Squirrel Appreciation Day 2017!

Awww Willow!

Some of you may know that I have a God-squirrel named Willow. 

Willow fell from a tree as a four week old baby five years ago. Thankfully he ended up with a licensed animal rehabber who took him in and nursed him back to health. Circumstances did not allow him to be re-released as usual, and he lives in her home, cage-free to this day.

He is adorable, and active, and smart as a whip...and he wreaks havoc on her home daily. He thrives because he is with a professional rehabber. I would not suggest trying to raise one or keep one for a pet yourself. They live about 20 years in the wild, and only 5 years in cage. :( Willow has run of the house, and has chewed endless cords, molding, furniture, cabinets, and a few potentially dangerous items. Take my word--leave it to the pros. 

That being said, Willow inspires me all the time. He is a beautiful thing, partially due to genetics, and partially, I am sure, due to his perfect diet. As Willow's mama says, he is the Brad Pitt of squirrels. 

He is going to appear on my Etsy site soon, as an original graphite drawing, then as a limited edition of reproductions.

Click here to see him in my Etsy shop.

He is so pretty, I draw him all the time. 

Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day, about a month late. ;)

Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day! (With a Visit from Willow)

I was excited to find out that today is Squirrel Appreciation Day because I love the zesty little guys. 

I have been feeding a squirrel I named Sandy (after the squirrel on Spongebob Squarepants) every day on my back deck for years. She comes to visit several times a week, and if I leave my screen opened long enough she comes right in. I started giving her food down by the trees now because I don't want her to go into someone's house who is not as happy to see her as I am.

Another reason I like today is because I am godmother to a very wonderful squirrel named Willow.

Willow happy at home munching a branch.

Willow fell from a tree when he was only a few weeks old and was lucky enough to be brought to a licensed animal rehabber named Brooklyn. 

Almost four years later he is an adult fox squirrel who weighs almost four pounds, and lives cage free in Brooklyn's home. He is completely potty trained and eats everything from tree branches from the yard to sweet potatoes, and the occasional Oreo. He is an unbelievable handful and also almost unbelievably smart. Willow has his own Facebook group--you can visit HERE.

This drawing of Willow was featured at Galleria West in New Jersey. He's quite a beautiful creature--very symmetrical and lovely to behold--kind of the Brad Pitt of squirrels according to his mama.

There is never a dull moment with Willow, and I am happy there is a special day to celebrate squirrels. 

Although I think Brooklyn would say every day is Squirrel Appreciation Day at her house.

xo

I hope you share today's video, How to Draw Willow the Squirrel with a young person who is interested in art--and maybe squirrels.

Don't forget to enter to win the JETPENS brush sampler HERE!!

Win all five! Contest ends January 31.

Music by Harrison.
Happy Boy - Harrison
https://soundcloud.com/harrison_music...


Drawn with Pentel pocket brush pen.