B ' Twee You & Me - Blog
Susie E Caron
Pet & Wildlife Artist
For Love & Memories
Twee' Art LLC
Susie E Caron
Pet & Wildlife Artist
For Love & Memories
Twee' Art LLC
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Twee' Freebie Butterfly to Color or Paint
Susie E Caron ((c) 2020 Let's paint this butterfly. Butterflies are fun to paint for beginners to advanced artists. Here's how: 1. Download the two files of the photo and instructions. Assemble your choice of colored pencils or crayons, markers, watercolor or acrylic paints. Lay out paper for an 8x10 painting. Get some water to rinse brushes too. 2. After deciding what colors you wish to paint this butterfly (they come in every color imaginable) select those colors and prepare them. (Wet the watercolors you wish to use.) 3. Using Black color or paint in every black line and space except the legs and antennae. (You can do those later.) Be careful to look careful to follow my example. This will help you learn to observe, color accurately and improve your fine motor eye-hand coordination. 4. Now choose one color and a set #1 of areas to fill in. Do the same or a different color in #2 and #3. 5. Before you paint the body, legs and antennae, it's time to color the flower with any color you wish. You will want to use either one color in lighter and lighter shades as you move from petals to petals, or choose three different colors, such as red for the lower part, pink in the middle and white at the top. Have fun. Do the same, using various shades of green for the bud and stem. 6. Finally, paint the body of the butterfly a light shade of one of you wing colors. Use a bit of the light color mixed with a tiny bit of black to show some detail on the face and body. 7. Now with a really tiny brush or pen put in the legs and antennae. All finished? Good for you. Now sign your name and find a good place to post your beautiful butterfly art work. Please share your art and your kids artistic productions and comment what you enjoyed. Got any suggestions for a Twee' Freebie? Let me know. Thank you, Susie
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 May I Pray With You? Susie E Caron (c) 7/24/2020 All I said was this: “May I pray with you?” My Mother began to cry. First came her tears then aging hands covered her face as she sobbed. I waited, resting my hand gently on her shoulder, not wanting to interrupt her feelings. When her crying subsided, she looked at me and quietly said, “No one ever asked me this before.” I grew up in a middle-class family in a quiet neighborhood in New Jersey. Until in teens our family attended a little Methodist church only two blocks from home. We usually walked and enjoyed friendships with our neighbors and church community. Since my parents lived in that home all their lives, I felt taken aback by her comment. My mind reflected on all the wonderful Christian women we’d known as family friends and more specifically my Mother’s friends. Her words caught me by surprise, but I was not about to let this opportunity go. “I will pray with you.” I replied quietly. Then, simply the way one talks with a friend. I asked the Lord to “hear my Mother’s heart and answer her prayer with peace and wisdom.” We held hands. My Mom quietly cried throughout. When we said “Amen”, she thanked me. We hugged and moved on to our activities for the day. However, I will never forget the lesson I learned that day and always treasured our special, shared, intimate moment. I regularly see requests for prayer on social media. Many respond with a praying hands emojis. Others write the word ‘praying’. Both indicate the commenter intends to pray, or they may stop and pray right away. Sometimes we see a written prayer in the comments, to which others add “Amen.” All this is good. I too am personally happy to pray for others, day and night, whenever I see a request. I wonder what more we can do? What more can we do? Perhaps, whenever possible we can ask if a person would like us to pray with them. Going to the Lord together is scriptural and precious to both the Lord and to those taking part. It only takes an opportunity and this simple question: “May I pray with you?” Perhaps this whole idea of praying with another seems difficult for you? Here are 3 tips for praying with others.
When you have both said Amen offer a hug if appropriate, or a pat on the shoulder or shake hands and commit them in your heart to God. Don’t continue to talk about the situation unless he or she wants to. If you believe this person has needs you cannot help, whether physical, menta or emotional, gently offer to help them find someone who can. Postscript Throughout her life My Mother never revealed to me the content of her personal struggle. I knew God understood and felt assured He could handle it. Many years later my Mother said this: “You remember that thing I asked you to pray for? It got taken care of.” She seemed pleased and acknowledged God answered her prayers. We hugged again and I whispered, “Thank you My Lord and My God.” From that 1st time we prayed together going forward I never took for granted that someone I knew, especially perhaps the ones I considered the ‘most spiritual’ had anyone to pray with them. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:19-20   Tubes of acrylic paint. Artist’s Hack- Waste Acrylics No More! Susie E Caron © 7/17/2020 Versatile acrylic paint provides hours of fun. However, those frustrating, wasteful tubes of acrylic paint can make this artist cranky. My search for a solution may save you time and money. The Problem with Tubes Small tubes never last. The large ones dry out too soon. Large or small they clog or squirt out more than wanted. The small opening design makes it also impossible to put any unused paint back inside for later. Plus, it always feels like more should come out of the tube. I thought maybe paint in jars might solve the problem.  Jars found in my home. The Problem with Jars I discovered not all acrylic colors come in jars. Of artist’s acrylics that do, jars range from 4 – 16oz sizes. However, acrylics tend to dry out quickly. The frequent opening of jars to remove paint means the tops and inside edges dry out, so nasty lumps form. Perhaps jars commonly found at home could help? The Problem with Household jars I knew smaller amounts of acrylic paint could be placed into assorted 2-4 oz jars So I tried empty containers like these, which were used for the following: medication (didn’t seal well) bouillon cubes (too hard to remove the label) tiny jelly sized canning jars (flat lids stuck fast to the jars) dark empty yeast jars (dark was no fun) and face cream jars (a possibility but how many????) Face Cream Jars presented one problem The face cream jars seemed useful. They were just the right size for small amounts of paint and sealed well. The wide top made it easy to take paint out and to put back in any unused, uncontaminated amounts. I topped off the paint inside each one before closing with a light water spray at the end of a day’s use. This worked very well. My paint remained fresh. I wasted very little because I could use what I wanted and put the remainder back. However, being an impatient artist I wanted more jars quickly.  One good 2 oz jar. Where Oh Where to Find Perfect Jars? I searched the web for glass jars and found them in 2-4 oz sizes with white screw lids on dickblick.com and bought two. These seemed perfect but they only sold as singles. Amazon.com carried them in boxes of 24 - 2oz clear glass jars with white screw on lids, at a much better price, so I bought those.  Beginning to fill & label 2 - 4 oz jars Mission Accomplished When they arrived, I put paint into each and dabbed a bit of the color and labeled the lids for easy identification. The lids sat tightly so my paint never dried out. After each use I wiped the glass rims with a damp paper towel or tissue before tightening down. Every now and then I misted the inside top for added assurance. To refill, remove or return paint to and from jars I used a pallet knife. I haven’t struggled with clogging, squirting or waste. If I could just figure out how to get that last bit out of the tubes when emptying them……..  Glass jars of acrylics in my easy access drawer. I hope this acrylic painting hack helps you.
Perhaps it may have inspired you to solve a different problem you’ve encountered. Let me know either way. I’d love to hear from you.  Photo, courtesy of Elizabeth Wilkel, Photographer, (c) 2019 Hidden Reasons Susie Caron (c) 2020 This winter I diverged for a moment from my usual pet portrait subjects to paint a Water Lily. A Water Lily is not my usual subject. I prefer to make animals appear to ‘come to life’ in pet portraits and enjoy the love of pets and their relationships with their humans. My choice of subjects rarely, if ever focus upon the flora of our world. However, this tiny Lily seemed to call to me. She’d arrived this past fall in a collection of reference photos from a friend. What did I see? I looked at this photo and noticed she seemed a bit lonely. Perhaps I projected my own feelings onto her solitariness. I’d continued to shelter in place for several months over concerns about contracting Covid-19. Perhaps the lonely one was me? Investigating the photo further, I wondered what tiny animals may lived with her, beneath her, and around her. The mysterious life cycles abounding in ponds and streams provides a lot to be imagined. Maybe my curiosity about animal life hidden there drew me in. I wondered if I might also decide to paint a small fish, frog or dragon fly within. Secrets? Intrigued, I began painting and a lovely image emerged. I enjoyed it so much, once framed, I hung it in my working art studio and it reminded me every day of my friend. As sometimes happens, with one or another painting, this Lily began to feel like it needed to go home to my friend Liz. I had not posted this painting on social media. I think I kept it secret, subconsciously knowing someday it would belong with my friend. The day came when my husband who needed to travel for an appointment, would drive near her home. I asked him if he would stop by and give it to her. I texted my friend to make sure she’d be home because I had something for her. I didn’t tell her exactly what was coming. An Unexpected Gift & Confirmation My friend Liz loved the unexpected gift of the painting. She told me she’d previously selected her original photo for computer wall paper. That assured me I’d chosen the right one to paint and to give. Liz was happy to receive it and I was happy The Water Lily Penumbra arrived in her care and home. One more question. Did I hide any additional tiny creatures in this painting? What can you see? Also How do you think paintings finding their forever homes? I'd love to hear from you.  Water Lily Penumbra, 8x10 Acrylic Painting, Susie E Caron (c) 2020 Thank you for visiting. Come again soon. Hugs and Blessings, Susie
 To Create & Demolish My Art Susie E Caron (c) 2020 Painting, is my pleasurable service to pet portrait customers. However, sadly, in every artist’s life there comes a time to destroy one or more ‘stored’ paintings. It may be for different reasons and different for every artist. Yesterday it happened to me. I approach destruction of my art with reluctance. I feel like part of me and the imagined recipient, who I keep in mind while painting, are somehow inextricably linked. It hurts to think of hurting anything so precious. My collection grew. Early in my art career I painted all kinds of animals. One by one I added them to the walls of our tiny log home. I treasured each creative accomplishment and basked in the pleasure I felt, surrounded by my ‘animal life.’ The day came when I noticed my new creations appeared vastly improved from earlier works. I ignored this and added more to our walls. I couldn’t I bring myself to remove the older ones and tear them up! I further rationalized keeping them in two ways. I figured when I died my early art would become collector’s items. Conversely, I envisioned that my kids, with tear- filled-eyes after my funeral, would want every single painting from our home. (Right!?) That’s not how it usually works My husband frequently warned me that instead of these two scenarios, much of my art would more likely end up in a dumpster. Alternatively, the kids could hold an estate sale and ‘get rid of’ everything for pennies. (Leftovers to go in the dumpster anyway.)
Still I hesitated. From my early careers teaching, psychology and raising kids I knew that toys taken away from young children before they are ready to ‘donate or toss,’ can cause experience of loss. Not like a death but akin to it. The loss reflects some unfinished business of personality development. I knew that portions of personality get cast onto toys, studied and manipulated, later to be reabsorbed. Suddenly taking them away too soon interrupts portions of personality growth. Most of us ‘get over it’ and grow anyway, but it can be difficult for children, or in this case for me and my art.
Destruction I reluctantly removed three victims off their hooks and out of their frames. As if saying ‘goodbye’, I softly thanked them for the opportunity to paint their likenesses. Then I picked up scissors and plunged into the first canvas back. As I tore canvas from backing, I wanted to close my eyes so as not to see the image. The second painting seemed easier and by the third I ripped and pulled with energy. (Was I enjoying this?) ( “No animals were harmed or killed during this process.”) “Okay, so I didn’t die,” I thought. Happily, as far as I can tell no portions of my ‘self’ or personality hurt either. Then I looked up at the bare wall spaces. Dust and wall yawned at me. They appeared to beckon, begging me to fill them once again. What to paint? What to paint? Oh, What to paint?
Thank you for reading. Post a comment and sign up to Susie’s Twee’ Art News and Views for freebies and coupons coming your way. Susie  A Special Invitation for Memorial Day Celebration
Susie E Caron (5/23/2020) I invite you to join us to celebrate special! We all know Memorial Day is more than barbecues and parades. memorial Day honors our US armed force persons who died fighting for our freedom. This year most traditional Memorial Day celebrations cancelled due to the coronavirus. We may not be going to parades, large gatherings or vacations. However, this year something very special is planned and you are invited. I learned from CBS"s On the Road feature that Steve Hartman, coordinating with retired Air Force bugler Jari Villanueva plans to celebrate across the USA in a special way. They ask all "veterans, musicians, teachers, and students of all abilities and ages to sound Taps on their front lawns, porches, and driveways at 3 p.m. local time this Monday, May 25th." ( https://tinyurl.com/ybf2f7om ) What a fantastic idea! Can you imagine the sound... the feeling....the silence.... For certainly while remembering our heroes we will also recall we are one people. One Nation Under God. Get ready! Get set! Get out your Bugles and Trumpets or other appropriate musical instruments. But Wait!!! What if you cannot play the Bugle or Trumpet and don't know anyone who does? What if, like me, you don't live in a neighborhood where you may get to hear this wonderful music bringing tears and remembrance to us all? I've got you covered. Here is a link to listen on You Tube to the beautiful tones of Taps: https://tinyurl.com/ojvs5dh Please join me and the entire nation at 3 p.m. Monday May 25, 2020 to listen to or play taps in remembrance of all those who gave their lives to make us free. If you'd like more information how you can participate here's the link: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-participate-in-steve-hartmans-taps-across-america/ Thank you for reading. Tell me how you feel about this special celebration and who you'll remember on this day. click on "Comments" above this article. Have a wonderful, memorable Memorial Weekend and Day.  Twee' Freebie Butterfly
Susie E Caron (c) 2020 Let's paint this butterfly. Butterflies are fun to paint for beginners to advanced artists. Here's how: 1. Download or screen copy the photo. Assemble your choice of colored pencils or crayons, markers, watercolor or acrylic paints. Lay out paper for an 8x10 painting. Get some water to rinse brushes too. 2. After deciding what colors you wish to paint this butterfly (they come in every color imaginable) select those colors and prepare them. (Wet the watercolors you wish to use.) 3. Using Black color or paint in every black line and space except the legs and antennae. (You can do those later.) Be careful to look careful to follow my example. This will help you learn to observe, color accurately and improve your fine motor eye-hand coordination. 4. Now choose one color and a set #1 of areas to fill in. Do the same or a different color in #2 and #3. 5. Before you paint the body, legs and antennae, it's time to color the flower with any color you wish. You will want to use either one color in lighter and lighter shades as you move from petals to petals, or choose three different colors, such as red for the lower part, pink in the middle and white at the top. Have fun. Do the same, using various shades of green for the bud and stem. 6. Finally, paint the body of the butterfly a light shade of one of you wing colors. Use a bit of the light color mixed with a tiny bit of black to show some detail on the face and body. 7. Now with a really tiny brush or pen put in the legs and antennae. All finished? Good for you. Now sign your name and find a good place to post your beautiful butterfly art work. Please share your thoughts and finished art in the me in comments. I'd also love to know what other templates you may desire. Let me know.  Waiting for Mother’s Day Susie E Caron (May 9, 2020) I could not wait for my first Mother’s Day. When years past without children, we hoped to adopt. Roe v Wade had just passed and our social worker cautioned us, it could be a while. However, love won out and an infant came into our home. The first time I held our baby boy, ( and later our tiny baby girl) I knew life would be full and I planned to love every minute. Over the next nearly a year, we loved and cared for our little one. Anxiously awaiting the final adoption decree. I wondered and worried a bit too. It couldn’t come soon enough. However, by that late winter our son became truly and forever our own. I couldn’t wait for Mother's Day. What an honor to be the Mommy to this beautiful, wonderful tiny human. My first Mother's day arrived with cards and happy wishes from family and friends. I still remember how I felt, so amazed to be a Mother. I had longed for this day. I planned to enjoy and take seriously the privilege and purpose set before us: to raise our child to be a responsible adult who also contributes to society. Almost two years later, we were blessed with a tiny baby girl. Once again my heart filled with wonder at these precious answers to my prayers. Happy Blessings continued! Just before moving to Vermont, we received our lovely daughter's final adoption decree. Over the years we played with our children, taught them how to work, and admonished them to always behave well. We prayed and watched over them, but we did not coddle them, or solve problems for them. When they had difficulties, we worked with them to help solve their issues. We regularly counseled them about the necessity for integrity, honesty and kindness. As they each grew into early adulthood, we remained watchful in our mission, often from a distance. We did not interfere. However, (and whether they welcomed it or not) our occasional guidance was sometimes necessary. As they passed into their third decade, our ‘help’ and ‘advice’ was seldom needed. They had reached adult self-actualization and all we wanted was for them to be happy and safe. This year our two kids moved into the population of 40 & over adults. They engineer their own, lives to fit their interests, intellects and skills, and they continue to make us very proud. They know how to enjoy success as good fun in work and in life and they continue to display honesty, integrity and kindness. Now retired, our lives have changed and I feel a bit differently about this Mother’s Day. This year, while my kids celebrate Mother's Day for two- MomB & MomC, we also all get to celebrate our 'shared' daughter's First Mother's Day. This feels especially wonderful. Her mother and I are delighted to enjoy the pleasure of being Grandmothers! With the circle of life completed by the birth of Max, our Grandson, I want to thank our kids. I want to thank them for being born, for being adorable as infants, toddlers, preschoolers and right into public school years and adulthood. I thank them for fulfilling my mission of becoming their Mother. I thank them for all the hours, days, weeks, months and years of delight in their antics, compassion for their wounds, and excitement for their accomplishments. In essence on this special Mother's Day, I thank them most of all for their love and for allowing me to love them and pray for them always.
 Downy Chick, 8x10 acrylic painting, now available in little art print at https://Joyclee.com/susie-caron-art/ Something’s Missing Susie E Caron (4/25/2020) Since March, the rapid spread of Covid – 19 caused much of normal life and work to stop. As a retired person, turned full time artist, I like being at home. I only venture out occasionally for groceries, medicines and appointments. However, after three weeks of 'shelter in place' I felt a slight yearning I could not explain… Something was missing. The third week in April, a few businesses reopened so we took our car to get the summer tires put on. The auto repair owner asked that we respect health care guidelines and put our keys in the key drop box. At home, I tucked them into an envelope and thought to add a note. I wrote, “Thank you”, followed by our names. Later that day the owner called to tell me I could pick up the car. However, I was a little surprised when she first said, “Thank you for your card. It meant so much to us!” I replied a bit sheepish, “It was just a little thing.” She continued to insist it had meant ‘everything’ to them all. Suddenly, I wished I had done something more. As I pondered our exchange, I realized I needed human contact. Even brief contact, of daily encounters with neighbors, businesses, and those I know as friends can make a difference. Social media seems to help but it really is not enough. Just a few words, a kind thought, a joke shared in a card, by phone, and in person makes life rich. Because of the auto repair owner’s unsolicited reaction to my feeble card (one stashed in a drawer for ‘someday) I knew I needed to do ‘something more.’ However, stay at home and social distancing prevented shopping or visiting. My timely remedy appeared through a local business. Dan Pattullo , owner of the Village Frame Shoppe, recently provided a new service for customers like me. In early March Dan recognized a need. He produced an adjunct web site to his Village Frame Shoppe. Joyclee.com offers little art prints (4x6 inches, ready to fit in 5x7 inch frames). Customers may select fine art prints from the list of participating artists. They fill out a message to be enclosed along with the address of the recipient. (There are also message suggestions in a drop-down menu) The art print, message, envelop, and mailing are all done for customers for $7.00 each! What could be easier? Along with other artists, Dan invited me to join Joyclee. Eager to be a part of this service I offered my pet and wildlife prints to the site. Within a month Joyclee.com added more artists displaying a larger variety of artistic subjects and styles. I feel humbled and grateful for the person who helped me to recognize how much personal contact was missing in my life. Now as a Joyclee.com customer and I can easily send a little art print with thanks, love and gratitude to those I care for.  Monarch - 1, 8x10 acrylic painting now as a little art print at https://joyclee.com/susie-caron-art/ PS: Order this weekend (4/24-4/26/2020) & you'll find a 15% off popup coupon at https://joyclee.com/susie-caron-art/ Hint: Use the code SCART Click Comment above article and Tell me: How are you connecting with people you love, admire and want to thank? Tell me what you think of this idea and service? What do you do to stay in touch?  POSTITIVE CHILDHOOD INFLUENCE - LIFELONG IMPACT Susie E Caron (4/20/2020) You may never know how you influenced a child's life, this side of heaven, but you may catch a peek. I recently posted an old photo of me and my horse on FaceBook. My nephew who, as a youngster had lived nearby for only a few short years, responded in a comment. He wrote about enjoying family activities around our barn and in our home and his words touched me. “I can’t thank you enough for the memories…….You really had a special home up there and helped instill some great values in me. Those really are some of my favorite childhood memories. Thank you so much.” How kind of him to share this with me. I was happy to be part of his childhood. Now, knowing how much he enjoyed it and his memories I felt a special blessing. Do you recall the first person who positively impacted your life? I do.  In the summer after my third grade elementary school year, a family with 6 kids moved into our neighborhood. I regularly joined them to play tag and kick ball, stopping only briefly to drink lemonade together at their rough- hewn picnic table. One swelteringly hot summer day they invited me inside for our drinks. Their home appeared different from ours. The tattered furniture and bare floors revealed they did not have much. However, they were kind to one another and laughed a lot. As I drank my lemonade from a plastic cup, the other kids pulled out some books to show me. Peering over my drink I noticed a full bookcase near the kitchen. On the top shelf a collection of big shiny new Encyclopedia Britannicas appeared. They eagerly pulled these out for me to see. I didn’t know these books. I’d never seen an encyclopedia before. The shelves in our home held vases and nicknacks. The only books I read, besides school lesson books, were those packed into dusty shelves in each old school room. Our family read newspapers and magazines, but we didn’t have this many books. Their Mother must have noticed how I hesitated to touch them because she approached me asking, “What would you like to know about? What interests you?” I had never been asked such a question nor had I thought about it. Thinking quickly, I recalled my favorite 3rd grade book about Dolphins, so I said, “I like Dolphins.” She opened the book and showed me how to use it to find information about Dolphins and anything else I wanted to know. She left me sitting cross-legged on the floor with the big book across my lap. I imagined how all knowledge was in my hands and could now flood my brain. Awestruck by the possibilities, I hoped I could stay all day.  The next summer the family moved away and I missed them, especially their Mother. It wasn’t until adulthood that I understood how she had impacted me and my life going forward. That long ago summer day, she’d noticed me and asked about my interests. She valued books and shared them. She showed me how to look in them for answers. I felt trusted and special when she left me alone for a time to read. She demonstrated that she knew I could think, and I could ask questions and find answers and read for myself. Essential to my growth, she believed in me. Obviously I’ve never forgotten her. What’s more? From that day on I looked for those persons who believed in me and encouraged me. I found them, one by one, and navigated life like someone moving successfully from stone to stone in a busy stream. Funny that only by looking back though the years am I able to recognize who positively impacted my life. I feel warm gratitude for their presence in my early life and I thank God for them now. COMMENTS? Who positively influenced you in childhood? What did they do that meant so much to you? How has their influence impacted your life? |
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About SusieSusie Caron, acrylic artist, creates realistic paintings of pets, animals, and selected scenes. Her love of and experience with many pets and farm animals throughout her life, enables her to capture the unique feeling and expression of each subject. In her commission pet and livestock portraits, Susie also works with each customer to discover and then reveal the personality and special bond between pet and human. CategoriesArchives
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