Freesia

As I type this the sky outside is gray, gray, gray.  I think I just saw a snow flake.  It's brrrrrr cold, and the wind is blowing.  And I am SO SO SO LONGING FOR SPRING!  Every March or so I find myself not able to bear the sight of our outdoor thermometer.  The gray skies are almost heavy.  I'm not quite brave enough to run around outside barefoot, but it's so very tempting!

And every March I remind myself of MY GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.  The sun always rises.  And then, it always sets.  The bluebirds will come back.  The hummingbirds will make another appearance.  And the thermometer will begin to climb.  All because God has ordained it to be so, and He keeps His promises.  Always.

So take heart, my winter-weary friends!   Spring will come!

SING! SING! SING!

 Yes, another roster!  I just can't help myself... I love painting chickens!!  I painted this one for my son for a Christmas present.  I know roosters don't technically "sing", but I called this one "Sing! Sing! Sing!"  because his body language just shouts praise to God!  This song was running around in my head the entire time I painted... (and truthfully, I couldn't remember the words, so in my head it sounded something like "Sing! Sing! Sing! Da-da dum de da da dum dum")...

"We will sing, sing, sing
And make music with the heavens
We will sing, sing, sing
Grateful that You hear us
When we shout your praise
Lift high the name of Jesus"

-Chris Tomlin

PETER

Today I was perusing old paintings, and this one caught my eye.  This guy (girl?) lives under our deck, and has survived for several years now.  That's sayin' somethin' where foxes and coyotes roam free!  I managed to get this picture by tiptoeing out the back door, camera in hand.  He/she was having a yummy lunch. 

I realize this is a painting of SPRING, and today it's COLD, and Christmas is just around the corner.  But I love spring all year 'round, and I'm already longing for it!

I painted this for my niece in celebration of her first-born.  And I love it.  Particularly the light coming through his ear... oooh, that pink!!

CLOUDS OF MERCY

I was recently re-introduced to the hymn by William Cowper, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way".  I say re-introduced, because surely I've sung this?!  But I only remember the first phrase!  The entire thing is beautiful.  This painting is based on the second verse.

"God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust him for his grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower."

Did Someone Say Food?

Clearly I love to paint chickens.  I've lost track of how many I've painted!  I think, though, that this one is my favorite.

I painted it for my nephew as a house-warming gift, and it cracks me up!!!  And it's JUST like my nephew!  Seriously.  He's curious.  And alert.  And inquisitive.  And eager.  And fully engaged in life.  And he really would pop his head into the kitchen and say, "did someone say food?"  HAHAHAHA!!!  I love it!!!

Here Fishy Fishy!

I've always dreaded painting water.  I see the work of other artists and it's oh, so beautiful!!  But they're REAL artists, right?!  And so I've just avoided it like the plague.  It's one of those things that I had worked up in my mind as being impossible.  All those swirls, and reflections, and odd blotches that make no sense at all.  But you never learn if you never try, right?

So I tried!!  Actually this is my second attempt.  My first attempt was when I was maybe 14 years old.  I painted two baby swans swimming in a lake.  And it wasn't half bad for a teenager!!  But it wasn't particularly fabulous either (even though a kind neighbor lady loved it and hung it in her house).  After that first attempt I just sort of put water waaaaay on the back burner.

Until a couple of weeks ago.  I had this reference photo of a fish, and the water was lovely (all those swirls, and reflections, and odd blotches that make no sense at all!!).  And so I tried it.  And it's not half bad for a 50-something year old!!  Truth be told, I'm quite pleased.  And truth be told, I prayed all the way through it!!!  Thank You, My Lord!

Coloring Pages

 

 Not long ago I was at a friend's house and she had this lovely grown-up type book of dot-to-dots... and they were indeed lovely.

I was about to run to the closest book store... which is about an hour away!... and buy myself one, when I realized that, while I'm not that comfortable making my own dot-to-dots, I AM comfortable making my own coloring pages!!!

So I got to work!!  And it's not even work, it's great fun!  The drawing is one level of fun, and then the coloring is like adding whipped cream and the cherry on top!

The Flowers Sing Praises to God!

Eight canvases.  Each of them eight feet square.  Finished!!  I seriously thought this would take me A MONTH!  But the Lord had His hand on mine, and the paints flew off my brush!  I finished in 2-1/2 weeks!  I am stunned.

I should have taken a picture of my paints... I had every color known to man.  The church has this lovely wheel-y cart in the kitchen that I load everything on to, and I could barely push it, it was so heavy!

I am thanking the Lord this afternoon.  I have seen His kindness AGAIN.

It's Camp Season Again!

Once again, I got to paint for Camp Elim's summer programs.  What fun it was!  They have a western theme this summer, and their only request was the bucking bronco.  After that I could do what I wished.  Lately we've had a pollen STORM coming off of the ponderosa pine trees, so these are COVERED with yellow dust... which I think makes them look weathered and old, and I'm perfectly happy with that!

I never told you about what I painted for their winter camps.  They had a theme that involved a private detective, so I was asked to paint the walls of the detective's office, complete with his logo painted on the outside of the window.  This was GREAT fun... I decided it definitely needed some old wall-paper, which of course I needed to design!

 And then, I don't think I ever showed you the patch designs that they asked me to do.   Camp Elim has a patch program where the campers can earn patches for memorizing Bible verses, and completing a craft project, or sometimes a service project.  As a kid, I remember earning patches when I was a camper.  They've had the same set for as long as I can remember.  But recently they decided to add three to the list of options for a camper to earn.  I am beside myself with delight that I got to design these!

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!!