Painting the fox. I do love the paint the fox he is clever and exciting. He is always looking for things to get into. He can live as easily in the city, forest, or the desert. For me the fox is the coy trickster from my storybooks as a child. The survivor, maybe a little like me.

There are so many interesting facts and ideas about foxes that I thought I would share a few with you.

Did you know that different varieties of Foxes live on every continent except Antarctica and thrive in cities, towns, and rural settings. But despite being all around us. Did you know they use magnetic north to hunt and that they can actually see it? That they are more like a cat than a dog and use their whiskers, and their whiskers are very sensitive.
 
Foxes are known to be friendly, playful,  and curious. They play among themselves, as well as play well with other animals, like cats and dogs do. They love balls, which they will steal from backyards and golf courses. Although foxes are wild animals, their relationship with humans goes way back. In 2011, researchers opened a grave in a 16,500-year-old cemetery in Jordan to find the remains of a man and his pet fox. This was 4000 years before the first-known human and domestic dog were buried together.

The fox has been in all types of folklore. The sly trickster fox from Native American lore; and Aesop's "The Fox and the Crow." The Finnish believed a fox made the Northern Lights by running in the snow so that its tail swept sparks into the sky. From this, we get the phrase "fox fires". 

I am just so fascinated by the fox I don't want one as a pet, although I have read that you can now have a domesticated fox for the mere penitence of $4000 if this is what you are wanting to pay for a pet! I guess anything can be had for a price. I will keep my wonderful Great Pyrenees and Border Collie they are wonderful companions and are enough trouble! One day I will have to paint them! Have a great day!    

Wildlife artist Penny Winn has created a new painting of a koala bear. She did this because Australia is in the midst of a catastrophic early fire season.  As dozens of fires rage the animals of Australia have taken center stage in the media. Even though wildlife artist isn’t from Australia she knows the perils of these dying animals and wants people to see them and hopefully help to do something for them. 
Images of burned and dying koalas are all over the news, they seem to be the symbol for the fires. People are asking if the koala bear are now going to be finally consider extinct since they will no longer be able to have enough of the only food source, they eat the eucalyptus plant. They are now being seen to drink water which they never do since the plant has enough water to sustain them. With the fires taking this vital resource the koalas are going down from the top of the trees to the forest floor to find what they need. They are desperate to find what they need. They are so slow they can not get out the of the way of traffic, the fires, and other things that will slowly or quickly kill them.
It is imperative that we find a way to change what we are doing as a society and look at what we are doing to our wildlife and look how nature is changing. We need to put their needs ahead of our own before we no longer have them. Soon it won’t just be the koalas. So many animals are struggling… Artist Penny Winn is looking at ways to put this painting and its proceeds in the Australian relief fund for Koalas and other animals in need. If you know anything about this, please contact her. Thanks 

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WOW! What a happy day!
My art took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Creative Arts Festival. The Main divisions for the festival are Music, Art, Creative Writing, Drama and Dance. Local winners go on to compete at the national level via digital images and videotape. 
 The Visual Arts entries will be on display from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. Feb 11-15, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on in the Recreation Hall (Building 2). The Performance Arts competition takes place from 1-3 p.m. on March 2 in the Education Auditorium (Building 39).  A closing ceremony is set for 1-2 p.m. on February 15 in the Recreation Hall.  First-place winners from local competition may be invited to the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival taking place in Tacoma, Washington during the week of Oct. 29 to Nov. 5, 2020.
  The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Legion Auxiliary, is the culmination of a yearlong, fine arts talent competition involving more than 3,000 participants nationwide. The festival is open to all veterans receiving care at VA medical facilities.
My 1st place art piece was the Soldier and the dog. I am very honored that the VA has chosen my piece. We will find out who took best in show at the Feb 15th closing ceremony. Thanks everyone for all of their support during the process. So excited about all of the next steps in the process.

Well I did it! I put my art in the:

Veterans Creative Arts Festival 

Raymond G. Murphy
Veteran's Affair Medical Center
 I did it in three different categories. I will keep you posted how I do. The first step is the state... Next will be Nationals if I do well here! Keep me in your prayers! THANKS
In the Following Three Categories…
 
Special Health Mental Health Challenges: 
Three Zebras by: Penny Winn Painted 2019
I started painting as a way to control my pain and deal with my PTSD. It helps me to let go of the war and find joy in life again. By focusing on wildlife and things not in my past and the things that I have seen I can see the beauty that is all around me and not the nightmares that plague me. I have found a way to see past what used to haunt me always. I find if I paint 5 or more hours a day, I am so much happier. I can escape and be blessed in life again. By finding expression in wildlife I am moving past many things that used to hold me back. The zebra painting is tranquil and calms the heart, I do love many creatures in Africa, but I am not limited to painting them. I paint any animal that strikes me.  

Military Combat Experience: 
Soldier and Dog by: Penny Winn Painted 2019
 
When I was in the Gulf War I was stationed in medivac. Every day we would get calls to go to soldiers who were out doing their mission. We would never go to places that the soldiers were safe, and they were unharmed. These soldiers were in the mix, the battle heavy, or finished. I was always intrigued by the dogs that remained loyal in the fight, that could stand the noise and never leave their sides. I would see such comfort there. So much chaos, and yet, they remained steadfast. I painted this soldier and his dog as a reminder of those who I saw there. I never had one of my own, but I did see them in my time in the military and would like to honor them with this painting.

Watercolor: 
Rhino by: Penny Winn Painted 2019
 
This whimsical watercolor of the rhino is filled with fun colors and the dandelion seeds escaping up into the air around him. It is just an expressive way to play with the paint and show the lightheartedness of the rhino in a bright and inviting environment.