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I usually do at least one big holiday themed artwork every year and while I have done a few small things here and there I just...haven't been feeling the spirit this year. Too much has happened and losing Haylee so close to Christmas has been really rough. This whole year has been rough. It started out with us finding the body of Victoria, our resident feral cat, who I still think our terrible neighbors did something to. Next we lost sweet Nala to a sudden and shocking grand mal seizure. Then it was Buster, our senior chihuahua, who we lost to an aggressive cancerous tumor. Most recently, of course, was Haylee at over 19 years old. To say I'm ready for 2016 to be over with is an understatement.
Anyways. Instead of my usual festive stuff I've been working on this and the solo one of Haylee: wahyawolf.deviantart.com/art/P… This group picture...was incredibly hard for me. I still get very emotional when talking about my childhood dogs and cats. I still talk to my therapist about it. I haven't drawn them in years because it's so difficult for me but...I had to. Ever since I found this photo: sta.sh/0298km353j7r of Keechi, my mom's special dog when I was growing up, in the same pose and with the same expression, as her special Haylee...I've thought it was a sign. They're all together now, I've been seeing that in my mind's eye for weeks...why not draw it out on paper? So, here are all of my family's special furangels...well, the dogs and cats anyway! Sadly I didn't have room on the paper for all the rats, mice, guinea pigs, fish, raccoon, birds and rescued spider, among others, that we've had through the years.
Starting on the far left: Scooter (black/gray chihuahua/pomeranian mix) was my parents' little dog before I was even born. She used to sleep in my crib with me. The two cats next to her are Razz (brown tabby) and Inchy (black), also my parents' cats before I was born. Razz was around for over 18 years and raised all the other animals. Inchy went missing one day and despite our best efforts we never found him. Next is Keechi, the black/tan/white beagle mix. She was my mom's special dog when I was a kid, her "Princess Pretty Tummy". Seems only fitting that she would be the one to give Princess Haylee a comforting and welcoming kiss. There's Haylee next, right in the center. Behind her, the black and white beagle/basenji mix, that's my special Billy boy. My very first dog who adopted me when I was only five years old. He was and always will be my "heart dog". Sitting atop him is my sweet little Nala, perhaps the most affectionate cat I've ever known. Next to Haylee is Buster the chihuahua with Milo, one of my childhood cats, giving him a nuzzle. Behind them is Victoria the feral cat, while she was never technically "our" cat she was a loved member of the family just the same. The dog she's looking at is labrador/husky mix Lucky, my dad's special dog when I was growing up. To the far right of the page looking up is Mytec, my "adventure cat" and "miniature cougar", the smallest cat with the biggest cattitude ever.
Whew. That was a novel. Those artworks were "novels" too, this one took me forever. I might still nitpick at it and/or put some finishing touches on it but I'm not sure. I'm never satisfied with my work. I go through frustrating art blocks and depression brought on by a serious lack of self esteem all the time, wondering why I bother or if anything I do is even appreciated or worth it. But...eventually these doubts go away (for a time) and I can remember that I do it because I love it and it's a way to vent emotions. I've pretty much accepted that I'll never be 100% happy with what I do so I should just be happy to DO it...that's what art should be about anyway. Whatever "quality" or lack thereof this may be the process of drawing it was emotional on so many levels. I didn't think I could do it. But I did. I'm glad I did. I gave it to my mom as a Christmas eve present and we both had a much needed cry over it.
They're all together...and they're with us, always. I'll wrap this up with a very special song. I listened to it the whole time I worked on this...

"How very special are we
For just a moment to be
Part of life's eternal rhyme
How very special are we
To have on our family tree
Mother Earth and Father Time
He turns the seasons around
And so she changes her gown
But they always look in their prime
They go on dancing their dance
Of every lasting romance
Mother Earth and Father Time
The summer larks return to sing
Oh what a gift they give
Then autumn days grow short and cold
Oh what a joy to live
How very special are we
For just a moment to be
Part of life's eternal rhyme
How very special are we
To have on our family tree
Mother Earth and Father Time"

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqXJ6s… The song is from Charlotte's Web and is performed by Debbie Reynolds...who the world also lost a few days after I finished this. Seriously wtf 2016.

Sketch: wahyawolf.deviantart.com/art/R…

Description

I usually do at least one big holiday themed artwork every year and while I have done a few small things here and there I just...haven't been feeling the spirit this year. Too much has happened and losing Haylee so close to Christmas has been really rough. This whole year has been rough. It started out with us finding the body of Victoria, our resident feral cat, who I still think our terrible neighbors did something to. Next we lost sweet Nala to a sudden and shocking grand mal seizure. Then it was Buster, our senior chihuahua, who we lost to an aggressive cancerous tumor. Most recently, of course, was Haylee at over 19 years old. To say I'm ready for 2016 to be over with is an understatement.
Anyways. Instead of my usual festive stuff I've been working on this and the solo one of Haylee: wahyawolf.deviantart.com/art/P… This group picture...was incredibly hard for me. I still get very emotional when talking about my childhood dogs and cats. I still talk to my therapist about it. I haven't drawn them in years because it's so difficult for me but...I had to. Ever since I found this photo: sta.sh/0298km353j7r of Keechi, my mom's special dog when I was growing up, in the same pose and with the same expression, as her special Haylee...I've thought it was a sign. They're all together now, I've been seeing that in my mind's eye for weeks...why not draw it out on paper? So, here are all of my family's special furangels...well, the dogs and cats anyway! Sadly I didn't have room on the paper for all the rats, mice, guinea pigs, fish, raccoon, birds and rescued spider, among others, that we've had through the years.
Starting on the far left: Scooter (black/gray chihuahua/pomeranian mix) was my parents' little dog before I was even born. She used to sleep in my crib with me. The two cats next to her are Razz (brown tabby) and Inchy (black), also my parents' cats before I was born. Razz was around for over 18 years and raised all the other animals. Inchy went missing one day and despite our best efforts we never found him. Next is Keechi, the black/tan/white beagle mix. She was my mom's special dog when I was a kid, her "Princess Pretty Tummy". Seems only fitting that she would be the one to give Princess Haylee a comforting and welcoming kiss. There's Haylee next, right in the center. Behind her, the black and white beagle/basenji mix, that's my special Billy boy. My very first dog who adopted me when I was only five years old. He was and always will be my "heart dog". Sitting atop him is my sweet little Nala, perhaps the most affectionate cat I've ever known. Next to Haylee is Buster the chihuahua with Milo, one of my childhood cats, giving him a nuzzle. Behind them is Victoria the feral cat, while she was never technically "our" cat she was a loved member of the family just the same. The dog she's looking at is labrador/husky mix Lucky, my dad's special dog when I was growing up. To the far right of the page looking up is Mytec, my "adventure cat" and "miniature cougar", the smallest cat with the biggest cattitude ever.
Whew. That was a novel. Those artworks were "novels" too, this one took me forever. I might still nitpick at it and/or put some finishing touches on it but I'm not sure. I'm never satisfied with my work. I go through frustrating art blocks and depression brought on by a serious lack of self esteem all the time, wondering why I bother or if anything I do is even appreciated or worth it. But...eventually these doubts go away (for a time) and I can remember that I do it because I love it and it's a way to vent emotions. I've pretty much accepted that I'll never be 100% happy with what I do so I should just be happy to DO it...that's what art should be about anyway. Whatever "quality" or lack thereof this may be the process of drawing it was emotional on so many levels. I didn't think I could do it. But I did. I'm glad I did. I gave it to my mom as a Christmas eve present and we both had a much needed cry over it.
They're all together...and they're with us, always. I'll wrap this up with a very special song. I listened to it the whole time I worked on this...

"How very special are we
For just a moment to be
Part of life's eternal rhyme
How very special are we
To have on our family tree
Mother Earth and Father Time
He turns the seasons around
And so she changes her gown
But they always look in their prime
They go on dancing their dance
Of every lasting romance
Mother Earth and Father Time
The summer larks return to sing
Oh what a gift they give
Then autumn days grow short and cold
Oh what a joy to live
How very special are we
For just a moment to be
Part of life's eternal rhyme
How very special are we
To have on our family tree
Mother Earth and Father Time"

Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqXJ6s… The song is from Charlotte's Web and is performed by Debbie Reynolds...who the world also lost a few days after I finished this. Seriously wtf 2016.

Sketch: wahyawolf.deviantart.com/art/R…