Illustration I converted into a Christmas card

[NCarolinawoman]

"Beggar on the Windowsill"



This was done with mixed media: pen and ink, a little water color—both translucent and opaque. Latex paint spatters for snow. The windowsill was done with prismacolor pencils (hard lead). Colors I used were dark brown and indigo blue -- something I thought was more exciting than if I used just a gray colored pencil.

I should mention that the windowsill emerged from a detailed drawing I did from a Victorian home in Philadelphia—didn’t want to use the BORING windowsills in my own home in North Carolina. The squirrel, however, lived in Raleigh, N.C. He visited our kitchen windowsill every day while we were eating. We encouraged him 'cause we always gave him a peanut when he appeared. His name was “Tommy”.

[Shadowflash]

1. Nice!

[NCarolinawoman]

4. I am glad you enjoyed it.

I checked out your website--enjoyed the black and white photos, and the colored ones as well--I'm sort of into color.

[Shadowflash]

5. Thanks for checking it out!

[packman]

2. Love squirrels

So much life energy in the little buggers. Had two cats that would chase them into the trees where they would pick the oak nuts off the tree and drop them on cat's heads. Never saw a cat so pissed off and frustrated at the same time.

[NCarolinawoman]

3. So do I.

I once had a cat I rescued from the Philadelphia subway system, and brought him down to North Carolina. As hard as I tried, I could not convert him into being a total indoor cat. He was extremely intelligent but a great hunter of wild things, which I didn't like. Nevertheless, he made friends with all the squirrels. He never chased them and they never gave that warning call when he was out prowling the yard--unlike the loud warnings that a neighbor's cat would receive. Often when I opened the front door, "Buzz" the kitty, would walk up the front steps and RIGHT BY HIS SIDE was "Tommy". Buzz would come in and Tommy just waited for his Peanut. It was really something to behold!

[sketchy]

6. This is really wonderful!

It makes me wish it was just one page of a whole book!

[NCarolinawoman]

7. Thank you, sketchy.

I am tempted to post this in the lounge, without the details of the art materials I used.

It would be fun to see a discussion of the pro and anti-squirrel people. DU is a fairly pro- animal site, so maybe my post wouldn't sink like a led balloon. On the other hand, I think a LOT of the people here should post their artwork over in the lounge after they post here first--simply for a larger audience. So many
talented people at this site-- even the ones who say they are amateurs.

Still thinking about the idea of doing this--can't decide.

[LiberalLoner]

8. This is so wonderful!

And the story makes me smile.

[Solly Mack]

10. I love it.

Your Tommy was charmer.