The Unexpected, Joke’s drawing challenge
Oh the possibilities!!! When Joke first proposed this brilliant theme for our drawing challenge I just had so many ideas that I didn’t know where to turn first. Can you imagine the art which can come from THE UNEXPECTED? Oh I can, and I think I love it!
So, here in Rain City, we got a bit of unexpected sunshine. It came streaming into the bedroom this morning and lit up my butterflies and made sparkly prism stars thru my collection of hat pins on the little window ledge in my closet.
And as I sat there glorying in the sun and having my tea, I thought of all the new beginnings this year. I thought about all the art I made last year, and all the new art to come. and I planned and sipped my tea. And then I had a second cup…
…and then it hit me. A new New Year is almost upon us. A Chinese Lunar year completely chock-a-block with the unexpected. New surprises, new challenges and new happiness to look forward to. Last year, the year of the horse, I painted myself those three horses symbolising so much to me. And this year is the year of the green, wood sheep.
Green wood sheep…hmm…that to me sounded like a bighorn sheep, running wild and free thru the forests and mountains, not a penned up lamb on a farm. A big majestic bighorn.
And so I picked up my oils, chose a piece of driftwood…which, to me, symbolises my Pacific West Coast, and I painted that bad boy right there on it.
And there we have it. The unexpected…bring it on. 😀
And when the Lunar New Year dawns on February 4th, I’ll be ready. 😀
Thank you so much Joke. Can’t wait to see everyone’s unexpected works. You all know by now that you can pop by Joke’s this weekend to visit everyone, don’t you? Sure you do. 😀 You’re drawing challenge savvy like that. 😉
Jo
The painting is fabulous!!!!
Veronica
Thank you so much JoAnn. 😀
Katrin
Lovely post! Thanks for sharing!
Veronica
Big hugs Katrin. 😀
Catherine Llewellyn
what a powerful image – I’m dithering a bit about this year – that image feels quite motivational, to get connected and engage with the year – thank you xx
Veronica
Oh good. Let’s get motivated and engage together. 😀 I’m dragging my butt too.
XX
debrashewhoseeks
Love it! Now THAT’S a sheep! Next weekend we’re going to West Edmonton Mall where the local Chinese community is staging its biggest New Year’s celebrations. Should be fun!
Veronica
Thank you so much Debra! 😀 I’ve never been to the West Edmonton Mall, but seen pics and it looks absolutely massive. Boy, that’s going to be fun. Take pics! We’re having a festival in Chinatown on the 19th. I might go down and be part of the mayhem this year. 😀
Patrice A.
boy…. you are such a fine artist!
love the bighorn fellow
love it that you painted it on wood
so powerful!
hello to the new (chinese) year!
love
x
Veronica
Aw, thank you so much Patrice. I think you’re such a fine artist myself. Your prints are amazing to the max! 😀 Hello indeed. It’s going to be a great year.
Sharmon Davidson
Absolutely lovely painting, and the surface you painted it on is perfect!
Veronica
Thank you so much Sharmon. I love driftwood to paint on. 😀
eric
Driftwood is my favorite wood. Love your painting. It looks like it’s been there forever. – eric
Veronica
Mine too Eric. Except I also love the linden (lime) because it’s so lovely to carve. Now I want to carve something again…lol. Wonder if driftwood is too difficult to carve. Maybe I’ll give it a try. 😀
Mary-Anne of Breathing Life
As a Sheep myself (turning 60 this year) I love your wood sheep. Thanks for popping by my site this morning – my The Unexpected poem is up now!
Veronica
Are you Mary-Anne? I understand the sheep people are lovely. 😀 I’m glad of the chance to get to know you better. I’ve got two monkeys for children. Boy, trying to out monkey the monkey is tough…lol. On my way over to have a peek. 😀
Tammie
unexpected sunshine, lovey
i once had a closet with a window
a year into that closet i saw that my exposed clothing had faded in places
your big horn fella is so very handsome and the wood is a perfect home for him!
Veronica
Aw, thank you Tammie. Faded clothes? Oh dear. I don’t think I care enough about most of my clothes to have them around long enough to fade. Also, clothes get recycled round here pretty darn fast that it probably wouldn’t matter, but I think I might move the few treasured vintage dresses out of that closet then and into one without a window. But I love that window to pieces. It makes me very happy to have the sun streaming thru it in the mornings.
Carole
Veronica, your bighorn sheep is…. well…. simply beautiful. I love how he fits into the driftwood shape. He looks antique and distinguished. Sorry to hear you are getting rain and only unexpected sunshine. xo
Veronica
Thank you so much Carole. I know! It’s much rainier here under the mountains. Sometimes I really think I should move to the Delta and have more of a chance of sunnier days. 😀
Joke Konings
You put a smile on my face Veronica. I also was sitting in my chair thinking about all that happened last year, and that was a lot…. I also thought about my drawings and what will come this year. So yes, the way you shared this is a bit the way I think and thougt. Thank you for joining in.
Veronica
Thank you so much for hosting Joke. That was most fun for me. It’s wonderful to be part of our DC group. 😀
renilde
brilliant, Veronica, your choice of colors and driftwood form,
the ram, it simply belongs there, with its air of confidence and proud, i bet the low sun will shine unexpected upon him one of these days 😉
Veronica
Thank you so much Renilde. We’re back to the rain, but hopefully the sun will come out later this week. 😀
tinyWOOLF
your train of thought always amazes me, so refrshing to wander through your story/stories and come to a conclusion. how could you not draw this boy, and yet, it could only be you painting him. i marvel at the diferences in thoughts amongst us. oh, and really, the cats? my, my, you’ve had yourselves a handful, to say the least. as i move along my own story, i will keep cats’ fickle temperaments in mind, and i will alwyas think of you. and of your cats! n?
Veronica
Thank you so much Nadine. That’s always the best part for me too; seeing what we all do with the DC. If you ever need cat craziness, just ask. 😀
missherzfrisch
Dear Veronica,
the sun is also here always a little bit unexpected.
Your drawing is the perfect one for the year of the sheap.
I was very surprised you told me about the drawers of your friend Nick Bantock. I like his books very much, especially the wonderful story of “Sabine and Griffin”.
Greeting and a wonderful week to you
Sabine
Veronica
Thank you so much Sabine. 😀 Oh yeah! I didn’t clue into your name and G & S books. You must love that! I love those books to pieces. 😀
barbara bee
Hi Veronica,
yes unexpected sunlight in a dull greay winter is always a welcome sursprise like life is shining to us again. Thank you for reminding me on the chinese new year – your painting is excellent and I’m in our zodiac aries – if your painting isn’t perfect for me I don’t know!
xo
barbara bee
roberto
It occurs to me that perhaps, we must be prepared in some way for the unexpected. I mean, have some sensitivity for some things. as that beam of light that suddenly came to light your butterflies. Someone else might have happened unnoticed.
Excellent your three horses, and your ram.
annton
I actually can’t wait for the Chinese New Year, leaving a very tricky Year of the Horse behind. With the face of your sheep, I am absolutely convinced it will be a great one! Thank you.
Veronica
That was the darnedest year! Honestly, if I never see another year like that it’ll be too soon. 😀
Kristen
Sunlight is one of the most cherished unexpected acts of nature that we shouldn’t be too surprised at- right…but it always gives us the same uplifted spirit all the same- so wonderful where it seems to have taken you in this post 🙂
daryledelstein
busy here at the office, i am only beginning to catch up on blog visits and it appears i am just in time to wish you a happy new year (????)
daryledelstein
those ???? appeared in place of the chinese characters i c/p from Google translate 🙁
Catie
oh i love this so much I have been in cleaning/reorganizing every room instead of art but can’t seem to settle down and sit still