In 2010, I read in the Financial Times an article by Harry Eyres that I enjoyed. ‘Christmas cards: the angel is in the detail’ was about Eyres spending an inordinate amount of time choosing Christmas cards. Who hasn’t been there?
I have friends who gave up on sending Christmas or Happy Holiday cards altogether. Others recycle their old Christmas cards, which is admirable because of the green motive. A few send expensive cards that add quality decoration to your home and that survive new year’s de-cluttering resolutions.
In 2011, I drew our Belgium woodland winter garden because its wintergreen inspired me. By then, I new almost every bird that visited us and our 2 robins had even names; there was Robin Hood and Milton. A lonely and melancholic song thrush ate rowan berries for weeks on end. I missed drawing our squirrels, but try drawing squirrels! Goodness, they are there and not there; never bothering to model for me.
This year, I have followed Eyres advice by playing with a few details of Raphael’s and Guido Reni’s works of art for my religious Christmas drawing. However, for my non-religious winter drawing I’ve disobeyed Eyres. Although he rightly thinks robins, reindeer and holly are folksy, I can’t help but fondly remember our winter birds and holly. Drawing our former winter garden, brought me back to that wonderful place. As a city dweller, I’m surely allowed to cherish my green memories?
On my easel….
My religious Christmas fine art card shows three baubles that contain mini drawings of three great pieces of art by Raphael and Guido Reni; Raphael’s Madonna with Baby Jesus, Raphael’s angel putto, and Guido Reni’s St. Joseph with the Infant Jesus. The drawing is done with coloured pencils.
My original drawing,
and my neatly printed fine art card (size regular postcard)
My Winter drawing shows a holly branch, as well as a cute robin, and an alert wren. A Eurasian wren in Dutch is called a Winterkoning, translated Winter-King.
Don’t forget to feed your garden birds! Especially robins and the blackbirds, because they eat worms and bugs and when we enjoy a snowy season, these bird can’t find food.
Enjoy preparing for the winter season!
With Kindness,
Paula Kuitenbrouwer
Utrecht, Netherlands
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