Wolf Spirit

Each morning before breakfast, I spend quality time with my beloved cat, Clydie. He’s been with me for nearly four years now after showing up one morning out of nowhere. After a while I gained his trust, but he insists on being an outdoor cat. He used to spend a lot of time right around the house and he often helped me work in the garden or sat beside me on the deck when I was simply enjoying some quiet time.

But other cats have shown up over time and Clydie has sadly decided to retreat to the workshop at the other end of the property. So now I go to him. I open one of the shop's garage doors and sit in a chair at it’s opening with Clydie on my lap. He makes biscuits, we chat and touch foreheads, and watch the trees, the sky and clouds, the birds, and whatever else there is to see.

A Wolf Spirit Appears

One gloomy morning I was observing the trees as usual when I imagined a wolf spirit in the sky in a space between the bare tree limbs. I took a few photos. Though the wolf didn’t appear in those photos, Clydie imagined the wolf too. In fact, we discussed the possibility that it was a wolf angel. Why wouldn’t all creatures have guardian angels? And why wouldn’t those angels be in the image of those they guard?

That’s the background of this spread which I started over the weekend. It was the weekend of the big winter storm for the end of January, 2026. It wasn’t too bad here. But it was very gloomy, and the spread—at least so far—reflects that.

The beginning was simply collage and paint, placing pieces of the photos (photocopied and fixed) I took on the spread and “setting them in” with a few paint colors and alcohol ink splashes. Then, very lightly, I used a H pencil to draw a wolf head in the sky where I'd imagined it.

The bare trees of the landscape in my art journal spread in process

I decided to add more trees. I didn’t like to lose what they would cover up, but I went ahead and added them then tried to add some white that had a similar feel to the part I’d lost.

adding a few more trees to my in-process art journal spread, plus a sketch of the Spirit Wolf

More Wolves

Then I worked more on the original wolf and added a few more. Here’s the original ‘sky’ wolf.

giving the Spirit Wolf a little more substance

He looks a bit like a bear. I tried to make him more wolf-like, but there’s more work to do for that.

A young wolf appeared in the thicket.  That arch shape the tree branches formed just invited her in. I think she’s a guarded wolf rather than another guardian.

a young wolf sheltering in the thicket appears on the scene

Then a howling wolf appeared on a snow-covered slop in the distance. I’m not sure whether he’s guardian or guarded. Perhaps that will reveal itself as I continue to work.

then I spot a howling wolf on a ridge in the distance.

I’m looking forward to continuing with this. It’s taking on a spiritual feel. But I’m going to let it sit quietly for several days as I ponder and wait for guidance as to where I’m going next with it. I love working this way—an unfolding mystery!

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