Tonight's Occupation

I've spent the last three days on a scaffold painting huge canvases.  With big sloppy brushes.  Hopping down to get a good look, climbing back up again to continue painting.  The scale of it gets almost mind-numbing after awhile...and definitely shoulder-aching.

So tonight I got out my sketch book and my colored pencils (and a blanket, and a glass of water, and an ice cream bar) and worked small.  And as I worked small, I reveled in COLOR!!  I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that I thank the Lord for color at least every other day.  It is a constant source of joy to me.

So Teach Us To Number Our Days

This started out as a request for a crow.  Actually, let me back that up:  it started out as a request for an owl.  "Why an owl?"  Because the recipient loves them because they're so smart.  They also love crows.  I'd much rather paint a crow!

But wait.... that sketch is of a raven.  Or is it?  I went hunting, and frankly, I'm still not sure.  But in the process I found an image that I like better!

Along with this, there will be a verse (done in calligraphy by my sister-in-law) from Psalm 90.  "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  Funny how the details of life play themselves out (ahem.... insert here a grateful bowing to the sovereignty of God!):  I've loved that verse for years!

What better way to ponder the passing of our days, than to have this so-wise bird perched on a clock face?

The finished painting, leaving space for the calligraphy on the left.  I haven't worked with watercolors in YEARS.  It was definitely a challenge!  You HAVE to wait for the previous layers to dry!  I was reminded of that the hard way.  This thing got painted twice, partially for that reason!

Sometimes It's Just Plain Work

Two sketches.  Trying to figure out the layout of a piece I was working on.  I never actually used either of these, and so they hang out in my file.

For most of my life I thought that as an artist you just picked up a pencil, or a paintbrush, and started creating.  And then after a short period of time ... "voila!"... you had a lovely finished  piece.  Boy, was I wrong!!  It never ceases to amaze me how much time I spend in prep-work.  Sketching, and re-sketching, and searching for reference materials, and changing my mind, and sketching some more.  Add to that making mistakes and having to start over!!

That bit about "changing my mind"... that's the problematic part!!  I'm guessing the Lord didn't wrangle over creating like I wrangle over a painting!  Yes, He called it work.  And yes, He rested when He was done.  But I'm guessing He didn't have any self-doubt in the mix!  And I'm very thankful for that!  There's no fussing and second-guessing in my God!

What On Earth?!?

Yes, that's an eyeball.  No, wait.  It's a football.  No wait....

I should be used to it by now... people ask you to paint the oddest things!  And that's a good thing, because it was a LOT of fun!!

For those of you who just CAN'T  FATHOM  WHY someone would ask me to paint an eye on a football... it was a sermon illustration!!  If you want to hear it, you can listen here:  http://www.woodlandparkcommunitychurch.com/  .... it's the sermon from January 4th, 2015.