So berry good with rabbit holes
Adventures with berries, rabbits and liking things
My friend
recently asked me if I've done any sketchbook pages with berries in them. It so happens that just as she asked I was working on this sketchbook page that has blueberries and a strawberry.
And here are some more drawings of berries in my kitchen sketchbook that I published with my wife
titled “Favorites So Far" … printed book here. Anyhoo our favorite recipes with berries in them as seen in my kitchen sketchbook 👇
Then my friend Neha who writes
said that my art had inspired one of her poems about rabbit holes and adventures… (here's her poem 👇)
… and she asked me if I'd ever drawn rabbits. My answer: Yes!! In fact I have a 5 piece painting titled “In The Rabbit Hole” currently in a one-person exhibit titled “Figures Of Speech”! You can see more details of each individual rabbit painting (and about my exhibit) in this link https://sueclancy.com/portfolio/figures-of-speech/
In my 5 painting sequence “In The Rabbit Hole" there are rabbits playing music, painting and reading… and the subject matter for the ‘mural’ being painted by all of the rabbits is their favorite vegetables. 🤣 Anyhoo all of the elements I depict are also “rabbit holes of self-care" that I personally enjoy.
This rabbit hole adventure of self discovery and awareness is one I've frequently taken. For example I wrote and illustrated a book for kids titled “This Rabbit”. (Printed book available here) It's about rabbits who know what they like to do and I ask the reader to think about what they like to do. Knowing what you like is an important skill to maintain all of your life because our preferences change over time and as adults it's easy to get caught up in adult stuff and disconnect from your own self awareness.
As I created my book This Rabbit I selected activities, to write a poem about and illustrate, that I personally like or that someone I know likes. I was creating multiple tiny “nods" of affection to my friends and myself. The finished children's book was a fruit, so to speak, of my draw-a-bunny-a-day project that I did and shared during the lockdown phase of the pandemic.
You can read my entire book This Rabbit for free as an ebook on Storyberries here https://www.storyberries.com/bedtime-stories-this-rabbit-free-kids-books-online/
Neha from
asked me to tag some other creative person who likes going on adventures and making discoveries - as part of an open invitation to creatives, writers, and artists who wish to take the opportunity to share their own rabbit holes and adventures. I’m having a hard time picking just one creative person so I'm tagging a few whose work I like a lot……and of course everyone is welcome to share and or tag some artist or newsletter that they like - either in the comments below, on Substack Notes or their own newsletter.
What if we're here on Earth just to love and like people, animals and things?
I hope your weekend is full of things you already know that you like and that you discover some new favorites.
I love your creativity! Now I want some berries
Thank you for bringing me in on this creative effort, Sue. I'm a bit stymied as to what to do or write, but this one scene popped into my brain while reading this post and won't go away. Must mean something, right?
One morning, I was feverishly clipping away at a bush that was burying other plants As my clipper snapped at the branches and twigs, I saw something flitting about on the bush. Finally I stopped and looked. My God! It was a Praying Mantis. A tiny Praying Mantis about two inches tall trying to stay out of harm's way. I picked it up and marveled at its magnificent form. It rested in my palm as I decided what to do with the poor wee beastie. At last, I put it on the edge of the birdbath so it could get a drink, but it scurried away to shelter elsewhere.
It was the only praying mantis I've ever seen and since then have not seen another in the garden. During my summers "grooming" this little slice of paradise, I've become aware that whole communities live amongst the growth. They've presented dramas to watch as I sit in the swing. I try to use clippers and weed-whackers cautiously so I don't injure or kill someone. My watering and other bumblings about have threatened a few of these little neighbors upon occasion. It's hard to think of myself as a facetious and careless god ruling over natural habitat. The community changes over time, but any changes I make to it are considered with care for the critters who allow me to live in their space.