And the Elephants are Finished!

Just a few in-progress shots for you.  The initial sketch went on some craft paper (the largest paper I've got).  I inherited this fantastic roll from my grandfather, and it come's in very handy for big pieces!

Then I transferred the drawing onto the canvas...I had to ask a friend HOW to do that, because I didn't have a clue.  Evidently they teach you odd tidbits like that in art school!  The above pic shows the first colors.

And some more color....until finally...ta dah!!!

I don't know if this is a sunrise, or a sunset, but I don't care.  I'm delighted with it!  This is actually a family portrait for some friends who live north of town.  If they have more kids we'll just add another canvas!

More Sketching

Just a page from my sketch book.  Another lovely evening of sitting by the fire.  I initially looked up reference photos on-line, and there were plenty....but none of them really grabbed  my attention.  So then I went to the CHILDREN'S section of the library.  How brilliant was that?!  Their picture books are fabulous!  So I will be happily drawing elephants until the books are due!

A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening

Just messing around.  One sketchbook.  Two pencils.  And there I was, all wrapped up in a cozy blanket, certainly not wanting to get up to sharpen a pencil!  So I wore them down to almost nothin'.  

Longing For Spring

Spring in the mountains of Colorado is a tentative thing.  Slow coming and deceptive.  We'll have a glorious day where it's well into the 60's, and the next day we have to huddle around the fireplace while a ferocious storm howls outside.

That was yesterday.  So I added wood to the fire, and drew flowers.

2 Timothy 1:7

This week I painted this on the office wall of a friend.  We seriously struggled with choosing the right red....it's harder when you're working with house paint, because the colors just don't  mix normally!  And I've decided that the white paint is going in the trash.  It's gotten too old and is all gloopy and chunky, and if you try to thin it it just ends up like slightly sour skim milk....all runny with strange chunks.

Despite those foibles, though, I like the result!

What Do I Feed On?

I was thinking the other day of the counterfeits that we go to for courage, comfort, love, fulfillment.  I was reminded that my ONLY source for truth is God's Word.  My GREATEST source of comfort is God's  Spirit.  Everything else leaves me with greater longings than before!

The vertical words in this journal page speak to that.  Peter told Jesus, "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life."

(psst....you can click on the image to make it bigger.)

Ribbit!

Take the picture!  Quick!  Before he jumps!  Just looking at this guy's feet makes me shake my head.  The variety in God's creation astounds me!

This is the result of another evening spent drawing.  Two nights in a row!  Now, that's delightful!  I'm not in love with the blue ink/colored pencil combination, but this was drawn for my own practice and was never destined for a frame.

We'll see if I can stretch this drawing thing into three nights.....

Finally!!

Donkey, Burro or Mule?  I haven't a clue.  This guy lives not far from here, along with several other donkeys, burros, or mules.  If you stop and get out they'll come meandering over for a brief chat.  They'd probably love a tid-bit of something yummy, too, but I never have anything with me.  Except maybe some old, dead french fries, and I don't know if donkeys, burros, or mules like french fries.

I sat and drew this last night and REVELED in  holding a pen again.  It's been far too long.

Dancing Before the Lord

Lately I've been pondering how we worship God.  Privately, or in a gathering of other believers.  So often we're distracted, or concerned with appearances.  Sometimes I wish I were invisible.  And in that invisible place, this is what my heart looks like.  Vibrant with color.  Blown by the wind.  Leaping for joy.

I'll be adding words to this.  I just haven't decided yet what I want this to SAY.  So you're seeing it in process.

Live Art

Last Sunday a friend and I did live-art at our church.  While the worship band played, and all the people sang, we painted.  It was nerve racking, to say the least!  But, now that it's all done, I think it was definitely a good thing.

The previous friday there had been a boy in our town who was killed in a car accident.  It's a small community, and a lot of people are heart-broken.  So Sunday's theme was particularly poignant:  that in the midst of our storms, there is Jesus Himself, saying "Peace, Be Still".  He is our only real source of CALM.

By the way, my painting friend is Lois Sprague....you can see more of her work here: 

http://www.loisrosiosprague.com

Have You Forgotten?

What have my eyes seen?  The faithfulness of God?  His care?  Specific answers to prayer?  Surprising evidences of His presence?  Truth in dark places?

"Only give heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen."  PAY ATTENTION.  Write things down.  Keep a journal.  Tell those you do life with.  Put a note on the fridge.  Just DON'T FORGET!  It's no wonder God set up so many feasts and festivals for His people.  They were memory aids!  Because we forget.

And frankly, remembering is good for the soul.

Speaking of Hope...

Another card.  This time a variegated tulip, with truth from God Himself.  The inside of the card says "Why are you in despair, o my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me? HOPE IN GOD, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence."  (psalm 42:5....and two other times in verses surrounding this one...I've blogged about this before).

Here's the problem.  There are broken people in this world.  Sometimes it's me.  Sometimes is a friend or acquaintance.  We all get to a sad place of momentarily feeling hopeless.  And this is the TRUTH that must always be stated.  But if you KNOW the truth...and yet, you don't FEEL the truth...the last thing you want to hear is some pious person saying, "hope in God."  So I haven't mailed this card to anyone.  It sits in my drawer.  And instead I pray, knowing that only God can restore hope in Himself.

Crocuses

There's a small tub in my garage full of photos.  They're all old.  From back when we had film cameras, and actually had to have our photos PRINTED, for crying out loud!  I had almost forgotten it was out there, and today I went digging.  And lo, and behold....what a treasure trove of reference pics!!  Happy birthday to me, even though it's not my birthday!

This is a greeting card that I'm sending to a friend, also cleaning out her storage.  Why do we end up with boxes, and tubs, and more boxes of STUFF?  And it just sits for years on years!  Here's hoping a note of encouragement will add some joy to my friend's storage-cleaning efforts. 

One-Line Rooster

I seem to have a thing for roosters!

Not long ago I heard that a friend was in a sad place, a place of needing to wait on God, and I decided that I wanted to send her a card.  The grocery store NEVER has JUST the right card!  So I made my own.  This scan still shows some of the pencil sketch lines (which I erased before I mailed it!).  What better thing than to remember, even in the midst of the hard stuff, that God has done WONDROUS things for my soul?!

The rooster is drawn with one long line, with my pen never leaving the paper.