Art, Illustration Bree Reetz Art, Illustration Bree Reetz

I'm Fond Of Flowers

An illustration of carnations in a glass bottle that used to hold orangeade

How can I describe my life to you? I think a lot, listen to music. I’m fond of flowers. — Susan Sontag

Those who know me, know that I enjoy simple pleasures such as…

  • Visiting a new grocery store and taking home a drink from a different country to try

  • Putting some fresh flowers in the bottle when it’s empty and setting them in a place I can see even if they trigger my allergies

  • Drinking a good coffee

  • Having a sweet with that good coffee

  • Sitting in the sun and cuddling with my dog

  • Listening to a record and reading books with my husband while sitting in the sun and cuddling with my dog

  • Having a small conversation with a neighbor

  • Watching my dogs whole body wag with excitement to greet a neighbor

  • Finding a book that looks good in a little free library

  • Leaving a book or some other little treasure in a little free library

…to name a few. The past couple of years I’ve felt compelled to try and write more about these moments and draw them, both new ones and old. And that’s how the moments category on my work was born.

However, an illustration like the one above lives somewhere between what I’ve categorized as a “moment” and something else. Honestly, it doesn’t fit neatly into a category on my illustration page, at least not my current conception of those categories.

That illustration was inspired by a quiet moment from my life. But it didn’t really need a whole blog post to accompany it, Susan’s words were enough. However, I’m really proud of how this came out and I wanted to share it with you. Drawing it was a kind of meditation itself, I enjoyed getting lost in the colors, textures, and light.

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Art, Illustration, Thoughts Bree Reetz Art, Illustration, Thoughts Bree Reetz

Cold Weather, Warm Heart

Here in Portand, the winter weather consists mostly of dark gray skies and drizzling rain with moderate temps. But once a year, the rain turns into snow. Everyone is seized with a sense of wonder if the snow actually sticks. Sleds are tested on our hilly neighborhood roads - you won’t be driving if the snow sticks anyway, not in this city. Snow men are lovingly rolled - I saw a group of six sitting roundly on patio furniture, having a barbecue in someone’s yard (a dangerous pastime for snowmen).

On one such day this winter, while out on a walk in the cold, I encountered something I hadn’t seen before. I saw a neighborhood family (from child to gran), bundled up and sitting out on their driveway around a warm chiminea. They had a sign that read “Free Hot Chocolate!” and one of the children waved at me wildly. Did I want some? Of course I did. Their mom offered me various toppings while warmly pouring hot chocolate from a large thermos into my cup. I accepted two marshmallows, beaming with delight.

A little kindness goes a long way.

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