On This Rock

On This Rock

6"x6"

Oil and cold wax

Some years ago when I just came in to believing the absolutely everything in the Bible was for me, we traveled to Saint Maarten for a diving vacation. A nice walk along the beach from our resort to these rocks was my hiding place for that week. I would go there morning and evening and I would take my bible and I would read and I would pray. I would watch the water as it hit the rocks and the foam and the waves would just crash and white foamy water would splash above me. Across the water in the distance I could see Saint John. I always wanted to take that little excursion over there, but it seemed pretty costly to go that short distance. But I think about what Jesus said "upon this rock I will build my church".  That was ringing through my ears as I was painting the scene. I love this painting, maybe just because it has an emotional connection with me. This one is number 14 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

 

Soul Hunt

 "4:19"

Oil and cold wax

Available

In Matthew chapter 4 verse 19 Jesus says come, follow me, And I will make you fishers of men. As I was painting on this piece today for the 30 and 30 challenge for January, I began adding some more layers of paint, and turned the painting and immediately I saw what looks like an image of a fish. I love it when something appears like that unexpectedly. So I begin to contemplate.   I began to meditate and I began to wonder what to do with this fish.  Our sermon series at church this month is so therapy. So isn't it fitting that Matthew 419 is just perfect for this painting? Not to mention that I love to dive and have seen many creatures as beautiful and colorful as this one. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Work in Progress

Work in Progress

I've been commissioned to paint a memorial type painting for a young woman that lost her baby.  I've been seeking the Lord for a couple of weeks, mulling it over in my mind.  The woman's sister in law (who commissioned me), mentioned that when she would see a Cardinal, she would be reminded of her baby.  Somehow, I knew the cardinal had to be in the painting, but I just couldn't feel peace about painting a pretty little cardinal eating out of a bird feeder or sitting on the fence.  Yesterday, the Lord showed me that this baby, in full Spirit is worshiping the King of Kings with fullness,  joy, and wild abandon.    I could just see Creed fulfilling his purpose in heaven.  It doesn't help with the loss and pain, but it does help knowing that he really is in the arms of Jesus.  I was just reminded this morning (after painting yesterday), that the scripture that this momma has held dear to her heart, is I Samuel 1:27-28.  I read it this morning, and was blessed beyond measure...that,  "I heard from the Lord", because it reads...."And he worshiped the Lord there."  Stay tuned, as it's not quite finished.  I can't wait to get to it!  

The Journey

"The Journey"

4"x4"

Alcohol Ink on Yupo

     After completing the 30 Paintings in 30 Days it almost felt just flat wrong not to continue.  I did have to take some time to figure taxes, housework, etc., so I took a few days off and didn't enjoy even a minute of it.  I love painting, no matter the medium.  

     We're all on a journey, aren't we?  Some have a long way to go.  Some have come a long way.  Each looks different, and we can't really compare them.  The face remains faceless and is nameless because it's all of us.  Where are you on your journey?  Are you looking back with regret, or looking forward with HOPE?  I know from experience that the looking back only keeps you in captivity within your own heart, but looking forward with the One that wants good things for you, is full of hope.  I plan to have lots of those days ahead in my journey.  What about you?

Storm Approaching

"Storm Approaching"

Alcohol Ink on Tile

6"x6"

NFS

     Three more days to go in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again...It's been so much fun, and I hate to see it come to an end.  However, I will be glad to breathe if I need to.  I'm not one to live on challenges, but if I commit to it, I will see it through to the end, no matter what. I hope to continue daily painting, but to also add in my quiet time prior to painting.  I hope I can coordinate the two with the time I have.  So many times, other things get in the way of having that kind of a chunk of time.  

     I just booked our diving trips for 2016.  I guess I had the ocean on my mind. 

Jer. 5:22 says, "Do you not fear Me?' declares the LORD 'Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it." 

      Every time I get to depth, I can't help but sing, "How Great Thou Art"; through my mask of coarse.  God's underground creation is just as amazing as His above ground.  I often look out over the sea as we skirt the waters in our "fast boat" and think about Peter.  It's easy to criticize him when you're in the boat.  But what about when you are in the water or the storm?  What then?  

Wrapped in a New Song

"Wrapped in a New Song"

Ink on Yupo

4"x4"

     Number 27 of the 30 in 30 Challenge.  When I look at this image, I can't help but be reminded of myself.  Me; being wrapped in the veil of a new song.  Praise God!

Out of Overflow

"Out of Overflow"

8x10" Oil on Canvas Panel

     This is #24 of the 30 in 30 challenge.  I'm taking Dreama Tolle Perry's Painting Course.  That called for a practice lesson to get acquainted with her palette and a new kind of brush, and medium.  The idea was to meditate and come up with an inspiring word that we can keep coming back to from time to time.  I thought about it all day.  Then, I realized that is is out of the overflow of everything that we create.  The overflow determines what we create; good or bad.  What's in our heart comes out.    

I haven't painted with oils in about 2 months or more.  Gosh, I forgot some important things that Nancy Medina taught me.  I image that I will do another one of these practices to feel like I have a handle on it before the actual painting lesson starts.  It's hard to remind an old dog of new tricks.  

Release

"Release"

Alcohol Ink on Yupo

6"x6"

     This is number 23 of the 30 Paintings in 30 days!  I really didn't paint today.  I did a few the other day, in anticipation of knowing I would out of the studio today...doing God stuff.  It was a good day!  God is always doing so many things at once.  He's done a number on me lately.  Praise the Lord!  What do you need him to do for you?

Choose Light

"Choose Light"

6"x6" Alcohol Ink on Yupo

     This is #20 of the 30 Paintings in 30 days.  I can't believe how fast this month is going.  Creativity breeds creativity.  I feel as though I could just keep on going.  We will see.  This one has a solid message of the contrast between light and dark, heaven, and hell.  Do you see it?

The Keys

"The Keys"

Watercolor on 300# paper

     I'm always amazed at God's timing.  After taking a watercolor pouring class back in October, with Nathalie Kelley, I've done several paintings using this method.  I was in the prayer room the other day, and saw these keys.  I've seen them many times before, but that day the Lord spoke to me and told me he wanted me to paint those keys.  A couple of days ago, I signed up for Dreama's Love, Paint, Dream Painting Class.  He class entails some soul searching along with journaling and painting.  Hmmmmm.  Last September, I signed up to take Heart Sync training which started today.  Throughout the training I keep seeing and hearing the word "KEY".  Heart Sync is inner healing dealing with the different parts of your soul.  Hmmmmm.  I signed up today, for two extra days of training.  I believe that God is opening up some important keys.  Keys to the kingdom living.  Keys to bring deeper healing for myself and others.  He wants our whole heart; not the divided one.  Hmmmmm.  I bet this adventure is going to be good!  I didn't paint today, but I did several yesterday. I knew I would have nothing left in me today.  This is number 13 (now that's interesting, too), of the 30 paintings in 30 Days.

Birthing a New Thing

"Birthing a New Thing"

8"x10" Original Acrylic on 

Collaged Watercolor Paper

Purchase this Painting

     It's just the craziest thing; painting all of these mid-eastern women!  What is just now dawning on me, is that a few years prior to traveling as a missionary to both Africa and Guatemala, I began having dreams and visions and producing art with the women wearing traditional clothing.....way before I ever even wanted to go onto the mission field.  What does that mean?  Why did I paint this?  Why did I title it, Birthing a New Thing"?  It was not until just now that I began to speculate...oh dear.  Lord, what are you up to?  I say yes, to whatever it is.  

     I love painting intuitively.  There are a couple of reasons.  One is that it is just so freeing and fun.  The next is, when I'm copying something I just feel that it just a copy with no life in it.  It was alive for someone else, but dead for me.  Even using a photo reference on things, I usually have to give it up, shut my computer lid and just paint from my guts.  

     If any of you have any insight to what is behind this painting, I'd welcome it.

Warrior Dance

"Warrior Dance"

10"x8" Oil on Canvas Paper

SOLD

     This isn't the greatest photo of this painting, but it is a great painting.  This one started out very abstractly.  It also started out with nothing in mind except painting.  I find myself always asking the Lord what he says..."what, Lord...what"?  Sometimes I really have to dig deep and search.  This was one of those.  The very moment that I saw the little bright spot at the top left, I knew!  I knew where I was going with it.  It was so exciting!  There was no striving, no fretting.  I knew.  Isn't that great?  The colors blended for me, and it just clicked.  

     My mon posted the following comment, which is worth taking note of: 

 It is a war between God and Satan and we are in the middle. We need to learn how to war in the Spirit. I learned how to do that in 1996, when Genny and I fought a war of the spirit of death, over my brother. We won and he is still alive today and has lived longer than statistics say he could live. Sad to say most Christians either don't know this and/or don't know how to do it.(And there is a way of warring in the Spirit during praise and worship. I've done that also.

     We are Warrior Dancers!  Are you?

     

Crossing Over #2

"Crossing Over"

14"x16"

Oil on Canvas

Purchase This Painting

     This is my Number 6 of the 30 in 30 challenge.  I'm calling it complete, and hope that it is.  I would like to dedicate it to all of those who have lost loved ones. For those loved ones that knew the Lord, crossing over is a beautiful experience!  May the love of Jesus and His Peace run like the river, right through your soul.

The Earth Groans

"The Earth Groans"

12"x12" Oil on Wooden Panel

NFS

    I signed up for this 30 Paintings in 30 days that Leslie Saeta organizes before I realized I would be gone out of country for two weeks.  I signed up before I even asked the Lord what to do.  It's the tension between law and grace.  Sign up and follow through, or wait upon the Lord.  I feel the Lord is calling me into a new place.  I have so many rumblings...I feel a season of finally finding myself is on the horizon.  The legalistic part of me is posting this as the first of 30.  But I am releasing myself from the burden of the "law", and will pursue what He has for me, however that may look.I'm going to take my time and pursue the Lord through my art daily, creatively seeking Him and his purposes for me.  If it's "postable", I'll post.  If not, I'll let it go.  But I will do something artful every single day.

    I've been seeing int he spirit lately, lots of atmospheric things.  I haven't gotten the skills to produce them as I see them.  This painting started out with something that I've "seen", but as I began to paint, the Lord revealed to me that everything in creation is groaning and crying out for Him; the return of the Living Jesus Christ.  I kind of got side tracked in trying to get that point across, so it didn't turn out as I expected.  Are you able to see the point?  

The Commission

"The Commission"

6"x6" oil and cold wax on wood

In Progress

Matthew 28:  16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

     I haven't posted in the past couple of weeks, and went a short spell of not being able to paint.  Creativity can only be squashed for so long, and then something must be done about it.  I haven't worked with oil and cold wax for awhile, either.  I always enjoy late nights, when all is quiet and I can commune with the Lord as I paint.  This one was painted during one of those nights recently.  It's not quite finished, but I don't anticipate a whole lot changing in it.  When lots of focus being on the end times, I can't help but be reminded of the Great Commission.  It's not to shout from the mountain tops that the end is here, but to make disciples from all nations, and to teach them to obey God's commands.  When we are in that place, God will take care of us.  I also think about the scripture where the people were going to stone Jesus, and yet he walked right through them!  Nobody even saw him!  God either blinded their eyes, or did a super camo on Jesus!  I believe he will do the same for us, when we are in fact under his wing.  So, go....make disciples of men!  Make them strong in the Lord, and working in His mighty power.  If it is the end times as so many believe...Jesus is coming for a mighty, and strong bride!  The disciples that follow his command.  Do you know Jesus?  If you want to know Him, and don't know how...contact me.  I lead you to Him!

Narrow Gate

"Narrow Gate"

28"x22" Original Oil on Canvas

Purchase this Painting

     I painted this during worship at Emmanuel Fellowship Church yesterday.  I did something different this time.  I used my newly loved medium, oils.  I had so much fun doing this.  I just love painting as I worship.  There is something to pairing while you have your mind on the Lord...  I couldn't quite understand what he was saying in this painting until now.  It's so clear.  Scripture tell us in Matthew 7 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  Do you see the narrow gate?  Is it the one that you will enter?  Or will you choose the wide gate that ends in destruction?  I pray that while you have time to choose, you choose the eternal, yet narrow one.  

All Encompassing Lion Of Judah

"All Encompassing Lion of Judah"

28x22" Oil on Canvas

Purchase This Painting

     I love to paint.  There are some that just really excite me, and some that are just more satisfying.  This one is one that stirs up such excitement in me!  I did the underpainting in acrylic about two years ago during a worship service.  I wasn't all that happy with it, and have just kind of looked at it in passing.  Yesterday, I decided to get it down and rework it.  This time I would use oils.  I've just discovered  my love for oils within the past two months after taking Nancy Medina's workshop.  My husband was a little leery of me reworking it.  I think he thought I would ruin it.  I told him that I felt like I had nothing to lose but canvas, so I began.  I painted intuitively, without a reference photo or anything.  I determined to use the paints that were left over on my palette.  I recalled some of the "rules" that Nancy imparted to me, and began to feel such excitement as the painting took shape and as I began to contemplate who the Lion of Judah is to me.  There aren't words, really.  He is my All.  He is the Beginning and the End.  He's the one that loves me and also fights for me. Do you know him?

Transformation

"Transformation"

12"x12" Oil and Cold Wax and Mixed Media

on Cradled Wood

SOLD

     I've been working on this painting for over a year.  Layer upon layer of oil and cold wax, waiting for it to dry in order to add and subtract another layer upon layer.  It truly has transformed over the year.  It just rings so true with the transformation that each of us goes through when we receive Jesus as our Lord.  We become a new creation, and look forward to the transformation that will come in eternal life.  

Untitled

"Untitled"

5'x7" Ink on Yupo

#35

     

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?  I've been praying about our upcoming Freedom Retreat at Emmanuel Fellowship Church.  What are you perceiving?

"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"

"My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken me"?

5"x7"

Alcohol Ink on Yupo

     This is number 28 of the 30 in 30.  This painting evolved.  I didn't start out thinking about eyes, but I did start out thinking about Jesus.  One stroke let to another, and I began to realize a direction that I was going.  At first, I contemplated being the apple of His eye.  I am that.  I'm so very thankful. Just as I was painting and enjoying my time with Him, I got a message from someone, saying that she was ready to join me in my business!  That is, my Rodan+Fields business.  I don't believe in coincidence.  I am at least one apple of His eye.  Then, as I proceeded it began to take on another feeling.  The one in which had to have come when Jesus took all of my sins upon him in that dark hour.  I think my revelation of that fact became even more real to me as I painted.  I am both grieved and so very thankful.  He took all of your sin, too.  Have you made him your Lord and Savior?  Do it; Before it's too late.  Matthew 27:45-46.