The Gift Of Innocence, A Christmas Watercolor Painting

Ok, I know I am still doing Fall images and I love doing them, but I can’t stop thinking of Christmas either.,  I love Christmas and how it makes me feel.

Anyhow, I have had this  image drawn out forever on tracing paper, then tried it several times in pastel and then in watercolor, but in muted colors and a background.  I had to keep throwing pictures away because it just didn’t look right. I then decided I would do the picture with bold Christmas colors and a white background so it wouldn’t muddy the image up, and also so you could really see what was happening here.

I love the image, because I wanted to show charity at Christmas.  First, I had wanted something to do with the Salvation Army, but decided…maybe later.  Then the homeless came up.  I wanted to depict a gift of charity that just came from the heart at Christmas, and this is how it happened.  I hope you like it.

I also want to add a quote and a cute border, but for now, I think this sends the message.  Enjoy.

The Gift Of Innocence

Happiness Is Like Jam (just posted on Etsy)

Here is a print of an drawing I did awhile back, and I still believe the quote. I just posted it on my Etsy shop. It is a great one, especially for today.  Happiness is good and it feels good to share it!  And I hope when you share it, it comes back to you.  It usually does.  We need more happiness in this world.

Happiness Is Like Jam Print

Kenny Loggins / Return To Pooh Corner (music video)

Here is a song by Kenny Loggins which I love.  I used to play this song for the kids when they were little.  It goes along with what I was trying to say in my previous post. Listen to the words.  So cute, and true.  Take me back to the days of Pooh.

I Want To Go Back

The Time To Be Happy Is Now

Sometimes the world seems like such a stressed-out place to be, that I wish I could go back in time and be a child all over again.

I want to go back… back to when I was about 5 years old  and living at home.

The feeling of being safe and free from worry.

Thinking back…

back…

back… I can see myself running outside in the crisp,cool air.

I was always outside.

Being small, energetic and young, I can play outside all day and not even tire.

I’m running,  always running.  Out toward the wide open space of the field that is behind my house.

It is early fall, and most likely at dusk.  My cheeks are cold, my nose is cold, but it feels good.

I stop for just a moment and listen… I hear the crows.  I smell the damp earth.  My toes tingle.

Looking back at my house in the distance,  I can see that the light is on in my warm kitchen.

Mom is probably at the sink as supper is being prepared.

What will it be?  A roast perhaps, gravy…and mashed potatoes.  There’s always potatoes.

I feel warm inside.

My family will be there when I get back. Mom, dad ,grandma, my older sister, and 3 younger brothers.

The house will be warm and safe.

But for now, I’m out in all this space by myself ,  yet  somehow, I don’t feel alone.

I couldn’t be with all this beauty.  So much to investigate…rocks, leaves, mud.

I have no schedule.  I don’t care about the time.

I just have to wait for the streetlight to come on, and then I’ll  go home to eat supper.

I’ll be fed and have a warm bath.

I’ll sit by grandma on the couch watching tv and lean on her warm, smooth arm.  I may even fall asleep there.

Someone will pick me up and put me to bed.  Is it dad?  Is it Mom?  I don’t care.

I’ll be tucked in and have my doll with me.

Someone will kiss me and turn off the light.

Then I’ll be in total darkness, but I won’t feel afraid.

I’m free,   I’m loved and I am safe.  That’s all that matters.

Yes, take me back!

I’d give anything  to go back in time and be a child all over again.

Just to experience the freedom from worry again .  The way we were excited in the little things.

To watch the world go by….

I thought it would last forever.

Silly me.

Johnny Gruelle

I was first introduced to Johnny Gruelle as a child through the many Raggedy Ann and Andy Series of books that came out in the 60′s. I received 2 or 3 books once a month, and I couldn’t wait to read all the adventures the pair would have, as well as the mischief they would get into.

My mother would read  these to my sister and I at bedtime, and I loved the stories of fairies and rag dolls and the lessons of goodness and kindness.  I think these stories really made a child “want” to be good-I know it made me want to be!

The illustrations were either very colorful or straight black and white.  Either way, Gruelle was very good at what he did. I know he influenced how I illustrate today.  I have many sketches from my teen years, of fairies with pointed toes, and flowing, silken scarves, floating about in woods and on flowery hillsides, to prove it.

I still have all 12 books today and I would never part from them.  Although they are a little tattered and the pages are a slight yellow hue now, they are worth more than gold to me.  Not only because of the memories they hold, but also because of the lessons they taught. 

I wish there were more author/illustrators like Johnny Gruelle today.  Now that would be….

Johnny Gruelle's illustration of Marcella and Raggedy Ann

 

…what’s the word….yes, that would be “awesome”!

A Simple Drawing

This is a drawing I did for a greeting card  for a birthday many years ago.  I believe this is one of my designs that was inspired from Ernest H. Shepard’s drawings.

First, I tried to draw the figure in it’s simplest form.  Then when I colored it, tried to render it in the palest of pastel colors to give it a light, airy feeling. The child running barefoot was to give it the innocence and motion I wanted.

It was a start and I would try this again in future drawings.  Interesting.

Birthday Girl

Butterflies Flutter By

Butterflies.  Who doesn’t love butterflies.  They are a wonder.

When I sit and think how a caterpillar can make a cocoon and in so many days later, emerge into a whole different species, I know that there is a lesson here about life.  I can’t even fathom how such a thing can happen, but I don’t want it  really explained to me either.  I believe there is truly something out there bigger than myself, and it’s more complicated than I could even imagine.  And it makes me feel good, not scared.

Also, when I was growing up, I saw many Disney movies, and I truly believed if you were a beautiful person (such as the characters Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White) then blue birds and butterflies would  flit around you, even land upon your hand-and not fly away as soon as they saw you.  Oh, well.  Guess I wasn’t one of those “beautiful” people!

Anyway, this illustration is for the  ”remarkable” butterfly.  :)

Butterflies Flutter By

(I will be selling this popular design as scented note cards on my Etsy site soon.  Please visit:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CherylMcNulty  .  Thank you!)

Here Is Another Silhouette

Here is another silhouette I created.  It’s a little child (could be a boy or girl) with her dog.  I like the way this turned out and am really amazed how quickly I took to the art of silhouette cutting.  I know I have much more to learn, and I can’t wait to try different designs.

I probably will be selling these online as well, but I am thinking of changing over from Shop Handmade to Etsy, only because I like the set up better. There seems there’s just too much on the Shop Handmade pages when you sell an item.  I have inquired about how to set up again with Etsy, since I used to sell with them over a year ago.   I will let you know.

Hope you like the design.  Cheryl

Child With Dog

The Best and Most Beautiful

Here is a picture I did awhile back.  It is a quote from Helen Keller, and a beautiful one at that.  I did this in colored pencil and since it has many hearts and since Valentine’s Day was only yesterday, I figured this would be great to put up.  Hope you like this oldie but goodie.

Cheryl