Feeling lucky?  Well, I'm not!  Laughing while saying this, but I'm trying to figure out Rafflecopter!  So, I'm giving away an original painting just for going into my Jay Neal Art Facebook page, and "liking" it!  I'm trying to hit 400 likes!  The contest begins tomorrow!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Birthing a New Thing

"Birthing a New Thing"

8"x10" Original Acrylic on 

Collaged Watercolor Paper

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     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.

Lady in Waiting

"Lady in Waiting"

8"x10 Acrylic on Paper

     I'm unsure why I find myself painting these women that seem middle eastern.  I'm taken with their  head dressings and long dresses for some reason.  This was painted intuitively, without a photo reference as most of my paintings are done.  I'm paying with composition, textures, backgrounds, and color combinations.  I also find myself painting pregnant women lately.  I can't help but think that their is a new thing birthing among these women, and let his name be Jesus!  May they come to know Him, and the freedom He brings!  This is number 2 of the Thirty in Thirty Challenge!  

Job 31:1

Job 31:1

Acrylic on Paper

8"x10"

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     It's been awhile since I've posted; it's been a very rough ride on the train of life.  However, a new year is rolling around, and with it has to come Hope.  I've been painting a lot.  Leslie Saeta has two 30 in 30 challenges a year, and guess what?  It starts tomorrow.  I didn't do the one in Sept., so Ive determined to do this one.  I got a head start over the holiday, knowing that right off the bat I will be out of pocket for a few days.  As I was painting this one, I just began to reflect and paint.  I paint intuitively most of the time.  It's pretty rare that I begin with an idea unless I'm painting in watercolor.  My husband has been studying scripture lately, and as he looked at this one, he felt that the title Job 31:1 fits it perfectly.  That scripture reads,“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman."   It's kind of strange, because I believe I painted a woman.  However, in either case, the scripture fits.  There will be more figurative's to come.   Day 1.

Aftermath

"Aftermath"

22"x28"

Oil and Acrylic on Canvas

I’ve just had a God moment. Some months ago, I painted this girl. I never intended to. I had no direction, and no reason. I just did it. While painting, I had difficulty concentrating on technique because of the emotion that was running through me. Upon completion, my husband came in and gazed at her. I asked him to title the painting. He called it “Aftermath”. It meant some things to me, but ever since I have had an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. Even last night, sitting by the fire I looked upon her face, and thought of what she may have come through. I had that feeling in my stomach. I’ve questioned the Lord as to the reason for the painting and have heard no answer.

Until now. Until now! Just now, I was reading in 2 Samuel 13. Why now? I don’t know. God’s always on time. That’s what I know. The chapter tells the horrifying story of Tamar, the daughter of a high king; the daughter that dressed in finery and was a well throught of woman in those days. She was somebody. King David was her daddy. She must have been beautiful as she baked bread for her brother, Amnon. The story goes that he fell in love with her devised a deceptive plan, and raped her after she begged him not to. He did it anyway. Then, he threw her out and bolted the door behind her. She was so distraught that she tore her beautiful robe and put ashes on her head as she ran away crying for help!

To make matters worse, her other brother (half) Absalom instructed her not to take it to heart; because it was her brother who had done this. He told her to be quiet. Scripture says that she lived in Absalom’s house, a “desperate” woman. She had no more hope. No hope of marrying. No hope of having a life, or children.

Tamar would experience the “aftermath” of not only being violated but being “shut up”, and having no voice. She would live in depression as her very soul was now rooted in the vile, foul sexual immorality passed down from the sin of her father. She would live with the rejection which scripture says was worse than the crime. She would have no one to stand for her, or speak for her. She was hopless.

I’m reminded that the holiday season often times, brings such depression for those people suffering in the “aftermath”. My heart grieves for those that are shut-up for whatever reason...whether it’s guilt, shame, threat, or helplessness. I know that confession brings freedom. My prayer is that all of those that are afflicted with depression from a wrong done to them would find their voice, and find freedom. There are resources today to help with that voice. I pray that they are found! Amen!

"So, Her Dance Begins"

"So, Her Dance Begins"

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

22"x28"

     This painting was created during worship yesterday.  I began with a crazy background of acrylic which has applied with a credit card and paper towels.  It had not rhyme or reason to it.  I just hate to start a painting with a white canvas.  I love creating this way.  It gives depth and dimension that I can't create otherwise; or especially in the time frame of a worship service.  We are in three services now, so that allowed me to complete the painting.  I've been praying for a loved one for so long....Praying that she would come into salvation and healing of Jesus.  I believe she is!  She was present in the service and even recognized that this painting is her!  

Cry for Souls

"Cry for Souls"

12'x12" Oil and Cold Wax

     This was a "redo" of many layers of oils and cold wax and a failed painting.  I got in "the mood" and just finger painted my heart's desire...that of seeing the whole world come to know Jesus.  I know that is the desire of my Father, also.  Sometimes...as an artist you just have to let loose and do what is inside of you!  I think that goes for living the Christian life as well.  Just let loose, and let your Father heart be exposed!  This finalized as a finger painting of oil and cold wax and I'm pretty pleased with it.  How about you?

Inner Chaos

Inner Chaos

6"x6" Acrylic on Cradled Wood

     I always thought that retirement would bring solitude and lots of days sitting in the swing with my hubby.  I left the classroom of 29 years of chaos, thinking that swinging would be nice.  Can I just say that swinging now has a whole new meaning?  It's meant swinging doors, a house full of loved ones, sometimes swinging from the rafters, and a few of those dreamed about swinging times.  We've felt pain and emotional healing to be followed by love, and then more pain.  Thank God for Jesus!  I don't know how people do it without Jesus!  I keep hearing the song, "Through it all, through it all...my eyes are on you (Jesus)....Wow.  He brings joy in the morning, doesn't He?  He brings healing to the broken, and makes all things new.  I've discovered that life can really throw you some punches, but if your feet are on solid ground, you can find peace in little places among the chaos.  Eventually, it will all even out, and be okay.  What about you?  Are you in one of those storms of life?  Do you have your eyes on Jesus?  He is the only way.  

    By the way...my hubby just hung a new swing for me out in the back yard!  Those swinging days are coming!  

"Getting Ready"

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"Getting Ready"

22x28" Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

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I rarely know ahead of time what I will paint during worship, but am always seeking and listening to the Lord.  (It can be a little nerve wracking to step up with no plan).  On Saturday night, I spread some color on a canvas with a cake decorating tool, just because I don't like white canvases.  I woke up at 1 am and began to pray.  I had no urgency or strong impression.  I kind of thought I might paint a worship dancer.  I got to church early and began to meditate as the worship team practiced.  I set out some colors based on a color wheel.  As I walked to the back of the sanctuary, the Lord told me to look up" fiery eyes" in my Bible.  As I did, I found the white horse, and I found him clearly on my canvas.  It gives me goose bumps as I realize that this came just after our Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriages.  I did not preplan or think this out.  I beg you to pray for our nation.  I believe that God is our Supreme Court, and His word is Final.

Revelation 19:11-16 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him wascalled Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes werelike a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had[a] a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,[b] followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp[c] sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.