native American Inspired Polar Bear Illustration

My recent interest in everything Native American has not waned.  In fact, it's pretty much become an obsession.  This new love of mine coupled with animals I adore has been a wonderful and increasingly fascinating path I have been lead down.

My most recent illustration is of the polar bear with tattoo markings inspired by the tattoos warn by the men and women of the Athabascan tribe of Alaska.

As I read about global warming and the current challenges the polar bears face in their loss of land (ice) mass where they hunt and breed, I can't help but see the irony between the Native Americans who were and are misplaced and struggling to sustain their way of life to this animal and many others.

There are definite ties I try to convey in hope that it helps to raise continued awareness of the losses we face when a people, the animals, and the land suffer as a result of our own indescretions.

The process of creating this illustration:

Preliminary sketch of polar bear with tattoos based on Athabaskan tattoos I found in old photos and illustrations from the 1700 and 1800's.

 Now begins the process of filling in the form with watercolor.

The illustration begins to take form and adjustments are made.  So close!

I did not like the tattoos on the polar bear's chest - they just seemed ill-placed, so I decided

to remove them from my final illustration.

My final illustration is scanned and cleaned up using Photo Shop.

Here is a close up of the final product.  

This illustration is available as a print in my Etsy Shop.  You can find this print and many more at www.etsy.com/shop/WildHeartHistories.

Revel in the Rain

On cold, blustery days like today - it's a great moment in time to cherish the small things - a cup of warm tea, your favorite book, some favorite songs that bring you back to that moment in time. 

There are so many missed opportunities where I am trying to avoid the rain, trying to get out of the cold, shaking off the wet snow... but every once in a while, I remember to stop and enjoy.  I'll stick out my tongue to catch a drop of rain or closely search the lapel of my pea coat for a snow flake with intricate lacy designs I can just make out.

Here is an illustration I recently worked on that captures the simple pleasure of it all.  If only I can remember to stop and take that pleasure more often (sigh).

"Rainy Day" print available at www.etsy.com/shop/WildHeartHistories

Let's celebrate the SNOW shall we?

I don't know about you, but the first snow is a bit of a small miracle in my book. Being from the West Coast, snow was always something we had to drive to and visit. Now that I'm living in the D.C. area, every time it snows, my heart skips a beat and I'm in awe. It is so different living with the SNOW as part of your daily winter routine and it certainly encourages the spirit of hot cocoa and good book!

New print "First Snow" is now available at www.etsy.com/shop/wildhearthistories

Native American Inspired Art

"We should understand well that all things are the works of the Great Spirit. We should know that He is within all things: the trees, the grasses, the rivers, the mountains, and all the four-legged animals, and the winged peoples; and even more important, we should understand all this deeply in our hearts, then we will fear, and love, and know the Great Spirit, and then we will be and act and live as He intends."
-Black Elk, Oglala Sioux


Time and time again I am deeply moved by my readings of the Native American people and the journey of their people through the 19th, 20th, and now 21st century. Their stories are what has lead me down my current path of creating artwork that is also influenced by their textiles, pottery, and carvings.
I've received many emails requesting a stationary line showcasing these works and have been working hard to put a set together for you!








I am so excited to share that my Native American inspired artwork is now available
as stationary is now available in my shop!!!

Native American Inspired Stationary
Set of 12 cards and envelopes for $15.00
Now available at www.etsy.com/shop/WildHeartHistories

The Thing About Portraits

Happy New Year!

The new year equals new goals and I am deciding it is high time to be brave and try out portraiture.  Creating portraits scares me!  Actually, anything having to do with drawing the human form scares me.  It's the proportions that freak me out - I'm always worried someone's arm is going to reach ground or that one eye will bulge out much larger than the other.  Weird I know- but that's the truth of the matter.  So I am going to face this fear of my and give it an honest shot - that's my New Year's goal anyway.

Here is a portrait of my nephew I had been working on over the holidays to gift to his father and his grandparents...

Photos of my sweet baby nephew that I sort of "mashed" together for my final work of art...

And here is my illustration of him using watercolor, ink, and photoshop...

I'm still working on it, but am super excited to be taking on this new challenge and am looking forward to pushing my painting skills in a new direction! More to come!

If you are interested in a personalized work of art whether it be a portrait or painting of a family home, I'd be so thrilled to help!  Stop by my shop: www.etsy.com/shop/WildHeartHistories and click on "Commissioned Work" to find out all the details!