Holiday Scenes (Part Two)

Additional images from the Whelan family holiday cards

Michael Whelan

and

Michael Everett

Dec 22, 2024

Pen and ink drawing featuring a squirrel sitting on a snowy rock. On its back ride a pair of pixies. The male is holding on to the fur at the back of the squirrels neck. The female is standing with head laid back and arms (and wings) out. — Envelope illustration for the 2005 holiday card

(Continued from Part One last week)

The change of seasons, each with its own palette of colors and endlessly varying skies, is a joy to experience here in the Northeast.

While taking my daily walks this time of year, my thoughts seem to drift away from day-to-day concerns to pleasant memories of holidays past when my children were little. These seasonal feelings more often than not lead to a small painting for our family holiday card.

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In a wintry forest scene, a fairy descends on delicate wings to touch the top a snowy evergreen with a long crystal wand. A crystalized snowflake materializes at the tip as a troop of ice fairies dance with ballerina-like grace while adding lights around the tree. A clear patch of ice reflects the small but festive tree. Off to the side, an elf hides in another snow burdened tree holding up the artists MW sigil. The art was intended to fold into a pyramid shaped card so the perspective is a fishbowl-like view of the forest with trees angled inward to the full moon that shows through a break in the clouds. — **1997** - WINTER ENCHANTMENT

A plump elvish couple poses at the open window of their house, which is literally a tree. A wreath borders the round window. Below the red door is similarly decorated. Their son is clutching a snowball, hidden just around the trunk while their daughter leans on her elbows out the (4th?) floor window. — **1998** - a cozy treehouse to spend the holidays

Six illustrations with labels set within a wood textured border with metal trim at the corners. Clockwise from upper left: 1) Hope - an ornamental sun with rays extending in three layers, the bottommost wavy, set against sun bleached wood planks. 2) Love - A red glass heart hanging on a thin string in front of a bed of holly leaves. 3) Kindness - a hand reaching out against a field of stars set in a circular frame atop evergreen branches strung with berries. 4) (Blank label) - an unrolled parchment 5) Wonder - an 8-pointed silver star with four edges straight and the others wavy over blue fabric decorated with small 5-pointed stars. 6) Peace - a flat dove ornament hanging on a string over poinsettia petals. — **1999** - the design folds into a cube (tabs not shown)

A small evergreen is lit brightly white as a dove flies over it. In the near foreground a small pond is frozen over, reflecting light on its dark surface. Snow sweeps over rolling hills toward the cover of large evergreens. A woman in white robes stands admiring the tree. Her arms are spread with robes draping to mimic wings. — 2000 - a winter wonderland

A woman holding a dove stands in front of a banner hung from the bare branches of trees. Astronomical symbols (sun, moon, stars) are embroidered on her hooded robes which are white trimmed in royal blue. A snow burdened evergreen next to her rises to waist height. The banner is white cloth decorated with azure ribbons tied in bows at the corners. A trio of jingle bells hang at each side. The border is trimmed in gold down to the tassels dangling at the bottom. Two paper lanterns rest in the snow. Through the intersection branches of the tree, a single star twinkles in the sky. — 2001 - a banner to announce holiday greetings

A woman in a plain white gown sits on a rock with her hands resting on her lap. A dove takes perch on her finger as she glances over snow covered trees to a distant star in the night sky. A globe of a paper lantern hangs above her from the bare branches of a birch tree. At the foot of the rock, small candles line a path that meanders through snowy grass and leads to a break in the trees to water beyond. — 2002 - STAR OF PEACE

A woman in white robes with the hood drawn up crosses her arms in front of her as a flight of doves flutter overhead. Strands of her dark red hair hand down her forehead and along her neck, but are mostly obscured by the cloth. In one hand, she holds a ring made of astronomical symbols (sun, moon, stars). In the other a rod capped with a large diamond framed within a metal ring. From a gold chain on her neck hangs a red glass heart. The background is hazy gray and brighter above her. On closer examination, the branches of evergreens become apparent at the sides of the panel. — 2003 - a fluttering of doves to usher in the New Year

A tiny gazebo with a round dome is set in a wintry scene of snow covered evergreens. Standing among candles there, a wizard gestures and four doves flutter into a sky lit by aurora. The "Northern Lights" are wandering ribbons rising like curtains of light against rich blue of the night sky. The gazebo is decorated for the holidays with a garland and wreath. From a beaded chain strung from the roof, symbols include a bell, a 6-pointed star, a moon, and a heart. Casting light on himself, the wizard holds a lantern in his offhand. His long white beard trails down his chest. He wears a red cap and cream colored robes with fringed bell sleeves. Below the gazebo, a path winds up from the foreground to the gazebo. — 2005 - NORTHERN LIGHTS

Cupping a candle in her hands, a woman in pale blue robes stands on a rock strewn hill in an autumnal wooded scene. Her cheeks are flush in the glow of the flame. White cloth wraps her head, constraining red hair. The wrap drapes down her side falling with a shawl-like fringe. A Douglas fir rises behind her, an evergreen amid bare skeletal trees with barely any leaves. Golden leaves carpet the forest floor. Two white doves perch on the ground nearby. — 2008 - WOODLAND PEACE

The sun rises beyond a blue planet as a dimpled, smiling celestial figure (as modeled by daughter Alexa) leaps with one knee up and a ribbon of gold cloth decorated with purple stars twists around her. She’s holding a ring that looks like a dream catcher that holds many-colored smooth, round gems. The pattern bound in the ring resembles the flaring symbol of the sun. Clouds sweep up in front of the planet in the lower right. A moon hangs above it at the top of the panel. — 2009 - Alexa in spaaaaace!

2011 - NIGHTFROST

A woman stands like the queen of winter glancing off panel left with a stately air as two cardinals—one gold, one red—perch on her extended fingers as she cups one hand in another. Her gown is ethereal as the white lace of the sleeves sparkle like white holiday lights. The gold tinted silk of her dress puffs slightly at the shoulder, accented with lines of regal purple until tied off with a thin golden bow. Set at the center on her forehead is a blue-green gem bound in a gold inlaid oval. Her hair is a full white mane held back by a band of holly, berries, and flowers—subdued in color but mostly gold—in a variety of blooms. The night sky is alive with traces of cirrus clouds sweeping past a crescent moon. An owl takes flight past her shoulder. A deer huddles close. — 2012 - WINTER’S GLOW

Weekly Art Recap

Grid of images 3 across in 2 rows corresponding to the list below. — Art featured from Dec 16-21

The Smoke Ring - cover illustration for Grandmaster Larry Niven
Winds Over Urithiru - original art from Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson (last of the Stormlight art available in our shop!)
Star of Peace - art for the 2002 Whelan family holiday card
Dreamseeker - a statement on disillusionment with the progress of society
Peekaboo Fuzzies - endpaper illustration for Adventures of Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper
Spirit of Enduring Hope - from the first Leftovers & Palette Gremlins gallery

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Varsha Shah

Dec 22

Just utterly magical! What a way to start the Christmas week. And thank you for all the art Michael - I ordered some of the prints and they fill me with a sense of joy and wonder every time I look at them. Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas.

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Ms Charlie Johnson

I feel your art. the gentle breeze, the gusty wind, the frost, and the steel of the blade. They all touch me through you, from you. Thank you Michael for sharing and just being the wonderful artist you are <3

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Holiday Scenes (Part Two)

Additional images from the Whelan family holiday cards

Weekly Art Recap

Discussion about this post