Apologies, my friends!

So, those of you who are kind enough to "follow" this blog, might notice that my "followers" section to the right has disappeared.  I have no idea why!  Yes, I changed the design a little bit, but I still have no idea where you all went.  I'm sorry!  Thank you for following, just the same!

Another Greeting Card

Not long ago my sis was greatly moved by a greeting card that she received.  It was delightful on so many levels.  First, someone bothered to send her REAL MAIL!  Then, once the card was opened, she realized that they had taken the time to MAKE the card.  And after all that, the words written within were music to her soul, food for her spirit, and encouraging in every way.

I am attempting to take that to heart.  So today, instead of  picking up the phone or sending an e-mail, I sat down and drew out this card instead.  It is going in the mail pronto, and I pray God uses it to speak love.

The Lessons of Plein Air Painting

I just keep reminding myself, THIS IS ALL ABOUT LEARNING.

Today I went out with two friends to 11-Mile Canyon, a delightful road following a river.  The weather was PERFECT.  And we sat on the rocks and painted.  And painted.  And then we moved to a different rock, and painted some more.  Except for the bugs that tend to land in your wet paint, and the fact that we dropped the roll of paper towels in the river, it was a delightful day!

And I am learning.  I tend to be too rushed when I'm painting outdoors.  As if the sky were about to open and dump on me within seconds (not true...the sky was deligtfully clear!).  So I need to slow down just a touch.  And be more careful with my color mixing, because frankly...these are DARK.  And allow myself to put in more depth, instead of just having the background be a general mush.

So far, I think that's what I'm supposed to learn.

Oh, and "never, never, never give up"!

Inked Poppies

Oof!  Busy week!  School, doctor bills, phone calls, art projects (not yet finished), and nowhere near enough sun.  "Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!" (ps 4).  May you revel in His presence.

Family Reunion

Recently I was reminded of my parent's 50th anniversary, which is now passed and I MISSED IT!  Shame mounts.  With hindsight growing, I've been pondering a project for them, which has me writing down birth dates, looking up old pics, and re-checking the spelling of my grandparents' names.  It made me think of this painting I did last December for my aunt.  Clearly she loves chickens as much as I do!  I called this "Family Reunion", and it's great fun trying to figure out which chicken is which cousin!

Meeting Fodder?

 

Is it rude to doodle during a meeting?  I mean...ideas were flying, people were talking, jokes were being shared, some people were taking notes...and in this particular meeting an adorable baby/toddler was munching on pretzels.  So, surely I can doodle?  Someone mentioned something about a family tree, and away went my brain with my pen in hot pursuit!  It really couldn't be helped.

From my Sketchbook

 

I was reminded the other day that to improve I must SKETCH EVERY DAY.  There are artists out there who are much better than I am who sketch, sometimes for hours, every single day.  It's a discipline that brings beautiful rewards, but laziness and busy-ness constantly interrupt.

I started this drawing before the fall (ha....that doesn't mean before Adam sinned!), and I've been working on it in small bits and pieces.  Someday it'll be done.  Someday.

How do you spell "sajauaro"? Sujuaro...Sojuaro...Sejuaro...

 

More ink!  I have this thought in my head that the huge desert sky lends itself well to some quirky decoration.  Therefore I put in stripes and chunky stars!  Couldn't help myself.

ChickChickChickChickChickChickChickChickChickChickChickChickChick!!

I seem to have a thing for chickens!  Maybe I need to build a chicken coop and become a chicken-herder?  (What is a chicken-herder called, anyways?)  I think they stink something fierce, but they make such fantastic noises, surely I could get over the smell??!

Blank Cards

Two weeks ago today I was foolish enough to fall off of an 8' ladder.  Not graceful.  I rattled my brain a bit, and ended up with a Royal Shiner (yes....that needs to be capitalized!), along with a fracture deep in my head and a fractured elbow.  Wow, what an adventure!

Something I've discovered from all this is that there are a lot of people out there who follow their inner voice and ACTUALLY SEND GET WELL CARDS.  It's amazing.  And it's really moving to be on the receiving end!

So I've been thinking about my own....lack of follow-through.  When I'm prompted by the Spirit of God, I need to pay attention!  Since I can't hold a paint brush without a fair amount of pain, I'm working on holding a pen instead...and I'm adding to my stock of blank cards.  It's much easier to actually send a card if I happen to have one on hand!

Potter (and I Don't Mean Harry)

This is the one-line birthday card that I sent to my friend Jim.  He's a potter.

Several months ago he invited a couple of us to the pottery to see the whole shebang.  We took our cameras, of course!  My grandma was a potter too, and I was reminded that there's a pretty long, drawn out process that goes into making pots, including two firings (I think), and some trimming, and some glazing...and in the end there is something beautiful and useful.

I'm reminded of the work that God puts into us.  Stretching.  Shaping.  Forming.  Trimming.  It's absolutely necessary that we stay in the Potter's hands for a long while.  Then the firing, which is terribly uncomfortable, but necessary.   All because God is making us into something astounding and useful.

Useful.  For His glory.  Make it so, Lord.

From the Archives

Summer!  FULL summer!  Not that hesitant, iffy, still-snowing-sometimes kind of summer that we seem get in the mountains.   Full-blown, hot, baking-sun summer.  That's what we've finally got, with a fantastic thunder storm thrown in every other day, just for entertainment.  I love variety in weather!  It's just evidence that God is amazing.

This watercolor is little, measuring only 6" square.  I gave it to a friend of mine.  And for the record...we ATE the vegetables.  Shocking, but true.

Rest is Valuable!

I did this ink drawing  awhile ago.  It's one of the pages that I tore from my Moleskine knock-off.  Yesterday I was delighted to start a NEW Moleskine, this time the real-deal, with nice thick paper, and it was enriching in every way!  I'm sure I'll be posting scans of the drawings from time to time.

I've had a delightful week off from anything resembling art.  I can't believe I just said that!  Really, the joy came from freedom from any deadlines, which can be a little wearing at times.  Even when we're doing exactly what we believe God has placed in front of us to do, there is still a need for stepping away every once in awhile.  After all, Jesus sent out his disciples, and when they returned He said, "Come away and rest awhile."

So I rested awhile.

And today I get to go back to painting.  And I really do mean that I "get" to....it's something I'm delighted about and looking forward to!  Amazing what a week off does for your energy and enthusiasm and perspective!

Happy Monday, everyone!

Converse

con-verse -vi. 1. to hold a conversation; talk  -n. 1. informal talk; conversation

OR!  My favorite tennies.  I'm thinking I should contact the Converse company owners and negotiate decorating their shoes for them.  It'd be a big hit!  I'd wear 'em in a second.