Remember The Warmer Days

Back in the day, when the temps were warmer, and the grass was green, some friends asked me if I'd paint the Grand Tetons on their back fence.  Except as we talked about it, we realized that their neighbor owned the fence... which meant that he may just randomly decide to replace a board or two one day.  And that would leave an unpainted board in the middle of their vista!

So I painted it on two big 4' x 8' boards instead.  It was grand fun!  I had the boards standing up in my garage, all awkward, with lights stretched out along the ceiling so I could see what I was doing.  More than once I almost tipped one of them over onto myself.  What an adventure!

And then, my husband, servant that he is, went with me to hang them on the fence... because he is strong, and I am not!!!  I loved how it turned out!

If you want to see the picture up close, just click on it.

Boiling It Down

Not long ago one of my pastors pulled me aside and asked me if I'd be willing to do a "permanent" painting for our church...  not one of those that I paint over every year.  He wanted to highlight our identity, our calling, that thing that never changes.  This is the phrase he wanted.  It's a boiling down of the Great Commission given to every believer in Jesus.  Mark 16 says, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."  It's a good reminder to see every week!

On a side note:  Notice the roots.  As believers in Jesus, we cannot (and should not) attempt to live life alone.  We are tied together, and are meant to serve and care for each other.  The roots of an aspen tree are a beautiful picture of how we live.  They're all connected... really!

The Tools I So Desperately Need!

Honest.  I couldn't do what I do without these tools... or this man.  This is my hubby, who faithfully serves me by building huge canvases, and then hanging them when I'm done!

What on earth is he hanging?  Last month I was asked to paint something  for the foyer of our church.  This is a major focal point for us as believers.  Jesus calls to us enter the battle field... or the pond, or lake, or stream, or raging waters... all to tell people about Him so that they too can believe and find new life.

Buds

Several days ago I drove by a neighbor who had his horses out and was saddling them to go for a ride.  OF COURSE I had to stop!  We had a lovely chat, and I took a whole bunch of pictures.  I've never painted a horse before.  I have a vague memory of drawing these goofy, cartoon-y horses in junior high, but that's it!  So I really, really wanted to try it!

Part way through I panicked over the eye.  I sort of think I over came that... but part of me still thinks the front horse's head is flat instead of 3-dimensional!  And his neck totally bugs me.  I've changed it once, and now that I'm looking at it again I might have to make more changes!!

Learning, right?  Even with the foibles, this was great fun to paint!

A New Set for Community Church!

All eight of the old canvases have been pulled from their frames... folded up... and tossed in the church's dumpster.  Change is so good!!  And now?  All eight canvases, newly stretched, and spiffy new artwork!  Last time we focused on the person of Jesus Christ, who He is to us, and His glory.  This time we are focusing on who we are in  Christ... and still His glory!

I tried to have at least some of the fonts be a reflection of what they are saying.  Like below, we are inseparable from Christ.  But why?  Because we try so hard?   No!  Because we are beloved by Him!  It's all the same cord that ties us together.

Don't just take my word for it that all these statements are true of our identity in Christ.  You can click on the images and they'll get bigger... and you'll see that there are Bible references for each word.  Go look them up!  If you're unfamiliar with a Bible, use the table of contents to help you find the books.  These are GLORIOUS TRUTHS, and worthy of your inspection!!

I DID IT!! I DID IT!!

Yes, I did it!!  All those horizontal lines.  And verticals.  And diagonals.  And then the details in the tractor.  Oh, but I'm  pleased!  It's still on  my easel, and I sometimes just stop and stare at it.

When I sat down to paint, I held the brush and spoke to my God, asking for His help.  "Lord, will You hold my brush?"  I am grateful, my Father.

Coming Soon to an Auction Near You

"Aspen Sketch"

"Color"

"Mother's Day Flowers"

Every spring Camp Elim holds a women's retreat where women gather from all over to be encouraged in God's Word, and challenged in their walk with Him.  For several years now the retreat has also played host to a silent auction that benefits the work that Camp Elim does.

This year I'm adding these three drawings to the auction.  They've sat in my files long enough!  Interested?  Check out their website!!  https://www.campelim.com/  You can still sign up to attend the women's retreat... all or even just part of it.  Camp Elim is one of my favorite places in the whole wide world, and I'm delighted to be able to donate these art pieces!

Two New Guys

"Hello Gorgeous"

"Mr. Wonderful"

Two new guys!!  These are SMALL.  It's an odd thing to go from painting ginormous canvases (8' square) and using a pretty jumbo brush, to painting these little ones.  They're 4" x 7", and required some much smaller brushes!!  They were great fun, though!

I have to admit that I have a different canvas on my easel, all drawn out, waiting to be painted... but I painted these instead.  Why, you ask?  Because the one on my easel is a barn with a tractor, and I'm scared to death to paint it!!  You can paint a rooster, or a flower, and if there's something slightly off, nobody knows!  But if you get the straight lines of a barn wrong... well, it's going to be obvious!

Deep breath, right?  By God's grace, the barn and the tractor will be next.

January's Sketchbook

Oh how I love a rooster!!  Isn't he grand?!  I'm so thankful God created them.  And that barn is captivating.

Pinterest is a grand place to find all sorts of ideas and beautiful things... and reference photos!!

Yes, this was my breakfast.  And no, that's not a huge egg... it's a tiny frying pan!

Eww.  Really.  Eww.  I've got a LONG way to go before I will ever count myself as even slightly adept at the human form!!

This was the preliminary sketch for the painting I showed you a while ago.  Oh, how I love peonies!

Who is like the Lord our God, indeed?  He is a constant source of wonder for me.  I frequently find myself crying this very phrase out to Him.  Who is like You, Lord God?!

I'm actually rather pleased that I filled this many pages last month.  I haven't drawn for months, it seems, and this feels good.  February is already half over, but I've got pencil in hand....

If you want to see any of these upclose,  you can click on the picture to enlarge it.

From The Archives

I painted this in 2014, clearly in the fall!  I was loving painting these little canvases, only 8" square (completely different from the 8 FOOT square canvases I do for my church!), and I have a whole collection of them.  This one is hanging on my kitchen wall, and reminds me that God is faithful.

GOD IS FAITHFUL.

This winter will end.

Spring will come.

And in time, fall will again come.

Because God promised.  All the way back in Genesis, after the flood, God said to Himself, "...while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

And since He's faithful over our seasons, I can KNOW that He is also faithful in His care for me.  And His work in sustaining my soul, and preserving me for all eternity.  And my response to that?  GLORY TO MY GOD!

Almost Dry

Oh my!!  I haven't touched my oil paints in so long!  And this was so very delightful to paint!  I have been reveling in God's kindness!  It's a small-ish guy... only 8"x10".  I didn't want to set too huge a goal for myself, since I haven't painted with my oil paints in months.  But this went so very quickly. Did I already say it?  I'm reveling in God's kindness!

I'm calling it "Garden Glory."

Thank You, My Father!

Time Is Not My Friend!

Clearly it's been MONTHS since I last posted anything on here.  And because of that I FORGOT HOW TO POST!  Pathetic, I know.  I asked Murphy, and he told me what I needed to do, and then I let too much time go by AGAIN, and I FORGOT AGAIN! I'm heaving a huge sigh here.

But this time I figured it out!  I can only say it was because of the kindness of my God!  So, thank You, Lord Jesus!!

This painting was done for a lovely lady way back in February of last year.  My hubby and I drove around our area, exploring all kinds of back roads, all to get the perfect reference pic.  Which was not a hardship!  We live in such a beautiful part of the world!  I am thankful for that!