Welcome to ByShi, Art by Shiloh!

ATTENTION!!! Shiloh's blog has moved to http://byshi.hogfish.net/blog - please visit this link to see new posts!

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Hypnotic Heart Owl

'Hypnotic Heart Owl'
© April 20-21st 2016 by Shiloh Moore
8"x10" Pastel and Watercolour on Paper

I was trying to sleep and a quick sketch of a heart faced Owl came to mind.  

I wanted to experiment with watercolours and pastels.  I first drew the owl using white oil pastel seen below, then put a layer of bright watercolours over it.

'Hypnotic Heart Owl'
© April 20-21st 2016 by Shiloh Moore
8"x10" White Oil Pastel outline on Paper
I love the effect! 

Monday, April 25, 2016

SpiralDragonfly

 'SpiralDragonfly'
© 23-27th March 2016 by Shiloh Moore
16"x20" Metallic Acrylic, Nail Polish and Posca Pen on Canvas

One of my very best friends was recently married.  It's always hard when I can't physically attend such special events, rituals and occasions.  But I still wanted to mark it with a gift.

I have had the background painted for 3 years now, (though I forgot to take a photo!  Too late now!!!)  Then a year ago when they became engaged I knew exactly what I wanted to paint.  My friend's partner is an entomologist and my friend loves spirals.  I love dragonflies, simplified drawings, and spirals, so I could see exactly what I wanted to paint.  I was so extremely, critically ill at the time, and it seemed like it may be an eternity until I may be able to do a large picture like this - I can usually only handle small pictures, and for a long time I was not even able to do those.  But this Easter, (appropriately a time of new life,) just a couple days after the wedding, I was able to do it!  It turned out exactly as I imagined, though there were the usual problem solving issues to bring it into fruition.

Today they visited and I presented it to them.  We had a wonderful time together xx  I hope they treasure it as I treasure them. 

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Silhouettes

'Silhouettes'
© 2016 by Shiloh Moore
Photo credit:  By John Patton published with permission


I am blessed with a community of generous souls who volunteer to help me in many ways.  From car lifts, home haircuts, meals, washing, shopping, chores, visiting and friendship whether in person or virtual, you name it, friends do this for me.  I am beyond grateful.  

One family has helped me for many years with regular lifts and of late, multiple delicious meals every week.  A few years ago when I saw this photo taken of their adult children who have also helped out, I immediately envisioned artwork from silhouettes.  I put it aside to create in future, and I have just now been well enough to.  

Thank you, Pattons for your generosity and support.  And this is dedicated to all who go out of their way to help me in whatever capacity you can - please know it is deeply appreciated. 


'Collage Silhouettes'
© 7/4/16 by Shiloh Moore
8x10" Paper collage



'Line Drawing Silhouettes'
© 8/4/16 by Shiloh Moore
8x10" Pitt Pen on Paper



Sunday, April 3, 2016

Luminous Lizard

 'Luminous Lizard'
©  2016 by Shiloh Moore
A4 Pitt Pen and Watercolour on Paper 
Using an Aqua Brush by Jasart

A young teenage friend did a painting at school as an exercise in cross contour lines.  I loved it!  I found a similar one on Pinterest, with a simple explanation you can see at this link on a blog by Flying Shoes Art Studio.



I wondered if I could complicate things and add an extra element, and thought a Lizard might be simple but fun.  I tried to keep the colours minimal to not interfere with the detail of the image.

I used new watercolour blocks, experimenting with an Aqua Brush Pen by Jasart.  I experience high levels of pain colouring with pencils, one reason being my muscles ache with tension from my grip being hard.  These pens you need to be gentle with.  You have to sit up as it's watercolour and can be messy, but if I'm able to sit up, I find these pens easier to control than ordinary watercolour brushes, and far less painful loading on my arms than pencil colouring.

I'm pretty pleased with the result!!!






Sunday, March 13, 2016

Poem: 'I Dream Of Simple Things'

Some healthy people ask what it's like to live with severe ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia.  Living with severe chronic illness my dreams are simple.  Conquering basic tasks become monumental achievements and things to be celebrated.  Here I try to describe just a few of my dreams:

‘I DREAM OF SIMPLE THINGS’
© 2016 By Shiloh Moore
  (13/1/16)
 
I dream of doing simple things
Even chores and basic tasks
Like to do things independently
And not always have to ask

I’d like to really cook
And not just have to defrost
To eat sitting up with company
And painlessly consume without cost

To have a daily shower
And shave my legs with ease
Clean my teeth for two whole minutes
Tame my wild hair to look less teased

To do all my own shopping
For groceries and necessities
To buy my own choice of things
And treat myself occasionally

To be able to sit up for visitors
Not to have to lie down all the time
To go out for coffee or a social meal
And stay for a decent while

To create art while sitting up
With no need to lie down throughout
To have freedom to fearlessly create
Without a long term pain payout

To type while I can sit up
For as long as I wish each day
To use a phone to text and talk
Without dead arms, neck cramps, and strain

To walk a fair distance and stand
Without instant pain and feeling faint
To exercise and feel good
To help with my Diabetes and weight

To need less than fourteen hours sleep
And to wake up feeling strong and refreshed
To feel bright and alert every day
Rather than tired and needing rest

To lie down perfectly still
Yet to feel no intense constant pain
Is an experience I have forgotten
And can only dream of knowing again

To be able to joke and to smile
With no face pain limiting my laugh
To talk comfortably, to be truly me
Is this really too much to ask?

My dreams may seem very simple
But I’ll celebrate if any come true
The truth is I appreciate all I can do
And I try not to fear losing that too


Disclaimer:  Feel free to share this link, but please do not reproduce this poem without consent from the author. Shiloh Moore can be contacted at her website at:   http://shilohmoore.wix.com/byshi

Sunday, February 7, 2016

A Pug's Life

'A Pug's Life'
© 2016 by Shiloh Moore
A4 Pitt Pen and Watercolour on paper


To those who are struggling or who live with long term depression, I'd like to say:  
"It's ok to be sad and to cry.  You're still just as cute and lovable as a pug."

The original sketch:

Inspired by an image of a 'sad' pug from: 

Bag and Scrapbooking/Cardmaking picture by TYPO Cotton On Australia



Sunday, January 31, 2016

Precious Mosaic

'Precious Mosaic'
"You are not broken.
You are a Precious Mosaic of experiences.
You are beautiful."

Words: © Sept 15 2015 By Shiloh Moore
Artwork © Jan 2016 By Shiloh Moore
Watercolour and Pitt Pen on A4 Paper

The words to this piece came to me after reading a beautiful meme on facebook by Rebel Thriver, quoting Matt Baker's words:  "She never seemed shattered; to me, she was a breathtaking mosaic of the battles she's won." (meme seen below with link to Rebel Thriver's post on Facebook.)

I don't resonate with the image of being in a battle, but I certainly go through a lot, as do so many people, so I adapted the words to something I could say to myself or to someone who is struggling:
"You are not broken.
You are a Precious Mosaic of experiences.
You are beautiful."
 


© by Rebel Thriver (Facebook Link)
www.rebelthriver.org
Used with permission

I didn't know how to approach bringing my words to life visually.  I don't have the energy to make a real mosaic.  And I couldn't find an app or program to make a mosaic from an image I've already made.  And then I came across this image on Facebook by Leonie Dawson:
Used with permission


The image struck me as something I could do, a creative way to make an image like a mosaic.

Here my version is before colour:
This is the first image I've been able to sit up and paint in many months, and I'm still recovering from the effort, but I got lost in it and it was so fulfilling to do.  Hopefully soon I will be able to do more.


Saturday, January 9, 2016

To Cry Out

"To Cry out
is not to admit defeat 
or failure.
It is to be human" 

Words © 2016 by Shiloh Moore
Painting: 'Woman of Rain' © 2011 by Shiloh Moore
from line drawing © 1998 by Shiloh Moore

Monday, January 4, 2016

Heart Of An Aussie Owl

'Heart of An Aussie Owl'
© 2015 by Shiloh Moore
December 2015
Pitt Pen on Watercolour Paper 

I sell (and give away) cards I've made from cardstock, scrapbooking materials and stickers.  In October a friend wanted an owl card (of which I had many!) but he did not want a 'horned' owl or owl with heavy eyebrows - 'they're American.  I want an Aussie Owl!'

Of course all the scrapbooking materials I can find only have 'horned' or 'heavy browed' owls.  So I looked at Australian Owls at www.owlpages.com and fell in love with their almost heart shaped faces.  So bit by bit throughout December 2015 I drew my own version of an Aussie Owl.

'Heart Of An Aussie Owl - Step by step Collage'
© 2015 by Shiloh Moore

This was the evolution of my drawing. 

May the heart, the essence, the wisdom, the power and the beauty of an Aussie Owl be with you :)

May this owl welcome you to the New Year.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Heart Of A Family



'Heart Of A Family'
© 2015 by Shiloh Moore
A4 Pitt Pen on Watercolour Paper

I have had this image floating around my head for years.  Similar to the Mother and Child at the heart of my 'Mother And Child Nativity' © Nov 2012 By Shiloh Moore



I imagined a heart based from a family, but couldn't quite bring it to fruition with my own doodling.  Then a few months ago on Pinterest I saw a pin of a photo of a family by Summer Lyn Photography:  Immediately I could see my heart come to life:

Concept Photo
© Summer Lyn Photography

I scribbled a heart shaped from the faces of the mother, father and newborn child.  Instead of featuring the wedding ring, I emphasised the mother's breast, the baby's belly and the father's shoulder, three loving elements to many families.  

 
'Heart Of A Family'
Initial Sketch 15 Nov 2015 by Shiloh Moore

 This is dedicated to so many families and friends in my network who have new born children.  So much love to you all xxxx