Wednesday, March 22

Scribble Picnic: Fairies


Fairies are upon us for this picnic! And here's my take. With lots of work lately,  I only jumped on this around 8pm Tuesday night and now that it's 10:15pm, this is where this piece will have to end. Got to get some sleep! Who knows, maybe I'll dream about some of these mystical flights of fancy? The reality is that while I do believe in angels, spirits, etc, I'm not terribly into fairy folk-lore per se, but they definitely did have their place within in English culture, particularly whilst growing up.

Speaking of which, I have actually, oddly enough, had an "experience" with "fairies," if you will, believe it or not. While most likely sparked by imagination and sleep, I still remember it distinctly all these decades later! When I was about 6 and my younger sister around 5, we had just moved to London where we shared a room and would talk to each other each night, full of excitement at the sounds of the city and the street lights below. One night I dreamt that before falling asleep, between our two beds in the middle of the room, sparkling lights started glowing just above the carpet — and there they were — tiny fairies joining hands and dancing in a circle, full of glee! Merrily, they went round and round, some fluttering up and down, others just running or skipping like little kids. Both my sister and I were utterly enthralled, our eyes and mouths literally wide open with wonder.

Waking up the next morning and thinking about what a vivid and unexpected dream I had that night, my sister then started telling me about her own dream. And guess what? It was the exact same as mine! Even at such a young age, I imagined that one of us must have kind of entered the others' dream or something...or was it real somehow? While fun to imagine the latter, my mind was more intrigued with the notion of dreams, even at that age. (I've always remembered my dreams, often a handful each night actually, and all of them very vivid to the smallest details — like noticing loose threads on clothing or what have you. Mind you, all pretty random and pointless too! Hahaha.)

And so here I am today, still enthralled with that sense of wonder. That is where the child-like heart comes alive, after all. As my dear mother often would say, "...there are far more things in this universe seen than unseen, Michael." Faith aside, I really do feel that love between people, music and art can help capture that sense of the intangible in its various forms. And so with that, I'm wondering, just how did you capture something like FAIRIES, of all things? I included this theme, knowing quite a few of you really love drawing them. Time then to sign up below and show us your very own fairy picnic! I'll be sure to pop by later, merrily even, leaving a comment for each of you but perhaps not dancing a jig or anything quite that exciting, sorry to say. :)

(Do be sure to pop back here tomorrow, Thursday, for a special sneak peek at the next giveaway.)

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18 comments

  1. Your fairy piece is magical Michael, I enjoyed reading your story to go with it! That was a wonderful childhood memory.

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    1. Ha, well it's a fun one I haven't thought of in years and years but when coming up with the themes, I remembered that many of our fellow artists love fairies so what a perfect theme...and story to go with it. :) Thank you, Christine.

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  2. Michael,
    I agree with your mom - there are things unseen. And children are closer to the unseen than adults who have lived in this world longer. I really enjoyed your memories. Lovely painting. The fairy is shining the light to the world. Beautiful.
    Blessings,
    Janis

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  3. I love your take on the Fairy theme, Michael...LOVE her flaming red hair! And what a great story/memory from your childhood too! How awesome that you remember your dreams so vividly. I find that, if I don't write my dreams down, I will have forgotten them by morning...even the ones I think are too profound to forget. I do occasionally get up through the night to note a dream down if I think it might hold some special meaning.

    Your childhood story makes me think of an experience my sister and I had when we were in our late teens, early 20's, except it involved a spirit and we were wide awake. That is one experience I remember very vividly to this day.

    Enjoy the rest of your week! :)

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    1. You will have to write that down on your blog one of these day, Serena! :) Thank you. Whilst your dreams may well hold special meaning for you, mine are most definitely works of angst or such! :)

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  4. dream or real, it sounds wonderful and certainly it makes a great story to tell. I'm the opposite, I can't remember anything I dream except bits and pieces.

    wonderful, sort of abstract take on the fairy theme, I like the loose strokes, lines, this makes me think more of angels than fairies, looks great

    have a lovely day.

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  5. What a precious story. I think the more we know about our artist friends, and the reason behind the drawings make it so much more personal. I love dreams...I dream a lot, but never had the delight of sharing in someone else dream. What a blessing for you and your little sister. I is so much "unknown" and I love to find myself in those dream places. Great illustration too...it carries me away.....far far away....sigh****

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  6. Loved the story of your and sister sharing a dream!!!! Your mother's words were certainly wise Michael.
    Your lovely fairy - very sophisticated in that emerald dress - sailing through the night sky with a candle. On her way to a dance perhaps.
    Lovely thoughts, and your story was amazing.
    Mary -

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    1. I wish I had had more time to finish this up and it could have been tighter, more magical! :) Thank you for your wonderful write ups here and with everyone. So appreciated.

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  7. ooooh, I love her flaming red hair - how apropo to be carrying a lit candle to illuminate the darkness in such a magical way. What a wonderful memory you shared. I think that children are more open to seeing things we as adults do not anymore. Those fairies must have trusted your innocence.

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    1. Maybe so. I don't think my sister woudl even remember it now, all these decades later but I recall it like it was yesterday. So amazing still. Funny as I have not thought about it in ages.

      Yes, a light in the darkness--- I like that. had not thought of that really but jsut wanted to show her blue aura of sorts. Only wish I had been able to spend more that the 90 mins or so knocking this out1 I may revisit it one day. :) Thank you.

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  8. I so enjoyed your childhood experience, thank you for sharing that. I love that you and your sister shared it and still remember.

    So long ago I sat down to do my first angel writing. Attempting to talk to angels and write down the conversation. I had an experience very much as you shared. With inner sight I saw little beings frolicking in a circle, laughing, dancing, throwing flower petals, singing, all about joy and sprinkling it down on earth and the universe. I thought they were angles, but a couple days later it donned on me, fairies! I love how similar your experience was.

    Your art is lovely and feels a bit like an angel to me as well.

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    1. Wow, that is really amazing, Tammie! Magical indeed. Definitely similar too. Thank you for sharing. Yes, could be an angel but that would have to be a super big candle and candle holder too! :) Thank you for your lovely comment.

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  9. What a strong fairy, carrying that candle and holder nearly her size. Here's hoping she doesn't fly so fast that the flame blows out!

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  10. I love the rendering of that fairy Michael! And what a wonderful experience you shared. . . thank you!

    I want to just share this thought. In my own life, I had such experiences around that age too. More than my share I think. Now, after 40 years of carrying and exploring them, I've come to think that what they are/were is simply this: When we are children, I believe we are so much more in tune with the "other-worlds" if you will. Not yet closed to them. Perhaps, from the moment of our birth, we are losing that connection as the world around us, (our parents, schooling, religion, history etc.) tries to ready us for this worlds "reality". But how can I discount what I know was real? And I say "real" because, having always had such an active imagination I know what was created and what simply happened both in dreaming and waking moments. And for all of us there seems to haven someone or something that was the conduit. For me it was my grandfather. Perhaps, like your mum, a guardian of that connection?

    In my heart, I've made it a point of working with everything I have to return, in some small way, to that world, to create that space and openness and to reconnect. I may never again have moments as vivid and tangible as those in my childhood but I can't lose sight of the fact they've formed me, aided me and saved my life once, quite literally.

    Thank you for your art and expression Michael!

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