Confined

"Confined"

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14"x14" Watercolor

          This is number 7 of the 30 Paintings int Thirty Days.  I love these creatures.  This painting was kind of difficult, but rewarding.

Full Bloom

"Full Bloom"

16"x20" Acrylic on Canvas

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     This is number 6 of the 30 paintings in 30 days.  I worked on it several days, experimenting with high gloss gel and transparent acrylic applied with a palette knife.  It has quite a few layers on transparent on top of transparent, and finally a spattering of opaque acrylic ink.  It was fun, and kind of "Georgia O'Keefe style.  I'm working on several paintings daily in order to keep up with this challenge.  I guess if I would paint very small and very simple, I could do one per day.  But, no.  I have to work large.  I guess the whole idea is to paint daily, not necessarily finish one daily.  I refuse to let it beat me, though.  Hope you enjoy these colors!

Judge Yourself

"Judge Yourself"

8"x10" Acrylic on Collaged Watercolor Paper

1Cor. 11:31

     "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged".  When I painted this, I painted while in the "zone".  The means connected and intuitively painting.  I had no preconceived idea of what I was going to do, so I just used some colors that I liked and a little texture.  I've looked at it wondering...what in the world?  Tonight, I remarked that it looked like Judgement Day.  Then, I remembered this scripture.  I'm sure there are some things I need to judge myself on.  I'm going to meditate on that and take care of it.  What about you?  Is there something in your life that you need to turn from?  This is Day 5 of the 30 paintings in Thirty Days.   I love daily painting.  I wish I were making a living at it, because I love it very much.     Yes....I know I got the mat crooked! :)

"Mug Shot"

"Mug Shot"

16"x20 Original Watercolor on Arches 300# Paper

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     What ever possessed me to paint these baboons, I don't know!  Other than...they are just so cute!  Actually, I have little experience with animals and I know I need it.  I've done a few dogs and a cat, a cow, and a horse or two.   I just couldn't resist these mugs.  I started out with the intention of doing it as close to the photo as I could.  I lasted just a little while.  I couldn't take it any longer.  It's just not me.  If you have a photo, why do you need the painting?  But if you have a painting that resembles a photo and shows some personality....now we're talking.  I shut the lid to my laptop and started flinging paint.  Literally.  I just love Opera pink and rarely get to use it.  I just thought this mamma and her baby needed some pink.  I may go in and darken the tube of rubber that the baby is chewing on.  My hubby thinks it resembles a can of something....It was so much fun!  I think I'll have to do another in a different method.  What's your take on it?

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!