A Portrait of Skii's Gal

A Portrait of Skii's Gal: just a doodle really, and not quite complete.

Portrait of Delphine Marie now complete!

April 22, 2024

Today I can announce that the Portrait of Delphine Marie, begun about three years ago, has finally been completed!

So here you see the unfinished version followed by the completed Portrait of Delphine Marie shown in all her slendor and finery!

How do you like her now? ;-)

Comet Skies an AI art creation!

Check out Comet Skies my fourth-ever AI art creation!

Saffron Sees Stars! by Jude Cowell

Few words today, just a drawing of Saffron Sees Stars!

A Portrait of Polly's Perspective!

by Jude Cowell

Although many moons have passed, my Portrait of Polly's Perspective, a simple pencil drawing on white paper, is finally completed for your consideration!

Inside scoop: Her expression suggests something of a throwback to my past days as high school newpaper cartoonist, and Polly's unusual point of view as depicted in this pencil portrait reminds me of my own views when the principal of my school vetoed my more, shall we say, political cartoons.

In other words, Mr. Hmhmhm basically turned the high school cartoonist into a Caspar Milquetoast via censorship, so that Fight the Power leanings of the 1960s were successfully squelched.

Yet all these years later, we find that Polly retains her own ideas!

So for political ideas and topics discussed through the excellent lens of Astrology, join me at Stars Over Washington where I attempt to translate astrologese into English, and you're free to agree or take issue as you may!

Tarot's High Priestess: Venus enters Pisces

With planet Venus entering the mystical sign of Pisces tonight at 9:33 pm est, I'm celebrating by posting a version of the Tarot's High Priestess card 2, as depicted many moons ago by yours truly via colored pencils!

Now as many Tarot readers and fans know, the High Priestess symbolizes higher, deeper knowledge, intuition, mystical insight, and may represent a feminine form of 'The Pope'. So that for some folks, this Major Arcana card number 2 connects to the controversial legend of Pope Joan, a lady dressed in men's clothing who some believe rose to lead the Vatican for two years in the mid-850s.

Understandably, the paternalistic Catholic hierarchy has denied the existence and career path of Pope Joan through the years, and one assumes the church's course of denial has not changed. For if her story is real, Pope Joan's ascendancy to leadership is what some might call an inconvenient truth, and quite the embarrassment for men who labor under and promote the myth of infallibility.

In closing, I'll simply say that personally, as a Protestant, but with ancient ancestors of the Catholic persuasion, I have no opinion whatsoever concerning the Pope Joan topic, but the possibility of a feminine pope back in Medieval times does make for an intriguing legend or myth that Venus in priestly, mysterious Pisces can readily appreciate!

Portrait of Brunella

Here you see a new fanciful figure study, Portrait of Brunella, created with a combination of Prismacolor oil pencils and Rexel Derwent watercolour pencils (dry) on black paper.

And because viewing Art is healing, the symbol for Chiron, the healer and the key, is snugged in there somewhere!

Cosmic Persona Designs returns! Or can it?

Today is Friday August 19, 2022 and I'm in process of reviving Cosmic Persona Designs to a spot in the Blogger pantheon of art blogs - if possible.

Therefore, it seems that a fresh publish of a drawing may be necessary so I've chosen a descriptive image, A Mask Beyond, for your kind consideration!

Browse more drawings in my Jude Cowell Art Portofolio where images decorating items such as wall art, coffee mugs, pillows, and greeting cards may be ordered at your leisure!

Now Appearing: The Whisperer

June 4, 2022 Raleigh, NC USA; pencil on paper: The Whisperer:

You're cordially invited to drop in and browse a few drawings in my Jude Cowell Art Portfolio.

The Return of Pattillo Armadillo!

June 2, 2022

Posted with a flurry of fondness, here again is the dummy book cover for 'Pattillo Armadillo and the Dream of Green' from way back in 2004:

Those Scorpio to Sagittarius Ladies!

April 12, 2022

Here's my pencil portrait of the Scorpio to Sagittarius Ladies! Naturally, this represents the 8th sign morphing into the 9th sign of the Zodiac - Scorpio with Mars-Pluto vibes advances to Sagittarius with Jupiter vibes!

Note that this very morning (10:43 am edt), transit Jupiter and Neptune met in Great Conjunction @23Pis59 and you're invited to view the bubbly pair's DC Horoscope if you wish!

Sabian Symbol for 2022's Jup-Nep Conjunction:

'24Pisces' = An Inhabited Island"; "Keyword: CULTIVATION; positive expression: achievement through a creative opportunism or inventiveness of exceptional order; negative expression: snobbish complacency and self-indulgence" (Jones).

Blue Bayou Babe says Hello!

Hi There Viewer! Say Hello to 'Blue Bayou Babe', one of my fanciful figure studies created with oil and watercolour pencils on paper by Jude Cowell.

Mrs Cholmondeley of the Clematis Family drops by!

Today Secret Moon Art is happy to Welcome Mrs. Cholmondeley of the Clematis Family for tea! So the question must be, milk or lemon?

And perhaps you know that "Cholmondeley" is actually pronounced, "Chumley"! Well, this and other details concerning this lovely bloomer may be found on the International Clematis Society website!

Here's 'Bella Backstage'!

by Jude Cowell

December 11, 2021

Is my pencil portrait of Bella Backstage too scandalous for Secret Moon Art? Well, Bella lost her home when my Cosmic Persona Designs collection had to be shuttered so here she is in the tradition of artists depicting behind the scenes figure studies!

Dear viewer, what's your opinion, is 'Bella' too scandalous? Leave your Yes or No in a comment below if you wish! jc

Botanical illustration of Creosote in Bloom

by Jude Cowell

Tuesday August 10, 2021: Now I know that folks who are familiar with desert climes must also be familiar with the Creosote bush which grows across the Southwestern United States. Knowledgeable sources inform me that cresote (Larrea tridentata) is an evergreen desert shrub that, because of photosynthesis, always faces southwest - and smells like rain!

But unfortunately, drought, lack of water, and massive fires now afflict large parts of the southwestern region of the US so true confession: I have no current information on how creosote bushes are managing such difficult conditions these days.

Therefore, I'm posting my botanical drawing Creosote in Bloom with a hope that the venerable evergreen will come through its trials and bloom freely once again!

And remember, you have a standing invitation to browse my Art Portfolio of drawings 24/7! jc

Your Portrait of Aerica!

June 4, 2021: Here's that Portrait of Aerica we talked about:

Just barely visible: her bracelet with Chiron symbol!

Browse 24/7 and maybe purchase a pillow, art print, greeting card, or mug from my Jude Cowell Art Portfolio! Because you know that stranger things have happened...

New for You! Jude's World Art Party 2021!

March 5, 2021: Surprising even myself, I've just created another art slidehow of my favorite pencil portraits mixed with a few recent drawings and fanciful figure studies which, you may agree, have a visionary quality. Enjoy!

'Set List' in order of appearance: Jude's World Art Party 2021!, Secret Gazer, Aerica, Analise, Past Has a Way, Chironia, Hen Party, Gina, Ceres and Persephone, Hermesia, Roxy's Red Room. Do you have a favorite?

Well, guess what? More browsing awaits you in my Fine Art America Portfolio.

Imagine My Surprise When Bebe Dropped By!

February 10, 2021: As I was expecting someone else this evening, a surprise visit from Bebe took me by...well, surprise!

The Return of Hyacinth in Blue!

February 8, 2021: My suspicion is that Hyacinth in Blue has appeared in the Secret Moon Art collection before so if that's the case, then Hyacinth has returned to say, Hello You!

This Prismaclor oil and Rexel Derwent watercolour pencil (dry) 'fanciful figure study' on black paper is brought to you by Jude Cowell Art.

Portrait of Delphine Marie in progress!

January 13, 2021: Look what this morning's Capricorn New Moon inspired - a new pencil portrait was begun, this time of Delphine Marie:

Hope you'll mosey back later on for a view of Delphine's completed portrait!