ByShi: With Sympathy

Showing posts with label With Sympathy. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Greeting: I don't know what to say...

"I Don't Know What To Say... But I'd rather say that than nothing at all..."

Words on 'Abstract Painting'

Acrylic on Canvas 2012

A few friends have been going through severe times lately. I've been looking for an appropriate card - but 'Get well soon' when you have a long term chronic illness is like a kick in the face, you know it's not going to happen (well you may improve to a better level - hopefully - but it's highly unlikely you'll recover to being fully 'well'.) And a sympathy card is not appropriate either, nobody's died - you're still alive, life is just incredibly hard for you! There are times when I just don't know what to say. So I thought I'd make a card that said just that.

I know from experience, especially in the early days of chronic long term illness, that I would rather hear from somebody that they have been thinking of me rather than feel isolated not realising others cared. Sometimes just letting someone know you care - and acknowledging there is no 'quick fix' or 'cure', but you are still there - that means the world. You don't have to 'fix' the problem. Just being there is important beyond measure. And if you send a card like this and don't hear back - it's most often not because it's not appreciated. It's appreciated perhaps even more so. So send it with no agenda for a response. Know your efforts will be appreciated, and reciprocated in spirit if not in practice!

Monday, October 7, 2013

Dragonfly

'Dragonfly'

A5 Watercolour, Pitt Pen and Max Factor Max Effect Nailpolish on Paper

Last time I was near a creek I saw two gorgeous buzzing dragonflies. I was captured by them. Their iridescent glow was stimulating to the eye. I tried to take a photo but couldn't get close enough and it just couldn't capture their essence.

Then a friend, Jayne Eldred, posted one of her photos of a dragonfly on her facebook page 'Jayne Eldred Photography' in the album 'Pokolbin, Hunter Valley March 2013.'

Dragonfly by Jayne Eldred Photography

Used with Permission

This photo stunned me. The beauty of the delicate dragonfly, was captured incredibly. I think it's my all-time favourite photo of a dragonfly!

I have a Max Factor Max Effect nail polish in blue that shines green on different angles. I had an idea to draw the dragonfly and colour the body with this nailpolish to get the iridescent effect in different lighting. It's not captured here in the scan, but framed in real life, you can see it shines at different angles.

I drew the dragonfly with pitt pen, coloured the body with nailpolish, then did the background colours with watercolour and detail on the wings of the body with more watercolour.

'Dragonfly'

I am using this design to make 'thank you' and 'sympathy' cards like below:

'Dragonfly - With Gratitude'

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Sympathy Blossoms

'Sympathy Blossoms'

4"x6" watercolour and pitt pen card

A friend asked if I had any cards for the purpose of Sympathy cards. I realised I didn't.

I haven't been well enough to get out the acrylics and do a big painting, but I thought I could try a small watercolour.

I've been noticing cherry blossoms and how beautiful they are and wanted to paint them. I didn't have 'real life' ones so I drew from photos.

I have been reading a beautiful book by Marie Williams, called 'Green Vanilla Tea.' Marie's husband Dominic struggled with Alzheimer's and died in his early 40's. The book is a memoir accounting both the incredible struggles and the wonderful memories of life with Dominic and their two sons Mike and Nic. The love in their family is powerful. It is touching to read.

Cover of 'Green Vanilla Tea' by Marie Williams

(used with permission)

http://mariewilliams.com.au//

I have 'met' Marie Williams online and I dedicate this sympathy card to her and her boys.

I drew the blossoms on my sympathy card, guided from the photo on the cover of the book 'Green Vanilla Tea', only from the other direction and with other colours.

I chose the colour of the blossoms inspired by cherry blossoms in a photograph by a friend, Josie Eldred of -love to be young photography- . I am a huge fan of her beautiful photography - she does the most amazing macro work, and it's even more amazing because she, like me, struggles with ME (Myaglic Encephalomyelitis) and has done since a very young age. So her work is out of passion and painful determination like mine. I loved her macro shot of cherry blossoms

in pink and this inspired the colours of my cherry blossoms on my card.

#cherry blossom #macro

(used with permission)

website: http://www.lovetobeyoungphotography.com/

facebook: -love to be young photography-

So I dedicate this card, with sympathy especially to Marie, Mike and Nic. Also to all who suffer or care for those struggling from chronic illness, especially those who have lost their loved ones.

'Cherry Blossoms'

Original 4"x6" watercolour and pitt pen on paper

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