Tikal!

I'm celebrating. I finally reached 10,000 blog hits since putting up my stat counter. Maybe not a big number for some. But pretty good for a blog that has anything to do with art. If I had a blog completely devoted to kitten photos of course I'd have a million hits. Tikal fits the bill for celebration posts. It is so grand. Here is one of our first glimpses of the ruins.

Tikal is the largest excavated pre-Hispanic site in the Americas. The National Park covers 222 square miles of jungle within Guatemala's largest protected area. Its 3,000+ structures housed up to 130,000 souls in its heyday. This photo shows the 144 foot Temple of the Giant Jaguar.

This Temple stands directly across from Giant Jaguar. It pays homage to lady 12 Macaw.

Monkeying around.

Hmmm. Whose paws are these? We're on top of the 190 foot Temple V.

I think this is the plaza of the Seven Temples.

A Mot Mot.

We ran up these stairs like they were nothing. Fingers crossed. If you enjoyed this post pass on the link to friends. Or book a trip with your travel agent! And if you need more to wet your appetite check out my illustrated map of Hopkins, Belize. It's just a hop, skip and a Guatemalan border crossing from Tikal. Here's the link
http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/hopkins-belize-sharon-wagner

Beloved Moon

Beloved Moon was illustrated for a gallery show at the Owatona Arts Center a few years back. And since I've recently posted my other Moon pieces this will have to suffice for today's http://www.illustrationfriday.com/ theme. A Midsummer Night. It really is more like a melancholy night for this young orphan. She is dreaming about the Mother she never knew. Sniff. But I do have happy news. Be sure to check out the map I illustrated with lots of love over at TDAT. And here's the link. http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/maps/hopkins-belize-sharon-wagner And do me a favor and share it on facebook or email a traveling friend. After their first sip of One barrel they'll thank you!

What made my cats so sleepy today?

Another Ikea project of course! It was napus interuptus all day long...

The mayhem begins with a fake admonishment. Obviously with my camera at the ready, I'm just hoping for hijinks's.

Dean put the small parts in an irresistible blue cup prompting Hana to go fish.

Constantly trying to sleep on the job seemed to be a recurring theme.

A little high wire action from Hana.

Akua inspects the finished product. A new painting desk/kitchen island for my studio. Is it nap time yet? I don't think so. There are many more boxes to go! For more cats visit http://gattinamycats.blogspot.com/

It's the launch of a new career!

I'm proud to present you with my Project Pig. It was published over at http://www.banjopigs.blogspot.com/ last week. And it actually fits today's http://www.illustrationfriday.com/ theme. You could say she is moving forward on the runway (launching) or as the title states launching a new line of banjo fashions. My illustration is a funny take on one of my favorite shows, Project Runway. My favorite part of the illo is the feet of the audience members on the lower left. A mixture of fashionable red shoes, hooves and paws. Everyone can come.

How much for the Iguana hat dude?

We visited the Iguana Hatchery in San Ignacio, Belize earlier this year. And a good time was had by all. Except for the gal that passed out. Ironically she passed out after holding the baby Iguanas. Not the big guy in the first photo.

The color!

I don't think I came close to the Guinness world record of the highest number of Iguanas one person can wear. Whatever that is.

Hmmm. I wonder if we got all the baby Iguanas off. This photo was actually taken back at the hotel. Just kidding.

Swept Away!

Swept is the theme over at http://www.illustrationfriday.com/ today. And I knew this illustration was the perfect choice. It's called Kitty in Trouble. Obviously the darn cat got swept out to sea. (with paddle) But I've never seen a cat use one. The funny thing is I don't have this image on any of my current web pages. But someone recently found it in the abyss that is the Internet and purchased a print. And if you want another laugh please visit the fun blog http://banjopigs.blogspot.com/ My pig just got published over there. Oink!

This is for the birds!

We all know about the tornado devastation in Joplin. But there was also a bad tornado in my hometown that same day. And it was very destructive to the North East of Minneapolis. I was sad for the people's homes. But I never even thought about the animals. That is until an unfortunate article in the Star. Around 180 Blue Herons were killed in a rookery near North Mississippi Regional park. So this post is for the birds. Here are some of my favorite bird photos taken during our Winter trips this year. You might not recognize the Aracari in the first 2 photos. They are a relative of the Toucan.

Where Does Your Shadow Go At Night?

I have the perfect illustration for http://www.illustrationfriday.com/ I illustrated the poem,"Where Does Your Shadow Go At Night" for the charity, Project Open Book. In the poem the shadows come alive at night and steal shoes and footballs. You can blame it on the Moon I guess.