Let the Prep-Work Begin

Within a couple of weeks, all those canvases that I just painted for my church will come down and be replaced.  So, I have to start sketching NOW if I'm going to have anything worth painting!  I spent the bulk of the morning stewing over fonts and layouts for verses, and then this afternoon I spent some time sketching this pine cone.  Sometime in February I'll show you how the two will go together!

Beginning Again

For some reason the human spirit needs a starting point.  We can't seem to just ooze into change.  We have this need to make it poignant.  At least I do.  I have a few built-in starting points: every spring, every year when school starts, and every year on January 1st.  I love this particular starting point.  I get to start a new calendar.  The Christmas decorations come down and the house gets REALLY cleaned.  I have a whole new wondering about what  God will accomplish in the new year. 

And I look back at God's faithfulness.   This morning I can review what He has taught me to paint this year, and I am thankful.  His kindness is obvious!  He will be faithful and kind in 2014 also.

I painted this in 2007 (really?!  That long ago?!).  It's a combination of watercolor and colored pencil, and I love it.

From the Archives

I've spent a little time this morning going over images of old pieces of art, old sketches, old doodles.  It's a beautiful thing to remember, particularly when there have been improvements!!  Learning is good.  And looking back and remembering what you've learned is also good.  Evidently in February of 2010 I was learning that I can draw out of my imagination, and not always have a reference pic!

It's almost 4 years later, and I still love this butterfly girl.  Love her wings.  Love her out-of-control hair.  Love her oh-so-huge feet (you need big feet if you spent any time walking on leaves, way up in the tree-tops, right?).

And I have no idea the significance of "570"!

My Accordion Sketchbook

 I was at the Denver Botanic Gardens last month, and drew this lily while sitting in the sun by their lily ponds.  It was the beginning of a fascinating accordion style sketchbook that I gave myself, where it's really just one long page, all folded up on itself.

Well, I've added to the accordion!  There's another fold that's almost done, but I'm going to have to trick my scanner to be able to get it on my computer.  In the meantime, though, lookit my western bluebird!!  I think he's lovely.  I'm sort of rejoicing over that!

Two More for Genesis

Two more for the series through Genesis. 

I love the thought behind God providing the lamb for the sacrifice.  Especially with Christmas coming up.  Sometimes I almost forget that the little baby born in Bethlehem was THE LAMB.  God Himself.  Sent by God Himself (brain bender there).  To be sacrificed to please God Himself. I am moved to my core.

And then, the caravan to Egypt, with Joseph tied on at the end.  What a miserable trip.  If only he could have looked forward, eh?  I was just talking to a friend in the grocery store today, about how God is ALWAYS active, even when His work is completely invisible to me.

Both images tell  me that God is FAITHFUL and TRUSTWORTHY.

Rejoice With Me!

Seriously, I am THRILLED with how this turned out.  Although there is a significant problem: his eyes aren't looking in the same direction!!!  I told my hubby this, and he replied, "well, that's just the way some people are made."  Ok!  So I decided to leave it.  Even so, crooked eyes and all, I love this.

That's it for this set.  5 Canvases, all black and white, all ready to hang.

My God is EXTRAORDINARY!

(if you want to see the crooked eyes up close, you can click on the image and it will get larger)

Two More!

Despite spots of wet paint, and odd lighting, and even odder shadows...here are two more.  Love that the shepherds appear to have dreads!!

I also went back and tweaked Elizabeth's face a little bit.

One more to go.

O Magnify the Lord with Me!

Mary

5' x 5'

Joseph

5' x 5'

A rough quote here...."the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.  His mercies never come to an end.  They are new every morning.  Great is your faithfulness, O Lord!"

I am moved by God's kindness.  These paintings are BEYOND my abilities.  What you see is evidence of God's kindness to me.  He really does hold my paintbrush.

Two More From Genesis

I sort of got these out of order.  Well, I PAINTED them in order, I just didn't PHOTOGRAPH them in order.  There's something about finishing a canvas, and just wanting to pack up and go home!  With a celebratory Starbucks for the drive!

The first image was the idea of one of my pastors.  I don't think people "get" it, though.  It's the story of the flood.  And that's Pikes Peak sticking up out of the water.

The second is from God's promise to Abraham.  God loves faith.  "And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."  Beautiful.

Today I finished up painting the ram caught in the thicket, from the story where Abraham goes to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God.  And did I take a picture?  Or did I go to Starbucks and head home?  I'll let you figure it out.

Drawing and Painting People

I'll be painting this in another week on a 6' square canvas, using only black, grey and white paint.  Whoo hoo!!!  I'll tell you, I thought the sketch was tricky.  Painting it is going to be DOGGONE HARD!  The client has requested one change, so the finished product will look a little different than this.  I'll post pics when I'm done.

It's gonna be nerve racking, but LEARNING IS GOOD, right?

Genesis Eleven

We're still working our way through Genesis.  This is the Tower of Babel, or what my imagination came up with.  It was great fun to paint, although I had to get out the level once or twice.  It still leaves a vague impression that it's tilting, doesn't it?

I painted a canvas for the flood, as well, but it's a little dark, and so far I haven't been able to get a good image of it!  I'm going to have to take it down out of it's frame and move it to a different wall to photograph.

Half way done!

Allow Me to Introduce My Grandfather

Quite awhile ago I mentioned my grandfather, and how greatly he encouraged art in my life.  Evidently years ago he did a brief interview for a TV station in the area, and my uncle had a copy of that interview.  He did something savvy and mind-boggling (to those of us who don't understand modern technology) ...and voila!  He posted the interview on YouTube!  My grandpa has been gone for 10 years, and it's so delightful to see and hear him again!

He still inspires me.

(I should add this fact:  I had no idea how to share this video.  Murphy, also savvy and mind-boggling, did it for me.)

More Greeting Cards

The cold season has begun!  And so I sit close to the fire, with reference photos nearby and blank greeting cards on my lap.  Oh, I have thoroughly enjoyed doing these!  Especially those Sun Parakeets.  Can't you just imagine their conversation??

More Sky Gazing

"Watch For Me"

8" x  8"

Oil on Canvas Board

Painting with oils presents a whole new set of delights and problems.  If I kept at it I could get rid of the brush strokes...but I love the brush strokes!  And as I worked, I discovered that not only was I laying down paint, but I was also lifting paint...and I think in this case I love it.

This is the fourth canvas I've painted while caught up in the longing for that trumpet.   Times are indeed perilous.  And so I watch the skies.

Someone once said to me that we only live by faith while on earth, in this life.  In the presence of the Lord, in eternity, we will live by sight.  So, if God is delighted by my faith, then this life is the only time I get to give Him that pleasure.  The thought sort of adds value to the watching and waiting.