Christmas Cards

Pookie’s First Christmas

Illustration: Christmas Card by Donna Massa  2005

Pookie was named after the character Pookie Adam’s brilliantly played by Liza Minnelli in the 1969 film “The Sterile Cuckoo.”  I adored and cherished that film along with the theme song “Come Saturday Morning” by The Sandpipers.  The film had a lasting impression on me especially Liza’s character Pookie Adams.  

If you’ve ever seen a Scottish Fold or owned one the breed is not as sophisticated as other breeds.  What I mean be this is, they are not as high strung.  Scottish Folds are mellow and make wonderful loving and gentle pets.  They are smaller in size and have a personality all their own.  They are smart and train well making excellent indoor cats.  Because of their naturally folded ears they are so adorable to look at you cannot resist holding them.  Some Scottish Fold breeds do not have the life span of regular domestic cats.  My Pookie only lived for ten years, however her untimely death was at the hands of an inexperienced veterinarian who failed to order a blood panel test before surgery.  Pookie was not ready to experience an operation putting her at risk for organ failure.  I was not aware that blood tests are needed before any form of surgery on any animal, this is something pet owners should be aware of.  She went in for a simple procedure on a troubled back tooth and was sent home never to recover.  She passed away within twenty four hours and I was devastated and heart broken. 

During Pookie’s life she instinctively knew when the season of Christmas was coming.  It could have been her instinctive ability to smell and feel the change in the air, and watch the snow falling.  The first time I put up a real Frazier Fur Pine tree, and watered it she loved the smell.  She would sit patiently in a chair facing the tree and watch me rap around the lights, and trim the entire tree.  I put a soft festive skirt under the tree, and waited for dusk.  When I turned on the colored lights her big, round, sky blue eyes light up.  She jumped off the chair, and nestled herself under the tree and slept there all night.  She loved the lights on the tree, and I knew she knew every year after her first experience she would innately know when it was Christmas.  It was literally her time to shine enjoying the lights, and sleeping under the Christmas tree until it was time to take it down.  

Because of her untimely death, this unexpected event left me grieving for months, so much so, I wanted to do something in her honor, and that wanted to create an illustrative Christmas Card in her memory.  The ironic part of this story is, because of this one Christmas card it propelled me to go back to my roots as a Fine Art illustrator.  I made a transition in my career from a former Fashion designer to a freelance illustrator.  From that moment on I never stoped illustrating to as we speak. 

I believe it is through her spirit that gave me the inspiration, and internal drive to become a Fine Art hand illustrator…😽  

 

The Voyagers Series

The Voyagers Series

Fashion Illustration by Donna Massa

Europe: When Drew & Erin first discovered time traveling they found themselves in a different century and a different contentment. They are immediately transformed in the traditional style of that particular century.  This is a time when bow and arrows were the main means of defense, protection, and security.  Their first time traveling was when they landed in Europe on a Spanish Tall Ship headed for Spain.  It is there where their incredible journey begins never really knowing what trials and tribulations lie ahead!

They experience many different adventures in Europe that eventually leads them back to their home in England during the Age of Camelott…🌎

 

The Voyagers Series

The Voyagers Series 

Fashion Illustration by Donna Massa

Meet Drew & Erin.  They’re brother and sister who live in London, England.  These are the two main characters in The Voyagers Series who time travel.  Drew in just a few months older then Erin making them very close in age.  Drew has a protective personality by nature especially for his sister Erin.  He is very adventurous yet cautious as he always puts safety ahead of danger.  On the other hand Erin is fearless she is not afraid of anything and loves all animals especially in the wild.  She has a special relationship with animals like that of a horse whisper and they are not afraid or aggressive towards her.  Drew and Erin’s characters and personalities are opposite in ways that balance each other out, this makes them ideal, compatible partners in everything they do together.  Their relationship is like that of twins, they are very close they do almost everything together.  Their qualities and traits are inquisitive, strong, vibrant, intelligent, loving, adventurous, courageous, and both share a passion for time travel to journey around the world…🌎

 

The Voyagers Series

The Voyagers Series I Europe

Illustration Back Cover by Donna Massa

The back cover of The Voyagers Series is the the most important ingredient of the Series regarding time traveling,  This is the crystal cave Erin & Drew explored when they first found the portal to time traveling.  It is through the golden waters when bathing that took them instantly on their journey to Europe.  This magical crystal cave called out to them.  The colors and shapes of the crystals, the swirling sands, and beauty of this magical cave intrigued their senses.  They couldn’t resist swimming in the pure cool golden waters to cleanse their bodies however, what they didn’t know was this was the gate-way to any of the seven Continent’s in the world…🌎

 

The Voyagers Europe

 

The Voyagers Series 1 Europe

Illustration Book Cover By Donna Massa

This was the first of the Voyager Series.  The first book by which author Will Rhame’s takes reading to a whole new level.  This is a innovative story that brings you to England during the Age of Camelott, the place where Erin & Drew were raised.  Their relationship with their parents, life at home and what leads them to finding the cave and portal to time travel, and their incredible journey ahead is what makes these two books so much fun to read.  The concept that the author puts together is a total pleasurable experience for the reader by make reading fun, entertaining, inspirational, magical, and rewarding.  There are a series of steps the reader must take before going through each chapter.  The challenges presented are in the form of games, crossword puzzles, and quizzes.  Each Chapter has a key word or hint that represents the moral of each story within the book. The whole concept is brilliant!  This is why I wanted to work with the author because I knew it was going to help children in a big way.

When it comes to humanitarian efforts, creative projects, and events this is where my passion lies.  I’m happiest when I’m creating especially when I’m of service to humanity trying to make the world a better place. L.O.V.E. 🌎

 

The Voyagers Series

 

The Voyagers Series II Africa

Illustration Back Cover by Donna Massa

In this illustration there is a chapter that talks about the thickly settled jungle that is a pathway Erin & Drew must go through before dark.  This is of great concern to both but more so for Drew as his imagination gets the best of him.  He is more cautious of wild animals then Erin.  Erin in not afraid of animals in the wild and has no fear attached to these creators they entail on their wonderos adventures in Africa…🌎

The Voyager Series

The Voyagers Series II Africa

Illustration Book Cover by Donna Massa

Let me start by saying it was a pleasure working with the Author Will D. Rhyme on this artistic project.  He has a unique vision of how children can learn to comprehend what they read.  He steps out of his comfort zone and developed a brilliant approach of how this process is played out in this series of two books.  When we spoke online  i as intrigued by his innovative vision.  When I was a child reading & comprehension was a difficult challenge for me so I understood how this process would help children retain what they read.

I read read his manuscript on the The Voyagers Africa and I could feel what the the cover of the book was going to look like and the characters. Two adolescents a brother Drew and sister Erin who go on adventures through time travel portal a crystal cave that is a secret place they’ve found.  

In the next three illustrations and two fashion illustrations I will visually show what the author had in mind when he wrote The Voyagers Series, Europe & Africa…🌎 

 

Cornucopia

 

Cornucopia

Illustration By Donna Massa. 2005

This is actually an exercise in learning about the Magic of Prismacolor!  This illustration is a modern version of the Horn of Plenty also know as Cornucopia. The concept is Harvest Time.  In the Autumn Season farmers harvest what they’ve grown over the Summer season and gather all of it before the killing frost. All the wonderful fruits and vegetables grown including flowers are ready to be on display at farm stands and many facilities that sells food and flowers. 

A horn of Plenty is usually displayed as a center piece on your Thanksgiving table. In the horn are grapes, a variety of squash’s, different kinds of apples, pears, artichokes, corn, carrots, peppers tomatoes, small Sun flowers, colored leaves from the Maple trees, and more. 

In this illustration you can see parts of the Cornucopia and around it shapes of vegetables and fruits. I must say, that once this process started I could not stop creating and one thing grew into another and I could not stop my hand until it looked to be complete.  Everything was flowing together inter twinning all in-cased in a circle.  This was how it was forming in my mind and out through my hand and it was a magical experience.  I don’t usually do modern, but this composition was unique and I was totally unprepared with the results…

I can say this to other artists of any Medium of the Fine Arts and the Performing Arts.  One may set out to create a particular concept, or have a general idea of what they want to express.  The magic comes through the unexplained, the minds absence to control or fix.  It flows out of you like a faucet that can’t be shut off and it takes control of you.  They say, this is when your the closest to the Divine source and your creativity and imagination is heightened and it will exceed all boundaries…

🧡🍁🍂🌻🌾🍎🍏🍐🍇🌽🍆🫑🍅🌶🍷🥂🍻💛

 

Jeff’s Album Cover

Blue Black & Gray

Illustration Album Art by Donna Massa  2017

This was a very exciting project because I had the opportunity to collaborate with another artist, musician and singer songwriter.  He wanted me to illustrate is album cover and I was delighted to do this project with him.  

The only way I can truly understand how to approach this was to first know about the musician.  This would be a meeting or an interview with the musician talking about the genre of his music, what was his message to his fans, did each song have a different message that told a story or were they all uniquely different from one another.  His style, quality of his voice, instruments he plays, history of what the album was about even to the name of the album and did it have some significance to him personally or the music.  The second important part the project is to hear his music and the lyrics to his songs.  At the time the album was not completed, however I listened to the some of his songs he had recorded.  The third and final part of the project is to watch the artist play, sing and perform at a gig.  this would give me an understanding of the emotional feelings he portrays while he is playing and singing.  

The title of the album Blue, Black & Gray are the colors seen having a near death experience.  He told me about a horrific motorcycle accident he suffered in 1984 at only nineteen years old.  How he was pronounced dead at the scene.  He traveled out of his body and slowly floated into space and the start of the vast universe. These three colors are what he encountered with the exceptional pleasure of peace and tranquility.  He was perfectly happy accepting his journey until he turned to look back and saw his mother running towards his body with the medics trying to get a heart beat.  He said to himself  “If my mother sees this it will kill her.”  As soon as he said this to himself he was transported instantly back to his body in horrific pain.  He sustained serious injuries to his head, left hand, and whole left leg.  The prognosis was immediate amputation to the lower leg below the knee.  Fortunately an incredible semi retired surgeon Kathleen Roberson who used to work in the mash units in Korea was contacted and she was interested in the case.  She would not accept amputation as an option rather, she was determined to save the leg and she miraculously did.  

This musician is a multi talented and highly gifted artist who’s heritage is Native American and English.  The Native American tribe of his ancestors is the Iroquois and in the inner round part of the disc is a ribbon pattern that is distinctly Iroquois Native American.

In the center of the disc is the artist musician Jeff Hayford with a heart symbolizing his passion and joy playing his G&L Blues Boy electric guitar.  The blue surrounding him is the color of the sky, and the inner part of the disc is black and gray.  This is the journey of his soul as it was leaving the earth.  

The outer rim of the disc is a rainbow of colors, this is a reflection of light when you turn a disc on certain angles.  The outside of the disc is the blue, black and gray colors bleeding into each other symbolizing his journey through space heading towards a portal.  He chose not to go through that portal and return to Earth.  

Jeff Hayford is a unique and compassionate individual who is sensitive to the human condition.  He is an advocate for Chronic Pain as he has suffered all his life battling with it.  His humanitarian efforts-have been many throughout his life holding events by bringing other musicians together for worldly causes.  He is the founder of a not for profit social enterprise  A4H  Arts4Humanity “For The Benefit Of All.”  

Jeff Hayford is a talented musician, graphic artist, writer and music producer.  He has performed up and down the east coast from the Florida Keys to Portland Maine.  He has spent time playing in Nashville TN, New York City, Boston, MA, The Mt Washington Valley of NH and many other popular places in New England.  He has been the front man for a few of his own bands, opened for many big bands as a solo artist and has met and hung out with professional well known musicians.  If you want to hear Jeff Hayford sing please go to

N1M.co/Jeff Hayford.  If you interested in his writing pleas go to   a4hpros.blogspot.com.

Jamison

 

Jamison

Illustration By Donna Massa  2014

This illustration was created for a customer who wanted a design for her new little grandson Jamison.  This is the finished illustration that the customer later framed for his room.  The questions I asked in order to create this illustration after the child was born was his name, date of birth, exact time of birth, and place of birth.  This enabled me to calculate his Astrological Solar Chart, a blue print of this little man’s character, personality and many other aspects of his nature.  His astrological Sun sign that governs his character was in the sign of Pisces, planetary ruler Neptune, element water.  His Rising or Ascendant was in the sign of Aries planetary ruler Mars element fire, and his Moon that governs his personality was in the sign of Taurus planetary ruler Venus element earth.  This information set up the entire concept of this composition when using the letters of his name.  

Some letters of his name illustrates something about this little man’s birth sign Pisces.  This is a water sign baby and the symbol are two fish side by side going in opposite directions.  One fish going upstream and the other downstream.  Like the symbol of the fish these water-babies love to swim and feel most comfortable living near water especially the ocean and they love everything the ocean represents.  This is an emotional sign, sensitive, compassionate, intuitive, gentle, wise, musical, artistic, loves nature and animals, and has a happy playful disposition.  These traits are illustrated in the letters J & S.  

His Rising or Ascendant is in the sign of Aries.  This is a strong fire sign that is ambitious, determined, aggressive, innovative, energetic and honest.  Most of these traits are illustrated in the letter M.

The Moon that governs his personality is in the sign of Taurus.  This being an earth element represents being firmly grounded in the sand, practical and logical thinking, likes gardening, working with his hands and an affectionate lover-boy.  This is illustrated in the letters S,O, & N.

In the center is the letter I.  This letter represents the astrological symbol of the Planet Neptune ruler of Pisces.  This Planet ruler is known for its inspiration, a higher level of spirituality, dreams, illusions, fantasies and all things magical and enchanting are illustrated in the letter A.  This little man’s name takes on his own individual identity one that will support him for the rest of his life…