The Christmas Pause

Back to the real world! Christmas is such a fun time of year, but there's a strangeness too, whatever you were up to...just gets put on hold, doesn't it? The best part, of course, is pausing to be with...and appreciate...those we love the most. (And yes, Otto did wear his Santa Patrol hat for the special day!)

Everyone complains about the gift giving...about the money, the time, the commercialism of it...but I think gift giving is an essential part of Christmas. It reminds us of the gift God gave to the world, the perfect love of Jesus that we try and fail to emulate.

Good gift giving definitely shows love. It's so wonderful to receive a gift that was well thought out and fits the recipient. This year, I received a beautiful quality bag to be my art studio on the go! Complete with some organizers, I can work on the train or at lunch completely organized and protecting my art. Didn't ask for it, so it was a perfect observation and thought about what I'd like and needed that I didn't even know. Now that's love.

I also received several collage type frames to frame a collection of colored pencil drawings I received from a group of cp artists to thank me for organizing a secret art exchange last summer. I've been wanting to put them up, but have been so busy, and these beautiful frames will tie them all together.

Also received binoculars! I love nature, and we live about a mile due north of a wildlife sanctuary, so often get some visitors in our backyard who fly in from all over. I love to sit outside on a warm spring morning and watch birds who just stopped in for a while, and of course the binoculars will make that an even more enjoyable experience!

Also received cash and gift certificates for art supplies, yay! And a fabulous gift from my wonderful mother and father in law from Florida who called a favorite, local restaurant and got them to send them a gift cert for a great meal out!

So I finish this year feeling very loved. I hope you do, too!

Let's Promote Art!

Let's all promote art. Ever get a survey from a company you bought from? Don't throw it away! Tell them you'd like them to promote art by buying art for their corporate headquarters. Encourage them to be more like Progressive Insurance, which has one of the largest...if not THE largest, private contemporary art collection in the country.

Of course, we can promote art and artists by buying from one another. I know most of us artists already do that because we appreciate the value of owning original art and enjoy it. Buy the gift of art...anyone's original art that you like...for Christmas! You know your recipient's likes...are they a collector of frogs? Find some original frog art, you know you wont' be giving a duplicate if you buy original art!

Any other ideas for promoting art...everyone's original art? Let me know or comment here. If you'd like to see more of MY art, I'd love it! My site is http://robinzebley.com and if you click at the top of this blog on the title, you'll go to the top of this blog and see what's new.

Another Commission!! Tulllie!

Well, after my rant yesterday about the "No Backyard, no Adoption" rule that many rescues have, I think I'll switch gears and show you Tullie! I'll be writing later about how to draw or paint a dog that's WHITE!! But meanwhile, here is is to enjoy.

BTW, have you visited my pet portrait website? It's http://robinzebley.com . Lot's of samples! (And by the way, if you want guaranteed Christmas delivery for a portrait...it's time to order now!)

Robin