Meditating with Animals

Meditating with Animals

“I’ve been skeptical that animal communications are even possible. But I opened your book [The Art of Meditating with Cats] and followed directions to think positively about my Sophie, telling her in my mind how much I love her. She’s a loudly yowling kitty, sort of mad at the world but after doing this practice for just a short time, she calmed down and started purring. She’s been much more docile since then. Not totally transformed but much improved. It feels like magic!” – customer note on facebook

Meditation on Joy

The purpose of today’s meditation is to connect with your animal about one of their joys in life.

Find a quiet time to sit or lay down in the same room as your animal (you don’t need to be touching but you can be). Close your eyes and take a few moments to calm your mind, breathe in a natural, relaxed way. Ask your animal to show you something that brings them great joy (they may send you an image, feeling, thought, or you may use your imagination). Let go of any distractions and focus on the feeling of delight your animal is sharing.  When you believe you have understood your animal completely and you are feeling refreshed, you can take a moment to send your animal friend love and gratitude. Gently end the meditation and reconnect with your animal on a physical level by touching or talking out loud.

(Hint: Your animal might choose something like sleeping or eating as their great joy. This is your opportunity to revel in their ability to find joy in simplicity of every day.)

Love, Dawn

Choosing the perfect reference photo

When I draw pet portraits, I follow the reference photo exactly in terms of the animal's position and expression. (Of course my stylized art adds a flare in terms of texture and color.) It is important to send me a reference photo that truly captures the essence of your animal friend. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a photo reference of your pet:

1) Overall vibe. Are you looking to portray them as playful, wild, peaceful, sweet, intense, etc? Look at photos of your animal and notice which aspect of them is most represented. Is this what you want to come through in the finished work?

My cat Owen can look playful, "insane", or peaceful. 

2) Consider the angle of viewing. Are you looking down at the animal? Typically the best reference photo is taken when the camera (person) is eye level rather than standing over the pet. 

Getting down to the rabbit's eye level is much more personable than a photo from above.

There are exceptions to every rule right? I love the shot from above of this dog.

3) The crop. It is usually best to have all of the animal's face showing. We can crop it down if artistically warranted, but it is difficult to draw what is beyond the photo. (Of course I can fill in if it is just an ear tip or bits of whiskers that are missing.) 

Again, there are always exceptions. With a really good refence photo- good lighting and detail- I came up with this fun close-up of a tabby cat sleeping.

4) The quality of the photo is important. I need to be able to zoom in and see details in the eyes and accurate coat color.

Henry to the left has clear, bright, and in-focus features. This is a good quality reference. The center photo is dark but can be lightened and has good features so I could work with it. To the right Henry is dark, blurry and it is hard to determine his coat pattern. This photo would not work as a reference.

When in doubt, email me a bunch of photos and I will coach you on choosing or taking the best reference photo of your animal. If the animal is deceased we will work together to find a photo that I can work from even if the quality is not perfect.

Order a custom pet portrait here.

The Sky is Bigger Today

I have previously written about my journey of healing through vision therapy and prism eye-glasses. It has been a three year process (so far), and frankly a huge life challenge. The short story is that I was really sick with headaches, dizziness, and body aches. Turns out I had been seeing double (and other visual issues) since I was born! These visual issues finally took me "down" when my eyes changed around age 40. During the past three years we (Northampton Vision Specialists and I) gradually changed my glasses prescription and I did vision therapy.

The wild discovery during my treatments was realizing that I had never had depth perception. Actually the wild part was getting depth perception! Last week we made another step forward in my healing with yet another lens prescription change. I put the glasses on and went outside. As I looked up at the sky it was bigger! I don't know how to describe it to you... kind of like if you had been looking at a stream in New Hampshire then looked at the Grand Canyon. Bigger like that! The trees looked firm and a little menacing as I drove home. Every object seemed like it wanted my attention. Nothing was blending anymore. 

As I drove home tears streamed down my cheeks and I had the thought- I will never feel joy again. The whole world looks stern and stark. Then I reminded myself that this is exactly what I have gone through with each visual change, and I have managed to adjust each time. 

My artist journey has been forever changed and shaped by these visual changes. I am so curious to see what I create next week with my newly informed visual system. I am a little scared too. Just being honest!

Love, Dawn