Last autumn my husband and I were enjoying a beautiful day in the warm sun and noticed a whole bunch of bumblebees dancing around on some flowers. Of course we had our cameras with us and this is one that he photographed. I decided yesterday to draw it and this is a close up of the finished piece.

I think that often we overlook some of the most beautiful of Heavenly Father’s creations simply because they are small. There’s so much to see on this great big planet that sometimes we forget to look down. A whole world of beauty exists just outside our normal range of vision.

I live in the mountains of Utah and one of the amazing things about winters here is that bald eagles come. Today my husband and I saw 7 eagles just sitting in a tree along the side of the road. We pulled over of course and he got some amazing photos. I’m even going to use one to do a painting.

There is something so majestic about bald eagles. They are so stoic and regall. You can see in their eyes that they know exactly who they are and that no one can touch them. They’re not afraid but it’s interesting because they won’t let you get too close. They seem to be very particular about who they will let into their world. Other eagles, elk, deer, but not people. They’re more skittish around humans than golden eagles are or even most hawks. I wonder why this is. I think their just more private. They want to be left alone. I can relate to that.

I did this one from a photagraph that my husband took in Fairview. I think he and I make a pretty good team.

A while back I was listening to talk radio and the host of the show said something that made me think. He said, “It’s ridiculous to spare the lives of insects and small animals because as humans we need to recognize that we are above these creatures.”

I disagree. In my opinion it is our human ability to feel compassion and mercy for all life that defines us as superior beings. With our superior intellect comes stewardship. It is our responsibility to protect and care for every miraculous spark of life that has been placed on this planet. Our ability to see and recognize the miracle of life gives us divine responsibility. This man’s logic would have us on the level of animals, killing without regret, not highly intelligent beings with conscience and the ability to reason. I understand that we all need to eat and there is a time to kill, but if we don’t have the sense to determine when that time is and when it is not, what does that make us?

Here’s the first painting I’ve finished of the little birdies I took pictures of. Well actually I did another one but I don’t like the way it turned out so you don’t get to see it. I know, maybe I’ll burn it and make another burn bad art video! That was fun. Anyway I think I”ll call this one Among the Leaves.

15" x 18" Prismacolor Painting
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Our pet cat used to think she was a Lion at times.  Here she is in one of her Lion posses.

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Original available through Ria’s Fine Art Studio 

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Sometimes it’s really hard for me to be an artist. So many people have so many different things to say about what I should paint and I have so many ideas of my own that it can get kind of confusing. I personally love to do portraits, landscapes, animals, figurative, urban scenes, pretty much whatever strikes me as beautiful or interesting. Sometimes I like to paint something because I feel like a story needs to be told. I like to tell people’s stories through their facial expressions or their body language or a moment in their lives. I like to paint things that are stimulating and challenging and really just a lot of fun. However gallery owners generally don’t like portraits or figurative work. They say people won’t buy a picture of someone that they don’t know.  Okay, so much for telling people’s stories… (more…)

I finished this drawing today. I took 3 different pictures of it so you can actually see some detail.

I wrote this poem quite awhile ago. I was at work and wishing desperately that I could be in the mountains. It’s called Let Foot Fall Light. The painting is watercolor and prismacolor. The bird is watercolor and the background is prismacolor. You can click on the image to see it larger if you like.

Original available for purchase. (Contact sales@willowrise.com) Giclée quality prints are also available. (Please visit willowrise.com for details)

Let foot fall light on tender green

make no sound and be not seen

brush no dew from wild rose petal

quickly through the stinging nettle.

Wake not sleeping butterfly

dodge the sparrow’s watchfull eye

over pond by fallen log

stone to stone across the bog

A summer breeze, your cheeks will flush

no raven warns of broken hush

slip into the willow maze

and wrap yourself in morning haze (more…)