A Portrait of Skii's Gal

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

Funky Friday Art: Bella Backstage!

Say Hello to 'Bella Backstage'!

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? ;-)

A Splendid Portrait drawn by a 6-year-old!

One day, when my granddaughter Violet was six years old, she selected a purple piece of construction paper and depicted a splendid portrait of the two of us, both enjoying a good hair day, as you see. So here it is, directly from my drawing table where she and I spent many hours together creating and laughing!

ps: the white spot is an imperfection on the paper.

AI Art: A Mystical Path to a Distant Mountain!

Here's my latest AI Art creation, A Mystical Path to a Distant Mountain:

All my AI Art creations are compliments of NightCafe.

And for the sake of comparison, here's my regularly drawn illustration, Path to Blue Tree Castle:

AI does Hazy Moon and Twinkling Stars!

Yes, I'm still trying to get used to nightcafe's AI art creation features. Here's my second-day effort, Hazy Moon and Twinkling Stars. Hope you like it!

Then why don't you join the fun at NightCafe? You might like it, too!

Now here's one of my ~real~ drawings created with Prismacolor oil pencils held in my own hand, a full view of Golden Chanterelles in Moonlight:

Comet Skies an AI art creation!

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

Astro-Notes: Sir Winston Churchill as Artist

Sir Winston Churchill; Walter Stoneman, via Wikimedia Commons

If one sleuths into the natal planets of Sir Winston Churchill, it may be possible to discover innate art interests if not talents therein for he is known as having been an "avid amateur painter" of some repute. Obviously, art-related participants from the panoply of planetary actors include Venus, Neptune, Jupiter, Moon and Pluto providing wells of creativity, plus, we cannot discount ideals and new ideas via innovative Uranus which, in order to be realized, need realistic Saturn's sense of form to serve as a vessel into which inspired ideas may be poured.

Born during a Saturn-Uranus opposition on November 30, 1874, baby Winston had Saturn in Aquarius trine his Mars-Jupiter conjunction in Venus-ruled Libra, plus, from Libra to Leo, he sported a Mars-Uranus sextile, an aspect of objectivity and opportunity.

And naturally, placements in zodiacal signs such as Libra and Pisces are immediate suspects of artfulness and point specifically toward sign rulers Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune and any aspects between them. No Pisces placements for him; however, his Venus in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius provided sensitivity, idealism, and an open nature. Additionally, the planet of motivation, energy, and action - Mars - is a necessary ingredient for any project (artful or otherwise) to begin, and hopefully, to carry through to completion. Sir Winston's Mars in Libra suggests refinement and a desire for partnerships.

And so when it comes to Winston the Artist, the evidence of creativity mounts! See if you agree by checking out his A-rated natal horoscope linked, above.

Then if you're curious, the Smithsonian Magazine displays examples of Churchill's artwork for all to enjoy!

Please Note that the topic of this post is inspired by an episode of Fake or Fortune: Perspective Did Winston Churchill Paint This Masterpiece? Please 'rewind' the video if it's further on - it won't cooperate with me at this precise moment! jc

The Return of Psyche Jones!

Oh look!

Psyche Jones has returned to Secret Moon Art to say, Hello!

Saffron Sees Stars! by Jude Cowell

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

Shouting Out Singapore

Why are safari users in Singapore ruffling Secret Moon Art? Why?

Are you thieves, hackers, or both? Perhaps just visiting my SMA art collection all of a sudden? Embedding bad links into my art gallery blog, more like. A form of theft, no doubt.

In a spirit of generosity, here's a drawing of mine meant for true browsers of Art, 'Blue Trumpet Flower Under Crescent Moon':

Timeless Path: a drawing by Jude Cowell

Here by request is another showing of my 1996 Merit Award winner, Timeless Path:

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).

Twyla's Toilette undone then complete!

April 3, 2022

Guess it's something of a secret here on Secret Moon Art but originally I had created this Art Gallery with a plan to share my drawings in progress, then add the completed version of the same illustration. And some of them were published here just that way although not always in the same post, or even with a link to the completed version (mah bad!).

So as an example today, I'm putting together two versions of 'Twyla's Toilette' and adding a link to a different drawing, 'Analise', which was displayed in just such a manner. If the comparison shows nothing else, perhaps it suggests the foibles, the fun, and the process of perpetrating drawings on black paper!

First, here's Twyla's Toilette very obviously incomplete and rather on the ghostly side:

Now here's Twyla's completed portrait (looking more lively, I think!):

Then if you're up for it, here's a link to two versions of one of my fanciful figure studies titled, a 'Portrait of Analise'!

So what do you think, dear art viewer?

Is "ghostly" the right word for the incomplete images? One reason it may be is because black paper is known for contributing a certain spiritual or mystical quality to artwork, don't you agree? And layers of color must be built up as if bringing the image up through layers of the Unconscious!

Or at least, that's how the process feels to me when I'm attempting to create designs for your viewing pleasure. And besides: browsing artwork is good for you, y'know!

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!

Kassandra's Myth-Prophecy-Blessings

March 1, 2022

The Prophetic Daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba

by Jude Cowell

As Putin's war against Ukraine rages on, I want to publish something with a mythological theme here on Secret Moon Art.

So here are a few words concerning Kassandra (aka, Cassandra), a prophetess in Greek Mythology, plus, my drawing Kassandra's Blessings because everyone across the globe could use a few of those just now, even non-believers. How about you?

\

Well, perhaps it isn't the best idea to imply by my drawing that the 'blessings' of Kassandra are a good thing even though it was drawn years ago (pencil on paper). For she is often considered in Greek Mythology to be a tragic figure whose gift of prophecy came from sun god Apollo yet he cursed her so that no one believed her prophecies. That she rebuffed the advances of Apollo is one explanation of Apollo's turn against her but there are other possibilities.

Anyway, Cassandra prophesied that her brother Paris would start a war against the city of Troy and this includes the very famous tale and archetype of the Trojan Horse. Additionally, Cassandra's death links to the fabled death of King Agamemnon of Mycenae.

So if you don't know where your natal asteroid Kassandra is, consider the following list of a few related asteroids and their numbers which can be plugged in (by number) on the Serennu website along with your birth date (or any date you choose) and the Astrological Ephemeris will disclose their Zodiacal positions to you:

Kassandra #114

Agamemnon #911

Apollo #1862

Hecuba #108

Priamus #884

Paris #3317

Troy: Troilus #1208; Troja #3912

Now from far distant days, here's an ancient Pompeii fresco:

Ajax in Troy drags Cassandra from Palladium before the eyes of Priam.

A Pencil Portrait of 'Nedra'

February 2, 2022

Another Fanciful Figure Study by Jude Cowell

Here's my latest effort, a rather colorful Pencil Portrait of 'Nedra' looking more than a little psychedelic!

You're cordially invited to browse more drawings, fanciful, botanical, and otherwise at Jude Cowll Art.

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

Illustration: Puppy Dog Destroys Evil Dot!

July 16, 2021: Good News!

Here from 2018 is a symbolic illustration, Puppy Dog Destroys Evil Dot, by Holden, age 6 at the time:

Thank Goodness that evil and menacing dot was destroyed by a very brave Puppy Dog!

~:~

And for those who are fond of Children's Art in general, you may wish to check out the 'ShroomHome of Merri Chimes perpetrated some time ago by yours truly!

New! Mask On Mask

June 4, 2021: For you, here is a freshly perpetrated pencil depiction currently titled, Mask On Mask:

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!

New! Hermiony's Gaze by Jude Cowell

January 4, 2020: First, Happy New Year to All! Second, over the holidays a drawing has been completed! Here's 'Hermiony's Gaze' and my suspicion is that she's gazing at you, dear viewer!

Art Note: Browsing artwork is good for you...

Portrait of 'Monica Rose' almost completed!

An End-Of-2020 Art Update from pencil artist Jude Cowell

December 26, 2020: If you by chance follow my Instagram feed at all you may have seen the first scan of my Portrait of 'Monica Rose' which, in its in-progress state, shows a whole bunch of black paper, unpenciled as of then (December 22nd). Only the bare basics are committed to paper because you have to start somewhere!

Well, below is the second scan (v2) of my drawing which is quite a bit more completed as of today. Yet as every artist knows, decisions must be made soon concerning 'her' background (if any! or should I leave her 'floating'?), the color/s of her eye shadow, the rest of the mandala behind her, and any other finishing touches which may be required.

Naturally, once such decisions are made and perpetrated, a final v3 version of Monica Rose will be published - either here in this very gallery, or perhaps in my Jude Cowell Art Portfolio at Fine Art America where she might turn up as an art print, a greeting card, or maybe decorating a coffee mug!

But for now, just for you, here is Monica Rose v2, such as she is! How do you like her red gloves?

My preferred pencils: Prismacolor Oils and Rexel Derwent Watercolour Pencils (used dry only).

A 1982 World's Fair Illustration: Music Pop!

In 1982, my family attended the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. Over 11 million people attended the festive affair and if memory serves, the Chinese Pavilion was the most popular attraction by far. Discovered in 1974, China's famous Terracotta Army was a great hit and was responsible for the longest line we stood in on that very hot day.

Getting the Party Started!

President Ronald Reagan opened the fair with a speech on May 1, 1982 and six months later it closed on October 31, 1982. Now I don't know about Mr. Reagan, but between funnel cakes and our first-ever taste of boxed milk (Parmalat I think it was) our tummies had few if any complaints!

During our visit my children rode the largest ferris wheel any of us had ever seen (or hope to see again if I may say so!) - 165 feet tall - but once they reached the pinnacle Mom (moi) had to be coaxed away to have dinner with friends and thus avoid seeing her (my) kids wa-a-ay up in the sky when the wheel stopped. Because that was the problem -- it was so high they were completely out of sight at the top. Unnerving!

Yet we all survived intact, and once we skedaddled back home to Georgia, my children were inspired to create illustrations of some of the exciting attractions they'd seen.

Here's one now:

So I'm thinking that if you can spare 59 seconds, you might enjoy a vintage 1982 World's Fair Commercial !! It's pretty...1982-ish.

New Art! Bridget's Blossom

A fanciful figure study, Bridget's Blossom<, by Jude Cowell; pencil on paper.

Rita Returns for an Assignation!

Once upon a time this quirky little drawing was called, Rita Remembers.

Then this very day I completed it, retitled it, and now it's simply called, Assignation:

Why not browse more Jude Cowell Art 24/7 in my Fine Art America Portfolio if and as you wish! Browsing Art is good for you, y'know!

New! A Portrait of Tracey

June 19, 2020: Here's a new drawing, little more than a scribble really, A Portrait of Tracey:

The Return of Troubles Can Swim

June 17, 2020: Here's my pencil drawing Troubles Can Swim which I'm publishing here on Secret Moon Art. If memory serves, the drawing's original appearance occurred in my now-shuttered art collection Cosmic Persona Designs. But here it is:

Note that this drawing was conceived and perpetrated as a mild social commentary on demon alcohol!

And if you wish check out my Jude Cowell Art Portfolio where you can browse 24/7.

A Portrait of Gina Relaxing arrives!

Since today is June 1, 2020 a new fanciful figure study seemed a good idea for Secret Moon Art! So freshly completed, here is a close-up from my Portrait of Gina Relaxing:

And non! Pardon but you cannot view the rest of the drawing because you may be way too far on the youngish side!!

For 24/7 art browsing visit my Jude Cowell Art Portfolio.

Cameo of an Unknown Lady!

May 22, 2020: Since her name is lost to memory and I've yet to run across the actual drawing (I have a plethora to search through!) I'm calling this image and post Cameo of an Unknown Lady:

Doodle On White Paper by Jude Cowell

This Doodle on White Paper was probably perpetrated by yours truly way back in the mid-1980s. Just don't ask if she's worn well!

Portrait of a Viking Warrior Portrait

May 21, 2020: In the 1980s when my son was 11 yo he painted a Portrait of a Viking Warrior and I'm glad to say it's still in my files!