“Sometimes big trees grow out of acorns. I think I heard that from a squirrel.” —Jerry Coleman
My husband made an observation during our many years together. I think it started watching me enjoy the movie “Chicken Run” for the third time. I kindly dismissed him to go and work on one of his varied projects, while he chuckled and graciously accepted.
His observation: Sandy loves movies with talking animals!
Fluke, is a movie about a man who died and came back as his family’s new dog. Babe is about a sweet little pig who narrowly escapes becoming Christmas dinner. And the claymation movie, Chicken Run is about the inhabitants of a chicken farm wanting to escape their evil owners. All three are favorites. There are numerous other movies with talking animals on my favorite movie list.
Can’t Forget Rocky the Squirrel
Did you grow up enjoying cartoons? I sure did.
Who could forget Bullwinkle J. Moose and Rocky the Flying Squirrel? Maybe this is when my love of watching films with talking animals started.
I don’t remember a time where the humanification of animals combined with storytelling didn’t pique my attention. The same holds true as an artist. I enjoy illustrating animals and including sweet quotes, sayings, and heartfelt messages.
Little Girls with Vision
Squirrel Dreams is the name of a recent digital painting I was working on the day of Ruth Bader Gingsburg’s passing. It’s not easy to bridge from talking animals to the seriousness of the lifelong accomplishments and inspiration of RGB. But I had to try.
Ruth was a short-statured woman with enormous power who was an effective advocate for gender equality, women’s rights, and many other issues. She would wear a symbolic collar made of pearls on the days she’d write a dissenting opinion.
She was often quoted. The messages she imparted were deep, thought-provoking pearls of wisdom.
So, on the day of RGB’s passing, my Squirrel Dreams piece was transformed. She became a dainty, kind, pearl-wearing squirrel with tremendous power. She chose to serve as an example for little girls to dream, and dream big. Leave it to a squirrel to remind us that even a tiny acorn can carry much more than its weight, and take us to places we can only imagine.
If you know someone who might enjoy the message in the painting, click > Squirrel Dreams Merchandise & Posters