BREAKING FREE!

In the "COVERS & ILLUSTRATIONS section of my web site: WWW.CHERIEBENDER.COM are some of the original works I have done in the past few years,for magazines and books. This image "BREAKING FREE" is a pastel on sandpaper.

ALL images are available for rights of usage and purchase of original art & commissioned art.Visit My Website

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Featuring Dalai Lucky Dragon As Dalai Desparado

Hi, Everyone!

All those that know me well know my doggie Dalai Lucky Dragon is the greatest doggie ever. He is a Japanese Chin and he is so good, patient and wise, I swear he just loves to wear costumes and play!
Yesterday, we took pictures in my back yard and he went along with the program like the trooper he is and I did get a whole bunch of great shots.

I have a new idea for my fine art series "REBEL!" called "WOMAN UNCHAINED" The painting "Uber Femme" was in THE ALL FLORIDA SHOW this year in the BOCA RATON MUSEUM as part of that series. I am still working on initial sketches for 'WOMAN UNCHAINED' and will be posting same in the very near future.

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PUMPKIN DANCING

Nearing the end of October now in Florida, and we seem to be free from the threat of ....... dare I say the name? no, better not....

PUMPKIN DANCING is an oil painting on wood, to be found on my web: WWW.CHERIEBENER.COM in the institutional section, commissioned by the Song of Norway cruise lines for installation in their ship's master stateroom. I include the image here in celebration of this time of year, my favorite when the weather gets cooler, and we can breathe a sigh of relief, as we seem to be free from the .............. YEAH!

I am pleased to be working on a few commissions, and I am in the middle of a direct and email campaign. Very busy, miss my friends in the UK, and California. Hope to see you very soon, and feeling a little cabin fever, the wide open spaces are calling to me. Hello all of you travelers, will be joining you as soon as I am finished.

"Be with you in a minute Mr. Peabody!"
Answer to the quiz question: From the movie "Bringing Up Baby"

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Peace

ANASTASIA'S HAIRCUT

I have a wonderful tree right outside my house, her name is "Anastasia" and she is magnificent. A few years have gone by since her last cut, and yesterday was the day designated to give her a trim. Wow! Talk about size - I never realized just how huge this tree is, until Chino & his saw, who rides the "cherry picker" like a cowboy on a wild horse, told me he could not reach the top even though he is high up in the air, about 90 feet or so, and he is at least 6ft. tall......

This picture was taken today, as I was struck by her massive beauty, My Anastasia speaks to me about strength, she has survived numerous hurricanes, and I have lived through four big ones with her. I hug her frequently, and she appreiciates that, I am sure. The last hurricane we had she assured me she is strong and would stay standing and proud, and she was right!

Today, I honor her and the value of trees. I would never consider chopping her down, and she has been kind to my house, providing shade, beauty, food & shelter for the various birds such as morning doves, blue jays, hummingbirds, orange finches and deep purple black crows and many kinds of beautiful butterflies. Thank you Anastasia!

BLOG FOR GREEN!

IT AIN'T EASY BEING GREEN! From Photo section: CHERIEBENDER.COM

October 15 is Blog Action Day, and all greenies are joining hands in blog fashion to inform and disseminate on how to keep and improve our beautiful planet earth!

This is very exciting news and how wonderful to be a part of the growing awareness of caring for Mother Earth.

I do have a few tips which personally have worked for me as an artist and consumer. It is a given that I recycle. Now, how about keeping all glass jars with lids? They are perfect for medium containers and make great pencil and brush holders. Saving brown paper bags from the grocery store is a good idea too, they make good wrapping paper for parcels and are excellent for sketching.

I was totally against the cutting down of our citrus trees the past few years, that 1900ft radius within an "infected" tree was bogus! Many, many, healthy citrus trees were cut down unnecessarily in Florida. Thank God the United States stepped in and stopped the craziness. You cannot cut down millions of trees and not expect repercussions! Especially on a peninsula such as Florida...... Mother Nature did not like, and we had three major hurricanes as a direct result, Hello? Jeb and George Bush?

How wonderful that Al Gore has received the Nobel Prize! One last thing, we should all plant a tree, I plan on planting an orange tree right outiside my bedroom window, where Ezekial, my Key West Lime tree used to reside....

SASEE! MAGAZINE: CHERIE BENDER THE COVER ARTIST FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!" is one of my favorite fantasy paintings influenced by a Winter sojourn to London, England two years ago. In the painting, the fairy in the winter garden looks up at the tiny dragon, and invites him to play with her. She holds a deco ball, which is turquoise, as is her chiffon gown. Turquoise is the color for the heart center and healing. The flowers are pansies, my very favorite fall and winter flowers.

My art has many dimensions, from large wall murals to fine art paintings and comminssioned works. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!" is very close to my heart. I create these fantasies purely for the joy of painting. I have been an artist since childhood and grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, I attended Art Center in California and recieved my BFA from the University of Miami.

The turn of the century to the twenties is my favorite time and allthough I do not limit my style, I interpret Art Deco Expression in a modern feminine voice with an understanding of spirituality, beauty and positive vision for today's world.

HAPPY SUNDAY MORNINGS: ONCE I WAS LOST BUT NOW AM FOUND

I am a firm believer in spiritual practice.

A woman I know well insists on "taking care of business" before prayer. This has proven time and time again to be the long way 'round. Time is all relative. A moment of prayer, reflection, and gratitude saves many hours of frustration, when things seem to get lost, tasks become troublesome, people are abrasive ...

TODAY: I feel the need to re-connect with the Universe, God, and Nature. To light candles in a sacred space. To give thanks for all that I have because

"All that I have is All that I need..." Simple Abundance, Sara Ban Breathnack's book adivses. So, along this path we call life, I feel not alone but filled with love for the light and the light filled beings around me. THANK YOU GOD!

IT'S FRIDAY AND I'M IN LOVE!

When I lived in New York, I met The Cure and actually hung out with them and their manager who was from Scotland and cute but Robert Smith was moody and withdrawn.... an extremely talented musician! I named my painting "Love Cats" from one of their songs, and it is a painting I really treasure, because of my beloved Nutmeg, a gorgeous calico persian who I had the privelege of being friends with for eleven years.

I have a thought for the day: to transform myself and believe the vision!

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!

Friday, I received a telephone call from the editor of SASSY magazine, she had searched the web and found me! My painting "GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!" will be on the cover of SASSY magazine, for the month of November, and launched at a party in the Cornell Museum, Delray Beach.

BODHISATTVA

We have had a lot of rain for over a week, and now it is sunny and the birds are singing!

I am inspired to hang out and just soak in the atmosphere of my garden, but unfortunatley, I have a lot of grunge work to do, like pay bills, and manage my new lists account, which needs to be in their hands by tomorrow, so I can do my mailing, so I can make some money so I can pay my bills..........

I wish everyone a happy sunny day all day.
Namaste