Two new sketches using pencil, marker and oil pastels

I did two new sketches from out of my husband’s 100+ framed paintings collection and thought you’d enjoy them.

This is my butterfly sketch in progress, because I had no idea that I would finish it yesterday due to all the white dots (so much black to color in), and it did take some time:

Butterfly artwork of Richard’s on the left; my version of the butterfly sketch on paper on the right (in progress). Though I did make a little mistake on the top of the rose, and even laid awake last night thinking of actually cutting some paper and gluing it over the mistake, I’ll leave it alone. –Sheila Murrey
Finished butterfly sketch. I am having fun trying to decide where and when to use the watercolor paints. –Sheila Murrey
Indian chief artwork of Richard’s on the left; my version of the chief sketch on paper on the right. I started this one with the watercolor as I guessed where his face would be–and yes, I had to make some adjustments when I drew over the pencil with the brown marker, so not all of the watercolor got included on his face, though I think it worked. I might go back and add a bit of pink watercolor to the feather, not sure yet.I also now see where I could add more black to the lower left of the sketch. Hmm –Sheila Murrey
Native American Indian Chief sketch. Hubby said I did a good job. And that made my day! –Sheila Murrey

Thankfully, I’m now sleeping a bit better (the shoulder/arm/back pain I have been experiencing is letting up more and more). I am continuing to seek out a good inexpensive comfrey cream. Let me know if you know of a good one.

Breathing in the miracles today…

I’m breathing and repeating my new mantra: “Art communicates more than words, builds new brain neural pathways, and connects us all!”

Yours in consciousness-expansion as we evolve and revolve during our mystical awakening. Doing-my-egoless-best, to take you on a limitless, spiraling integrating ride to better health, doing with more ease and less effort-ing, to help us find and sustain the JOY in our lives! (Sprinkling Gratitude all around while we’re at it.)

Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

About us

My husband and I are creators of life-enhancing spiritual and soulful information, music, and digital designs for wholly vibrant living.

We’re songwriters open to placing any of our 1,500+ original songs in TV, film, games, etc. We’re also seeking bands to play our songs. Video content creators, filmmakers, podcasters, production companies, deejays, Vloggers, YouTubers, and more can use our original music and songs in movies, TV shows, video intros, and such.

My husband of 21 years, Richard Murrey, is an award-winning illustrator, plus he’s a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (having penned over 1,500 original songs). You can view his artwork and hear original songs at: https://www.youtube.com/user/richardmurrey

Here’s our Unsolicited Radio music show channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Unsolicited_Radio

And here’s a link to join our public-facing, original music group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CF7Q2gbkA/

Find me over on my YouTube channel for JIGGLE WIGGLE, mobility movement videos, video book reviews, plants, art, and more at: https://youtube.com/@spiralsister

And here I am talking about my new 5th book on YouTube –>> https://youtube.com/shorts/RKmIIucsMs4?feature=share Here’s how to get a paperback copy of, We Are All Connected: The How and The Why. https://amzn.to/4s7n3Jg or eBook version: https://amzn.to/3PAvfUK

You can support us by picking up merch at: https://sheilamurrey.net/store/

Richard and I (in 2020) performing one of our cowritten songs: https://vimeo.com/416711742?ref=fb-share

Connect with us socially at:

Tiger sketch using pencil, marker and oil pastels

I looked through some of my husband’s 100+ framed paintings to see if I thought I might attempt a sketch of a few more, recall the lions:

This is a face on tiger. I love Richard’s artwork. He always creates a mat for his art as well, so we just print and frame. Easy! He used to sell these for $100 each, but has taken his artwork down due to low sales and too many scam-like emails coming in to him.

Tiger artwork of Richard’s on top; my version of the tiger sketch on paper. I got a little likeness but feel I could have done a better job at mapping out where the white needed to be. I used the watercolors only on the nose and add some “hairy” strokes. –Sheila Murrey

The shoulder/arm/back pain I have been experiencing is starting to ease, though today (and it was our busy grocery day), my arm has had a dull ache all day. Ugh! I found an arnica roll on at Walmart and giving it a try. I am continuing to seek out a good inexpensive comfrey cream. Let me know if you know of a good one. Thanks Julie (over at: https://emotionalpeace.wordpress.com) for the prayers! I chatted with Christina at Herbal-Cottage this morning and she’s ending me a bottle of nerve relief tonic (she was only out of stock on her website)! Yay!

Breathing in the miracles today…

I’m breathing and repeating my new mantra: “Art communicates more than words, builds new brain neural pathways, and connects us all!”

Yours in consciousness-expansion as we evolve and revolve during our mystical awakening. Doing-my-egoless-best, to take you on a limitless, spiraling integrating ride to better health, doing with more ease and less effort-ing, to help us find and sustain the JOY in our lives! (Sprinkling Gratitude all around while we’re at it.)

Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

About us

My husband and I are creators of life-enhancing spiritual and soulful information, music, and digital designs for wholly vibrant living.

Here’s our Unsolicited Radio music show channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Unsolicited_Radio

And here’s a link to join our public-facing, original music group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CF7Q2gbkA/

Find me over on my YouTube channel for JIGGLE WIGGLE, mobility movement videos, video book reviews, plants, art, and more at: https://youtube.com/@spiralsister

And here I am talking about my new 5th book on YouTube –>> https://youtube.com/shorts/RKmIIucsMs4?feature=share Here’s how to get a paperback copy of, We Are All Connected: The How and The Why. https://amzn.to/4s7n3Jg or eBook version: https://amzn.to/3PAvfUK

My husband is an award-winning illustrator, plus he’s a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (with over 1,400 original songs). You can view some of his artwork and listen to many of his songs at: https://www.youtube.com/user/richardmurrey

You can support us by picking up merch at: https://sheilamurrey.net/store/

Richard and I (in 2020) performing one of our cowritten songs: https://vimeo.com/416711742?ref=fb-share

Connect with us socially at:

Child on tree swing sketch using pencil, marker and oil pastels

I felt inspired, since receiving my new watercolor kit (Thanks to Walmart! See my next article where I explain the program and show you the kit), that I got to sketching and painting right away yesterday afternoon! I decided to attempt another one of the sketches I’ve held onto for months (from Linda Lewis’ blog). Let me know what you think of it:

Linda Lewis’ child on tree swing sketch on laptop and my version of child on tree swing sketch on paper –Sheila Murrey
My child on tree swing sketch. My critique is that I really need to practice hands (haha! Mine kind of look like claws), and I probably should have used watercolor on the shirt and pants instead of the oil pastels. –Sheila Murrey

Thanks to my artist, blogger and “soul sister” pal, Linda Lewis… this was the post where she presented her sketch of the child on the swing back on April 28th, 2026: https://creativeartworksblog.com/2026/04/28/tuesday-4-28-2026/

The shoulder/arm/back pain I have been experiencing for just over a week is continuing to ease. I checked Walmart for any other kind of pillow or massager, etc. and couldn’t find anything I liked any better than what I have (an ergonomic pillow, TENS machine, and PowerPlate massager in a sort of peanut shape). The herbal tincture from Herbal-Cottage helps, but I believe I need their nerve tonic as well, and they are out of stock on it right now. The Ibuprofen didn’t help at all last night, so I am looking at getting a stronger topical comfrey cream. I found one via a Facebook ad, but it’s about $50 for a 2 ounce jar! Not wanting to spend that, I’m checking elsewhere online. Let me know if you have used a good one.

I’m breathing and repeating my new mantra: “Art communicates more than words, builds new neural pathways (in the brain), and connects us all!”

Yours in consciousness-expansion as we evolve and revolve during our mystical awakening. Doing-my-egoless-best, to take you on a limitless, spiraling integrating ride to better health, doing with more ease and less effort-ing, to help us find and sustain the JOY in our lives! (Sprinkling Gratitude all around while we’re at it.)

Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

About us

My husband and I are creators of life-enhancing spiritual and soulful information, music, and digital designs for wholly vibrant living.

Here’s our Unsolicited Radio music show channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Unsolicited_Radio

And here’s a link to join our public-facing, original music group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CF7Q2gbkA/

Find me over on my YouTube channel for JIGGLE WIGGLE, mobility movement videos, video book reviews, plants, art, and more at: https://youtube.com/@spiralsister

And here I am talking about my new 5th book on YouTube –>> https://youtube.com/shorts/RKmIIucsMs4?feature=share Here’s how to get a paperback copy of, We Are All Connected: The How and The Why. https://amzn.to/4s7n3Jg or eBook version: https://amzn.to/3PAvfUK

My husband is an award-winning illustrator, plus he’s a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (with over 1,400 original songs). You can view some of his artwork and listen to many of his songs at: https://www.youtube.com/user/richardmurrey

You can support us by picking up merch at: https://sheilamurrey.net/store/

Richard and I (in 2020) performing one of our cowritten songs: https://vimeo.com/416711742?ref=fb-share

Connect with us socially at:

Lady sketch using pencil, marker and oil pastels

As another “thank you” to my artist, blogger and “soul sister” pal, Linda Lewis… here’s a lady she sketched back on April 28th, 2026: https://creativeartworksblog.com/2026/04/28/tuesday-4-28-2026/

And as Linda has suggested to me, when “you get to the point where the process becomes more like an escape from something on your to-do list, rather than an item on it. THAT’S when you’ll really smile.” And I am smiling, Linda. This was FUN!

Lady sketch, Linda’s original on laptop screen; my replica sketch on paper –Sheila Murrey
Lady sketch with pencil, marker, and oil pastels –Sheila Murrey

The shoulder/arm/back pain is slowly reducing. I laid on the TENS machine yesterday (and though it was 91 degrees upstairs, I still fell asleep), and it relieves the pain totally only for as long as I’m on it. So, there’s that. I’m still using the PowerPlate handheld massager when the nerve acts up (about once every 30 minutes). The herbal tincture from Herbal-Cottage and arrived yesterday is helping too. I took another (very old) Ibuprofen last night. It occurred to me that whatever relief it’s offering is no doubt slight, as that bottle is at least 10 years old.

I updated my blog site menu on the home page and rewrote the merch/store page at: https://sheilamurrey.net/store/ (its under the Murrey Creations tab on the home page, and it will be at the bottom of each future article too).

And in keeping with our Murrey Creations “Original songs for improving brain health” Facebook public group, I’ve been working on two new original songs for Gina Virginia Casella and her upcoming Fall conference, so I’ll be writing more about that in a week or two.

Richard’s AI graphic for our new Facebook public group. –Richard Murrey

Remember our new mantra: “Art communicates more than words, builds new neural pathways (in the brain), and connects us all!”

Yours in consciousness-expansion as we evolve and revolve during our mystical awakening. Doing-my-egoless-best, to take you on a limitless, spiraling integrating ride to better health, doing with more ease and less effort-ing, to help us find and sustain the JOY in our lives! (Sprinkling Gratitude all around while we’re at it.)

Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

About us

My husband and I are creators of life-enhancing spiritual and soulful information, music, and digital designs for wholly vibrant living.

Here’s our Unsolicited Radio music show channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Unsolicited_Radio

And here’s a link to join our public-facing, original music group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CF7Q2gbkA/

Find me over on my YouTube channel for JIGGLE WIGGLE, mobility movement videos, video book reviews, plants, art, and more at: https://youtube.com/@spiralsister

And here I am talking about my new 5th book on YouTube –>> https://youtube.com/shorts/RKmIIucsMs4?feature=share Here’s how to get a paperback copy of, We Are All Connected: The How and The Why. https://amzn.to/4s7n3Jg or eBook version: https://amzn.to/3PAvfUK

My husband is an award-winning illustrator, plus he’s a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (with over 1,400 original songs). You can view some of his artwork and listen to many of his songs at: https://www.youtube.com/user/richardmurrey

You can support us by picking up merch at: https://sheilamurrey.net/store/

Richard and I (in 2020) performing one of our cowritten songs: https://vimeo.com/416711742?ref=fb-share

Connect with us socially at:

Sketch of the lions using pencil, marker and oil pastels

I have completed a sketch of a male and female lion that my husband, retired graphics specialist, Richard Murrey drew and illustrated many years ago and a print of which, hangs in our living room. He used to display his art on a couple of websites, but now, has decided dealing with the random emails and follow through is too much for him. I’m simply thankful he continues to write a few songs and organize them for our radio shows!

I’m making this more of an art day because I am still dealing with shoulder/arm/back pain. I have a TENS machine and laid on it last night when I couldn’t sleep. I also have a QiCoil and PowerPlate handheld massager that helps, but I can only use these for so long as they must be recharged. I now see why people buy two of such things! The TENS is plugged directly into the wall outlet so I could use it all night, though that’s probably not recommended. I’d go back to my naturopath musculoskeletal doc, but I don’t want to have to go to him (at $160 an hour) every time this acts up. And since this is the second time in 8 months it’s been this bad, I think rest, herbal tincture (which thankfully, arrived in the mail yesterday afternoon), and massaging it will help it heal soon. It was so bad last night, it went from an aggravation to a barking pain! And I finally gave in and took ONE Ibuprofen. I do NOT know how people live in pain. I can’t.

I enjoyed sketching first with a pencil and then going over the lines to perfect them (though I still don’t believe there’s really any Perfection in art), and then adding the colors. As well, I enjoy blending the oil pastels around on the page, as well as kind of making brush strokes (or crayon strokes).

My mantra now is: Art communicates more than words, builds new neural pathways (in the brain), and connects us all!

Yours in consciousness-expansion as we evolve and revolve during our mystical awakening. All while doing-my-egoless-best, to take you on a limitless, spiraling thought ride to better health, through doing more with ease, to help us sustain the JOY in our lives! (With lots of Gratitude throughout.)

Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

About us

My husband and I are creators of life-enhancing spiritual and soulful information, music, and digital designs for wholly vibrant living.

Here’s our Unsolicited Radio music show channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Unsolicited_Radio

And here’s a link to join our public-facing, original music group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CF7Q2gbkA/

Find me over on my YouTube channel for JIGGLE WIGGLE, mobility movement videos, video book reviews, plants, art, and more at: https://youtube.com/@spiralsister

And here I am talking about my new 5th book on YouTube –>> https://youtube.com/shorts/RKmIIucsMs4?feature=share Here’s how to get a paperback copy of, We Are All Connected: The How and The Why. https://amzn.to/4s7n3Jg or eBook version: https://amzn.to/3PAvfUK

My husband is an award-winning illustrator, plus he’s a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (with over 1,400 original songs). You can view some of his artwork and listen to many of his songs at: https://www.youtube.com/user/richardmurrey

You can support us by picking up merch at: https://sheilamurrey.net/store/

Richard and I (in 2020) performing one of our cowritten songs: https://vimeo.com/416711742?ref=fb-share

Connect with us socially at: