#visualmemoir

Each of us animal-lovers can probably trace it back to at least one specific creature who taught us something about the depth of inhuman bonds. For me, that was Smokey, a 20-lb brown tabby cat who was significantly larger than my ~6 lbs when my parents brought me home. Smokey was crotchety and definitely gave me a few good licks in my toddlerhood, but he was incredibly tolerant of my grabby hands most of the time and according to my parents sought out my company. Many blurry early-90's photos corroborate this. Smokey was a cat of legends: he stole turkey carcasses, broke up dogfights, and attacked my dad anytime I squealed while being tickled. He came to the US with us from Germany, and was our family's companion until he died a grizzled old man in Georgia. Since Smokey, a cat has never been far from my side (and even now Gali is staring at me, demanding bedtime). Thanks, 'Moke, for getting me started on a life of loving non-human creatures. #memories #30years #30paintings #smokey #catperson #acrylic #painting #cat #catnanny #firstfriend #catlove #goodboy #germancat #visualmemoir (at Nuremberg) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxyc1VUFjcl/?igshid=1bbqfy9a5nfkr

We moved to the United States when I was three and I had a brand new sister (@ellynupdike ). I don't remember our first house in Georgia especially well, but I do remember watching the dogs play in the backyard, and these red berries growing over the fence that were fun to squish (but not eat). I also remember lizards. I don't know when I would have first encountered them, but these little anoles would become the fixture of much of my time spent outside--watching them, chasing them, bringing them into the house occasionally, being summoned to remove them from the house occasionally--to this day the sight of an anole inspires both love and a hunting instinct, though I have more respect for their personal space now. Smokey may have gotten me started on a love of animals in general, but these guys instilled the fascination with wild creatures. #30years #30paintings #anole #lizard #greenanole #southernchildhood #memories #notmyfavpaintingbutohwell #hourandahalfpainting #acrylic #acrylicpainting #art #illustration #visualmemoir #herps #pinetree (at Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5fv4RAZeK/?igshid=1myapi0yn59v9

Unexpectedly encountering a fire salamander was a not-uncommon occurence according to my mother. We lived in a house on the side of a mountain, looking down into the valley, and there was a lot of wildlife (inside and outside of the house). Mom says that in the evenings you could hear the church bells from the town below. I have almost no personal memory of Germany, since we left when I was so very young--but these stories and the pictures and videos from this era (including many photos of fire salamanders!) are fixed in my heart. I wish I had personal memories of these beautiful animals. Apparently they can live upwards of fifty years, though--so perhaps I can go and visit the ones that startled my mom when I was a baby! #30years #30paintings #germany #firesalamander #1990 #acrylic #painting #visualmemoir #reflection #gratitude #onehourpainting #learning #growth (at Tiefenellern, Bayern, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxupCBSFQwP/?igshid=1ia2mni3nljfu

kearifan lokal✔️ . . #visualmemoir (at Galeri Indonesia Kaya By Djarum Foundation.)

but I don’t need to burn anymore. 

acrylic on paper 

acrylic on paper 

acrylic on paper