"Come, sit with Me"

"Come, sit with Me"

24"x24" Original Oil on Cradled Wood Panel

No Frame Needed

Purchase This Painting

     Gosh!  A mission trip to Guatemala, a son's engagement, three birthday parties, and Christmas can sure make the time go by fast!  I had no idea that it had been so long since I blogged.  This painting was started during worship on Sunday at Emmanuel Fellowship, Sweetwater, TX.  I didn't get very far, but I sure knew where I was going with it.  I felt like I heard straight from the Lord on this one.  It excited me so much to paint it for so many reasons.  I think I accomplished the invitation of the Lord to just come and sit with Him.  I plan to do more of that this next year.  His Presence is needed in every part of my life.  What about yours?  

Essence

Number1 Sketch

Number 3 First attempt/ oil

Number 2 Inked

Number 4 Attempt/Oil

Number 5 Oil

Almost Finished!  Oil on Canvas

     I am being mentored by Pattie Ann Hale for another 3 months.  She's an amazing worship artist, whom I met and took a couple of classes from at the Gathering of the Artisan's in NC a couple of years ago.  She's assigned weekly assignments and this one has by far been the most difficult for me, but has truly been such a great learning experience. 

   My main quest over the last year has been to figure out who I am as an artist, and what my personal style is.  Her instruction has been on the spiritual side as it relates to art,  always relying on Holy Spirit to guide, and reveal.  This assignment started with an early morning doodle, which is number 1.  After analyzing it, she asked me to seek the Lord to reveal the meaning behind it.  It took me all week because I just wasn't getting anything.  Not until the very moment that I pulled out my colored inks to add a little color to it!  Then, I heard clearly!  (I'll keep that person message to myself, at least for now).  

   The next step was to try to create the "essence" with paint.  I had a very busy week, with very little painting time, so I  pulled out an old canvas to see if I could figure out what to do.  (At that time, I really wasn't terribly excited about the project).  I realized after  about 4 hours of painting that the previously applied texture on the canvas was not going to work for me.  This was only days before the project was due!  The night before it was due, I gave up the large old canvas and decided to meet the deadline, I would just do it small.  I'd run all over the place, given flight instruction and a million other things.  It was late and I was tired. I didn't have the brushes I needed and was just a little frustrated. That's Number 4.  

   When Pattie saw it, she asked me if I was frustrated or what emotion was having when I painted it.  She then gave me some pointers on getting in the Spirit rather than just painting.  My assignment for this week was to try to fix it...to go back into the emotion, back into the Spirit, and paint the ESSENCE.    I believe that I have!  I was at such peace when I began this last version, and my sweet hubby sat in the studio with me the whole evening, talking and giving me that much needed quality time.  I had some soft music going, and throughly enjoyed the process!  I have really learned a lesson!  I never ever, realized how much emotion really plays out in a painting, until now! 

  No wonder some paintings done during worship turn out so amazing!  No wonder just painting a pretty picture during worship doesn't carry the anointing!  I think I'm learning!  I might not be finished.  Time will tell.  Or, Pattie will!  Have you ever thought about the emotion going through the artist that painted the picture, or just the emotion that runs through you as you look at it?

Motherhood

"Motherhood"

28"x24" Original Oil on Canvas

Purchase this Painting

     I think the Lord has been teaching me about layers and depth.   Layers of his love.  Layers and depth of spirituality.  Seems like I've spent the last few weeks observing layers and depth in everything from depths of oceans to clouds in the sky.  This painting is a good example of layers and layers of color.  There is no telling how many layers there are of transparent oils.  The white that I used is the most lucius, buttery paint I've ever seen.  It's made by Richardson.  It makes all the other tubes that I have take a back seat.  This has a feminine feel to it, and I'm calling it "Motherhood".  My son and daughter-in-law are expecting their second baby in the spring.  Somehow, this just reminds me of the miracle of motherhood.  What do you think of the colors?

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?  

Birthing Place

"Birthing Place"

Oil on Stretched Canvas

28"x24"

     This was a painting that I started during worship at church two weeks ago.  I'm very new to oils and loving every bit of it.  I took a workshop from Nancy Medina  in the spring, learning to paint flowers from life, and learning about oils.  I highly recommend her workshop, and I hope to take another from her.  This painting began with a vision that had. I long to see heaven.  When I read Revelations I enjoy imagining what the throne room is like.  I've recently had dreams in which God literally opened heaven and I got to see in!  This one was inspired by one of those times of seeing.  I've enjoyed hearing everyone's interpretation of it as well.  What does it say to you?  Purchase this painting

What the World Needs Now

"What the World Needs Now"

12"x12" Oil and Cold Wax on Wooden Panel

Purchase This Painting

     Oh man.  I can't help but remember my life BC.  That is, Before Christ.  Enough said.  What the world needed then and still needs now, is His everlasting love.  

                                                             Purchase This Painting

"Narrow Gate"

     I'm posting this painting again, because today there was new meaning to it.  One of the best things about learning to paint with Holy Spirit, is that He is always doing more than one thing at a time. I love doing it. I love, love, love having absolutely nothing in mind except worshiping the Lord as I paint! I love trusting Him for the colors, and even for the next stroke. I love the freedom that comes from not having to strive to make a certain image. I love the communion that goes on between He and me as I paint. I love how He speaks to me in the finished painting. I'm always studying and asking, "What are you saying, Lord"? For me, this painting had three different messages just for me. It's been hanging in the Sweetwater Prayer Center for a few weeks now. Today, my best friend walked in, sat down and excitedly shared with me what the Lord showed him through this painting. THAT is also what I love...when it really speaks to someone else! Below is what he saw. Now, that he pointed it out, I will never be able to look at this painting different. Can you see it? Pray, study, and see.

1 Corinthians 3:2-3. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

"Sail Away"

"Sail Away"

16x20 Watercolor on Arches Paper

Purchase this Painting

          Have you ever wanted to just sail away?  I sure have.  I've kind of wanted to do it this summer.  It's been a challenge.  It's been good, now that most of it is behind me.  Have you ever looked back and wished that you would have just sailed through the hard times instead of getting stuck in them?  That's me!  Hind sight is always better, isn't it?  When I was so tired...I wish I would have just "sahhhhed".  But, still the journey was all in all good.  Memories were made, and things ran pretty smoothly, other than an emergency room visit, and fast doctor visit, a few fowl words grumbled back and forth with my beloved in the stress of the moment.  I might not want to ever do it the same way, but I wouldn't give up the cherished moments.  The ones like a grandson sneaking into my room in the late night, dragging his bedding to sleep beside me on the floor...reaching up to grab my hand and hold it.  Or, the late night prayers.  I cherish the KP duty...where most of my grandchildren participated in a hurried dance of washing, drying and putting away of the dishes.  The early morning walks with the dogs were fun, and so were the one on one, hand in hand walks with a grandson; as we "snuck" away from the bunch.  All the questions about God, and the early morning devotions and prayer.  My goodness I could just relive all of those.   The cakes that were baked...the literal hours that it took to get the recipe read, and the batter in the oven.  Oh my.  Learning to sweep the floor correctly....and how to dust furniture with missing a spot...right down to emptying all of the trashes correctly...make the beds...cook Ramen... I sure hope that my babies always remember the memories that we made, and not the frustrations that we had.  I bet they will!  I know I sure will.  I am blessed beyond measure!  There is always time to "Sail away", and never enough time to enjoy your family!

Aged Tines

"Aged Tines"

Watercolor

Matts to a 20"x16
Purchase this Painting

     The models for this painting were some old and beautiful forks that once belonged to my Great Grandmother, Lillian Moore.  They have so much color and character, I just couldn't resist.  I did learn that such straight lines in watercolor are hard to achieve, especially if using masking material.  I hope you enjoy these.  

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!