I am a 22 year old illustrator specializing in photorealistic colored pencil and graphite drawings.
You can check out my drawing videos on YouTube!
Hello!
My name is Heather Rooney.
I am an illustrator specializing in photorealistic colored pencil and graphite drawings.
Since finding my passion for portrait and figure drawing in high school, I have developed a technique focusing on high attention to detail. I draw my inspiration from a broad range of cultural figures, such as sport athletes, media personalities and entertainment professionals.
With each illustration requiring many hours of work, ranging from 30 hours to 100+ hours, I share my process through time-lapse videos on my YouTube channel, which has generated over 60 million views from a global audience.
I received my B.A. in Studio Art at Emmanuel College, in the vibrant city of Boston, Massachusetts. I am now pursuing a career in illustration.
Antoine Leiris wrote although the terrorists had taken ‘an exceptional life’ they would ‘not have my hatred’ Rose Troup Buchanan
Thursday 19 November 2015
Paris terror attack
Husband pays touching tribute to ‘love of his life’ in defiant message to attackers
The husband of a woman killed in the Paris attacks has written a touching message to the “love of my life” and promised to raise their 17-month-old son “happy and free ”.
Antoine Leiris, whose wife Helene Muyal-Leiris was among the 89 killed in the Bataclan concert hall attack on Friday evening, posted an emotional message on Facebook.
Mr Leiris, who first met his 35-year-old wife 12 years ago, told the attackers he would “not grant you the gift of my hatred.”
In a post – shared more than 60,000 times by Tuesday morning – Mr. Leiris said in French he would raise their son Melvil “happy and free” and that responding to “hatred with anger is falling victim to the same ignorance that has made you what you are.”
Antoine Leiris lost his wife Helene in the Bataclan theatre in Paris.
His Facebook tribute to his wife and challenge to her killers has since been shared thousands of times. Mr Leiris read out the letter to BBC News in Paris.
“IOTD” is image of the day, a concept I came up with. I teach visual meditative therapy – or in easy terms – a mini mental holiday. For some people it is very difficult for them to get their image right. I post an image a day for people to use in their mini mental vacay. Some are serious, some are silly, and some are just beautiful!”
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.
“IOTD” is image of the day, a concept I came up with. I teach visual meditative therapy – or in easy terms – a mini mental holiday. For some people it is very difficult for them to get their image right. I post an image a day for people to use in their mini mental vacay. Some are serious, some are silly, and some are just beautiful!”’
My mother had me when she was forty years old. I wasn’t a late child, I was one in a “string” of seven. Of those seven, she was able to carry only four to term. Of those four, she lost one the day after he was born and she lost another one 4 days before he turned one. The other three were miscarriages.
My Mother was a very strong woman. She was born in Puerto Rico in 1910 …. a time when there was unrest during the establishment of the American presence in the Island and all that it entailed.
She herself lost her Mom at the tender age of nine. She was the only girl in a family of three boys and a brother from another mother (sadly called “bastard” at that time).
From her stories, she was raised by her godmother, a lady who seemed to be quite the disciplinarian and maybe abusive when using current terms.
In spite of it all, she went to school and college. She became an outstanding teacher. She moved to New York City in the early 1930’s … and met my Father there. They were married in 1934 and remained together for 64 years.
She lived a full life. Stopped working as a teacher when she had me. “I will always be a teacher”, she used to say. She traveled to South America, on her own, for trips related to a subject dear to her heart: “Cooperativismo”. She was a staunch Catholic, very active in her church. She taught Spanish to all the American priests who arrived. She was an incredible seamstress and made beautiful pieces for the church’s altar and huge “estandartes” to be carried during the religious processions.
To top it all, she took excellent care of her husband and the two children she had: my older brother (first born) and me.
When she was 47, she underwent open-heart surgery (1957) …. a big deal back then. She made medical history by being the first open-heart surgery done in a private hospital in Puerto Rico.
In 1989, changes started surfacing that marked the beginning of the end. She developed progressive memory loss, became bedridden, regressed slowly in an almost childlike state (diapers, bottle feedings, all around care). The last ten years of her life went by so fast. She passed on at the age of 89 only remembering the name of the love of her life: my Dad: Pepo.
I haven’t been table to tell her how beautiful she is since then.
MOM, TODAY I TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. YOU ARE STILL ON MY MIND AND IN MY HEART. NEVER FORGOTTEN AND FOREVER THANKFUL.
To those of you who still have your mothers with you, never take them for granted.
Always tell them how beautiful they are. No matter how you say it, she’d love to hear it.
~~My Beautiful Mom I #MyBeautifulMom~~
~~Published on Apr 27, 2015~~
Although they think it, 79% of people don’t remember the last time they told their mom she is beautiful. We think that should change. No matter how you tell her, she’d love to hear it. Start now by sharing a message, photo or video of how beautiful your mom is using #MyBeautifulMom.
FOR MY MOM
~~Mama~~
Il Divo
~~Published on Jun 15, 2012~~
This is my song for Mother’s Day. She’s not with me anymore ….. yet I always remember her and dedicate this to her today …. May 10, 2015!
“IOTD” is image of the day, a concept I came up with. I teach visual meditative therapy – or in easy terms – a mini mental holiday. For some people it is very difficult for them to get their image right. I post an image a day for people to use in their mini mental vacay. Some are serious, some are silly, and some are just beautiful!”’
“A beautiful spirit made the transition early morning, February 27, 2014, as a soft rain fell ever Orlando. Joe Catino, son of my friend Rose, both of them two of the sweetest, strongest and brightest souls I know, brother to Gina, beloved uncle to Leilani and to the little nephew who will never see him on this side of the Veil, but will hear earfuls of Uncle Jojo stories as he grows up, and beloved of Kawon, another beautiful and pure soul, lost his brief but ferocious battle with cancer early today.
To his very last conscious moment, he kept his sense of humor and playfulness, and reflected back on those around him the deep love that surrounded him.
Go in Beauty, Joe, just as you walked in it throughout your life.”
Posted by Gringuis on February 28, 2014 10:50AM
A dear blogger friend taught me about this concept.
“IOTD” is image of the day, a concept I came up with. I teach visual meditative therapy – or in easy terms – a mini mental holiday. For some people it is very difficult for them to get their image right. I post an image a day for people to use in their mini mental vacay. Some are serious, some are silly, and some are just beautiful!”’
On year ago today, an awesome human being crossed to the other side after waging an incredible battle against an unbeatable foe.
I chronicled the events as they unfolded when his battle began. His mother, Rose, was always there with her and I followed Joe’s “progress” through her words.
For My Joe … from Rose, his Mom
I fought for you
The hardest, it made me the strongest
So tell me your secrets
I just can’t stand to see you leaving
But heaven couldn’t wait for you
No heaven couldn’t wait for you
Heaven couldn’t wait for you
No heaven couldn’t wait for you
So go on, go home
We laughed at the darkness
So scared that we lost it
We stood on the ceilings
You showed me love was all you needed
But heaven couldn’t wait for you
No heaven couldn’t wait for you
Heaven couldn’t wait for you
No heaven couldn’t wait for you
So go on, go home
So go on, go home
~~From Rose to her Joe~~
Early in life experiences and things that were done to me left me feeling anger and distrust of men, in general.
Joseph Catino came into my life and showed me that what I learned about men wasn’t true of all men. I don’t know if I would have ever been able to grow past those feelings without Joe’s presence in my life, reminding me daily that men CAN be gentle, kind, loving, sensitive, humble …
Thank you, Joe, for being such a huge part of my life’s recovery. When you came into my life, my healing began. You and Gina Catino will forever be my guiding lights, my strength, my continued will to survive. I would not be the woman I am today without you. And when I feel low, like today, I can feel your hand on my chin … lifting my face to see the stars …. and you smile your crooked smile.
I will love and miss you eternally.
~~GALLERY~~
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~~RELATED~~
I was writing a series of posts when I found out that my dear friend’s son had fallen ill.
The links to the story and the updates appear below.
A beautiful spirit made the transition early morning, February 27, 2014, as a soft rain fell ever Orlando. Joe Catino, son of my friend Rose, both of them two of the sweetest, strongest and brightest souls I know, brother to Gina, beloved uncle to Leilani and to the little nephew who will never see him on this side of the Veil, but will hear earfuls of Uncle Jojo stories as he grows up, and beloved of Kawon, another beautiful and pure soul, lost his brief but ferocious battle with cancer early today.
To his very last conscious moment, he kept his sense of humor and playfulness, and reflected back on those around him the deep love that surrounded him.
Go in Beauty, Joe, just as you walked in it throughout your life.
It Is What It Is 