- Published on
Good Bones
oil on cradled wood panel
18 x 24 x 1.5 inches
Life is short, though I keep this from my children.
Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine
in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,
a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways
I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least
fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative
estimate, though I keep this from my children.
For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.
For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,
sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world
is at least half terrible, and for every kind
stranger, there is one who would break you,
though I keep this from my children. I am trying
to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,
walking you through a real shithole, chirps on
about good bones: This place could be beautiful,
right? You could make this place beautiful.
- MAGGIE SMITH
oil on cradled wood panel
18 x 24 x 1.5 inches
Life is short, though I keep this from my children.
Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine
in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,
a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways
I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least
fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative
estimate, though I keep this from my children.
For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.
For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,
sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world
is at least half terrible, and for every kind
stranger, there is one who would break you,
though I keep this from my children. I am trying
to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,
walking you through a real shithole, chirps on
about good bones: This place could be beautiful,
right? You could make this place beautiful.
- MAGGIE SMITH
I am always moved by the kind stranger. By the bird, by the loved child. By poetry that hits me hard and paintings which cause me to catch my breath.
But I am so very aware of the other fifty percent. Smith's words are, unfortunately, all too true. Especially now, in these dire days.
And yet. (AND YET!) When I turn my attention toward those who see the good bones in things - those who do something incredible with those good bones, I have deep, resounding hope.
This week I want to tell you the story of someone who saw good bones and created a world out of them. A sanctuary of safety and love. A place for second chances, for hope, for joy and a long, happy life. Ally Remington works tirelessly every day (sometimes 24 hours a day) for the lives of farm animals who need a rescue, a rehabilitation, a second chance. I had the opportunity to interview Remington recently and, honestly, her story moved me to tears. The struggles, the celebrations, the hard work and the continued need for more. Below is a link to this interview on YouTube. It is a long one, but worth every minute.
My husband and I take great joy in supporting this farm rescue, which is a permanent home for each animal taken in.
If you are moved to support Wildlings Forest Sanctuary, thank you! Here is the link to the website.
My husband and I take great joy in supporting this farm rescue, which is a permanent home for each animal taken in.
If you are moved to support Wildlings Forest Sanctuary, thank you! Here is the link to the website.
About the art: It is early in the year, but some murderous things are happening in the studio! This piece is a paint-over of a werewolf. The original painting was thick with texture, and that served this new abstract landscape extraordinarily well! Beginning with a rough sketch made with a medium sized brush laden with dark paint (basic composition - big shapes!) and then a thin layer of background and foreground paint to refine the shapes and the sketch. After some drying time, I worked from the inside - out - creating rocks, highlights, reflections and layers upon layers of color. Many weeks of drying time followed. Another layer on the background and foreground, a rough celestial orb in the sky, some pink clouds. Then the pallette knife - and OH OH OH did that ever work spectacularly over all the texture! It added grit and rocky-ness to the rocks, soft earthy edges to the water. I hit a couple of places with bright highlights, then another month of drying before the varnish.
I think the werewolf is satisfied to be a part of this wild, rugged landscape. He feels at home in there.
I think the werewolf is satisfied to be a part of this wild, rugged landscape. He feels at home in there.
Watch and listen to the blog on YouTube
An interview with Ally Remington of
Wildlings Forest Sanctuary
Holy cats in a basket, batman!
The single copies of MonstroUS are now SOLD OUT! Thank you hugely!
You can still grab the full experience (book plus fairtale survival kit) here.
Get them while they last!
Big thanks to the amazing Thea Fiore Bloom at The Charmed Studio Podcast for featuring MonstroUS in her recently newsletter! I am so grateful and delighted!
xoxo