Prep Work Takes Forever!

I've been asked to do some painting for a craft fair in October...or is it November?....that will benefit our local pregnancy center, called Choices.  It's a safe place for women to go to who find themselves pregnant and in need of help, encouragement, and support in their choice to keep their baby.

The organizers are providing me with a plethora of objects that could use a touch of beautification!  This is the prep work for a wooden plaque. This part of the project has taken up a LOT of time.  I've lost track of how many times I've written out this verse, and changed the fonts, and adjusted the layout.  And even as I'm typing, I'm still seeing things that need tweaking.

The plaque is only 8" round, so this is going to be some tiny brushwork.  Considering that I frequently paint canvases that are 8 FEET square, this is a significant change!  I'll let you know how it goes!

And a Few Failures.....

This was one of the trees up on top of the crags.  I love the wood part, but I really dislike the needle parts.  I haven't figured out yet what I would do differently.

This was going to be some purple wild daisies, and part way through I decided that I really, really disliked the composition.  So I wiped it off.  I'll paint a solid color over this and reuse the panel.

This was on it's way to success, and I decided I didn't like the leaves in the upper right corner.  So I wiped them off, and now I have to wait for the paint to dry (it's oil) before I can redeem this one.

Deep breath, right?  Failure teaches us, right?  Perseverance is good, right?  Yes, perseverance is good.

Inking vs. Fishing

What do you do while the hubby is fishing, and you're not quite sure you want to join him?  You set up a chair, get out your travel sketchbook and a pen, and revel in your surroundings!  I can't name the peak, and I can't even name the small lake we were beside.  I do know that it was all created by the hand of God Almighty, and His work is beautiful!

I've followed another blog for awhile now, and find myself wanting to learn from it's author.  I've put a link below.  I love his work!  

So how do I learn?

Step One:  remember to take the sketchbook with you!

Step Two:  actually take the time to draw, on the spot, in the moment!

Step Three:  don't quit!

http://iansidawaydrawing.blogspot.com/

And a Lovely Sunday it Was.....

June!!  It's June!!  And while we COULD have more snow, generally it's getting warm and green, and things are starting to smell good, and the birds are happy-happy-happy.

On Sunday my family gathered at a nearby lake for a picnic, some walking, some fishing...and some sketching and painting!  The sun was glorious.  The aspen trees smelled wonderful.  And I tried to re-acquaint myself with watercolors.  Not too shabby!

Signage

A couple of weeks ago a couple of friends of mine got married (also friends of most people in my town, judging by the crowd that showed up!).  The Mother of the Bride asked me to paint a name sign for their home.  There were a lot of hush-hush phone calls, and clandestine meetings near the trunks of cars...and this is the end result.

When the groom first moved to town, nobody could figure out how to pronounce his name.  He kept telling people to just think of "hot pretzel".  So I couldn't help myself.  Here's what the back of the name sign looks like:

Sketching While It Snows

These are the flowers I received for Mother's Day.  Aren't they lovely?  I sat down and sketched them today, because there's really not much else to do.  The dishes are washed.  The laundry is done.  Dinner is thawing.  And I don't really want to go anywhere, because this is what it looks like outside:

Really?  Really.  A good foot of new snow, and still falling.  And yes, it's May 12th.  Ah, life in the mountains of Colorado!  The hummingbirds are valiantly trying to get something out of their frozen feeder!  I've already thawed and re-filled it once today.  Fly south, sweet hummers, fly south!  Come back in a month!

What On Earth Have I Been Doing?

Good question!  I've looked back over my calendar, and I can't fathom how I've spent my time.  All I know is, it's gone.  Ok, that's not ENTIRELY true, but honestly - doesn't time just gallop by?  I just realized that there are only 17 days of school left!  What?!

Since I last posted, I've painted that huge tree twice.  One more time with a picnic table, and one time without it.  Both times the canvas was 4' x 3'.  They were great fun!  I just delivered the second one two days ago.

Now I'm working on some possible decorations for a poetry book.  The example above is pretty doggone plain, I think.  I need to put more variety in the squiggles....maybe include a cherub face, a flower or two, maybe a bird, or a lattice with ivy climbing up it.  The possibilities are almost endless!  Should be fun!

Another Painting, and Progress Pics

I just finished tweaking this this morning.  Whenever I finish a painting, it sits on my easel and I walk around the house and stare at it.  And stare at it some more.  And I always find things that need tweaking.

Here are the progress pics:

I started with a BRIGHT red background.  Did I say bright?  It's a little loud!  Then, the sky and furthest hills.

Next the tree trunk and branches.  For some reason I love this stage!  I see a problem with one of those branches.  It's one of those things I tweaked this morning.

Then the foreground and the picnic table.  I painted the picnic table twice, because the first one was too small.  I know it's giant oak, but that doesn't mean the picnic table needs to be doll sized!  And, no, I do  not have a pic of it!

Then, it's time to add the feast!  That's a blue ball jar in the background.  Love it.

This painting is my practice for live art that I'll be doing for the women's retreat at Camp Elim in a couple of weeks.  (that's http://campelim.com/ if you're interested)  I know that artists frequently do a 'study' before doing the real painting.  I think it's generally meant to help them nail down the tone and colors.  From what I've seen, it's usually not as detailed as the final product.  But there will be a silent auction the weekend I'm painting, and I thought I could put the smaller painting in the auction, so I wanted it to be somewhat nice.

The only thing left to do is put a wire on the back, and it'll be ready to hang.  Oh, that, and figuring out what's in that lovely magenta pitcher!!

I call this "Invitation".

Inspired by Doodles

This paper came from a tablet called "Executive Columnar Pad".  What?  Really.  I'm thinking those columns are supposed to get NUMBERS written in them, but for those of you who know me: numbers and I don't get along.  So I found another use for the paper!  Last night whilst the hubby watched something on tv about mining, I sat beside him and happily doodled.

And found myself inspired!!

Years ago my grandfather built himself a sculpture stand out of wood.  It measures about 1' in each direction, and then it's about 2' tall.  Originally it was painted some version of periwinkle.  When he passed away it came to me.  I love it.  LOVE IT!  But the paint was getting pretty chipped, especially on the corners and edges.  So today I painted it red, but not entirely red.  I painted it sort of loosey-goosey so the periwinkle still shows through here and there.  And THEN!!  I got out my white paint pen and HAD A PARTY!!  Oh my word.  I love this thing!

Done!!! DONE!!

Oh, it feels fabulous to be done!  I brought home all my tools and paint and PUT THEM AWAY.  Yeah, I'll get them all out again in the not too distant future, but for now everything is in it's place, and it feels ... like a deep, contented sigh.  It makes me wonder what God felt when He rested on the 7th day after creating everything.  It was VERY GOOD, and He was DONE ... I think maybe I feel a SMIDGE of the joy and contentment that He felt.

There's one more canvas that isn't included here.  The picture that I got of it was AWFUL, so I have to go back and try again.

I've had people ask me what a mountain bike has to do with being crucified with Christ.  This time around I didn't pick images to go with the text.  Instead I picked images that are a part of our everyday life here in the mountains of Colorado, with a nod to the upcoming seasons.

So do you have a favorite?  I'd love to hear from you!

And Now Some Words....

....and not just ANY words!  THESE words have LIFE!  Speak, Word of God, to those who come through our doors.  Be active and alive and miracle working and productive, like only the Word of God can.

Five, Six

Two more done, only two left....of course then I have to go back and add all the words.  But this way we don't have to stare at black squares week after week after week.

The canvas with the tent didn't start out with a tent.  It had a lovely up-close shot of a branch from a blue spruce, all covered with snow, in the morning sunlight (which makes everything an astounding color).   Only, it wasn't working.  AT ALL.  The reference photos were stunning, which is a testimony to the creative GENIUS of God!  But I FAILED MISERABLY at copying Him!  There have been times in the past when I was painting something, and was CONVINCED that it was going to be a huge flop, and then after a good night's sleep, discovered that it wasn't a flop after all!  That didn't happen this time!  So I painted over it, and came up with a completely different image!

God paints the morning with goose-bumpy beauty.  Me, not so much!

One, Two, Three, Four

And so starts a whole new set for my church.  

On Monday I peeled off the old paintings (with the help of an extremely selfless friend...it's not a fun job!).  They are now folded up and lounging in the dumpster.

On Tuesday I stretched new sheets over the framework.

On Wednesday my hubby and I sprayed them all a lovely gunmetal color (although, looking at the barbed wire, you'd think the background was a different color.  Not so.)  I should say that HE sprayed them, I stood by and watched.

On Thursday I started painting.  And on to Friday.  And on to Saturday.  Starting completely over is a bit time consuming!  But, oh the results!!  These will eventually have words.  But for now we'll sit there and stare at some very Colorado-ish images.

When I was painting them, I was absolutely SURE the barbed wire was my favorite.  But THEN I painted the Indian Paintbrush, and OH MY WORD!!!  Did my Lord hold my hand?!  Did He direct my color choices?!  Did He?!  Amen and amen.  I LOVE THESE.

Painting for Camp Elim

I just finished these for Camp Elim...which could easily be called the happiest place on earth.  Disney is no comparison, just sayin'.  Their winter camps are starting in a couple of weeks, and these will be the backdrops.  They'll be screwed together and stood up accordion style.

Their theme is taken from Mark 12 where it says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength."

If you're looking for a fun, impacting, soul-growing weekend for your kiddoes...and if you live in Colorado...you can consider sending them to Camp Elim.  It's fabulous!  (you don't HAVE to live in Colorado.  It's just a wee bit expensive to get them here if you live in...Texas.)

You can see what Camp's all about at http://campelim.com/ (and I think that's ACTUALLY a link!! I mean, I think it'll work if you click on it!)

On a side note, my Lord is always kind to me.  When you put on black paint with a roller, and then have to do touch-up with a brush, it ALWAYS SHOWS.  There's something about the texture, maybe...I don't know what it is, but I always grit my teeth, hoping that I don't have any obvious drips, because I don't want to have to touch them up.  Well, I had a fairly major drip on the "MIND" canvas.  And the Lord put it into my head that the drip looked remarkably like a shoe-lace!!!  So, presto, tall boots with laces sticking out!  See???  God's kindness is EVERYWHERE!  Sometimes we just don't see it!