I recently saved this beautiful dragonfly from my pool. It sat in my hand for about 45 minutes, grooming and fluttering it’s wings, attempting to regain its composure after it’s soggy experience. It was such a magical moment for me as I absolutely love these insects and, you guessed it, I love to PAINT them as well.
I had the opportunity, as it sat on my hand (as you can see in the picture above and to your right), to study the intricate patterns on its body, it’s movements — especially its head movements as it can rotate its head almost 360 degrees (something I wouldn’t have believed had I not seen it with my own two eyes!) — and how calm and happy it was to sit in my hand.
Even if it was all in my head, I felt we really bonded.
If you want to see the footage my hubby took, you can watch that HERE (or click on the picture to your right). I also show, in this short video, some of the dragonfly paintings I’ve created recently.
If you want to learn how to paint a dragonfly, please watch my tutorial below 🙂
You can view my art tutorial playlist here:
If you’re more into crafts, or perhaps are looking for something to do with the kids, I also have a craft playlist here:
I’ve just made a 6-minute video revealing what art sells the best in my experience, why my clients like this type of art and what the secret to making sellable art is. Click HERE to watch or on the picture below.
I’d love to share some of my new and tantalizing art from the first half of this year with you today.
This year saw me hitting the ground running with a mini exhibition to paint for at the Karoo Art Hotel in Barrydale (I’m happy to report I sold all 18 mini’s – you can see the collage of paintings below). The theme was anything “Karoo.” If you’d like to know more about what the Karoo is (it’s the part of South Africa I live in), click HERE.
I have some of the paintings above available as prints and products (click on the picture or HERE to visit the store).
Inspiration — The Birds and the Bees!
I looked to Karoo life for my inspiration for my new art. And, of course, my love for gold brings out the magpie in me. Coupling these two passions together, I’ve taken to painting the critters from my garden and the indigenous flowers we have here in South Africa, the protea.
I’ve got a little fella that hangs out in our bamboo reeds in the garden — he’s a bumblebee that we’ve called Mr. Busby. You can see him in the painting below 🙂 All the artworks below are still available, at this time, and are also available as fine art prints and canvas prints — just click on the pictures to take you to my gallery.
We have the most magnificent sunbirds in our garden, they sing the sweetest songs and display incredible colours, predominantly a shimmering emerald green and red chest. You can see then, what inspired my painting below.
The last painting I would like to share with you today is the “Dream Weavers.” These gorgeous bright yellow Cape Weavers are a real treat to watch. They fall from the branches like yellow leaves when we feed them out back in the mornings and evenings. We feel very blessed to have them as regular visitors to our garden.
Thanks for looking! Which painting do you like best? Leave your comments below 🙂
“When you pay attention, you prop the door of your soul ajar to welcome the unexpected and the uncontrolled… . You can’t access your interior landscape by banging down a closed door; you can pencil it in as an appointment on your calendar. Paying attention is a habit forming mind-set that comes with repetition and with intention. You give yourself permissiong to “do nothing.” You create quiet spaces. You open a door.” ― Cindy Crosby, Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural, and Personal History
I’ve been paying a lot of attention to the beautiful red, blue and golden dragonflies that inhabit my garden and they sure have opened doors in my imagination! I watch them on their daily routine as they dip gracefully — drinking water from our small pond, basking on a branch with their magical, glittering wings turned to catch the warmth of the Karoo sun, and flying curiously about my person, possibly wondering what this blonde Goliath is.
If you want proof of God, just take a close look at a dragonfly. Now there’s Intelligent Design for you. They are one of the most stunning creatures to behold with their intricate, delicate wings that shimmer gold and pearlescent silver, their brightly coloured bodies and their robust fragility (they remind a bit of poppies, in that sense).
I’ve taken to painting them in all their majesty (see picture to your left and above in the header).
Animal Spirit Totems
Many cultures around the world believe that seeing certain creatures can represent different messages from spirit.
Here are some interesting traits that seeing the magical dragonfly may represent:
Agility and Adaption – being able to quickly adjust to change.
Transformation – surrendering to the new.
Self-realization – embarking on a journey to inner wisdom and insight.
Good Luck and Abundance – pointing you in the direction of always getting what you need when you need it.
So, if you have been seeing dragonflies everywhere, you can now apply the above to your situation and see if anything rights true to you.
Are you going through any life-changing situations?
Are you stepping into your divine right to be abundant?
Are you able to “think quick” on your feet?
The dragonfly could very well be your animal totem for the moment. Let me know your experiences with seeing dragonflies and what they mean to you in the comment box below.
If you’d like to keep dragonflies close to home, in fact, cuddle up with them at night, then I have these rather fetching art deco-style cushions at my store sporting my latest artworks – add that bit of magic and good fortune to your home decor!
Cherie Roe Dirksen 