Untitled 9"x12" Oil on Masonite Board
There is still a bit of wet paint glare on this photo
I am a Christ follower and an Artist, those are the two main things that define who I am. Of course there is much more to me then that but those are what I feel are most important. This blog is where I will ponder both of these aspects of my life, where they intertwine and where they might even collide.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Painting a vision
There is much to tell but I will wait a bit to get my thoughts together before attempting to blog it. But while I am doing that, a couple weeks ago I had a facebook friend contact me. A year or so ago a young family member had a traumatic experience with abuse. It is not my place to go into detail but this woman really had to struggle with her faith after this. She said that she had a vision that has helped her overcome her struggle with faith and wanted someone to paint it. So she explained it all to me and so i painted it for her as best I could interpret it. In the end, she was very happy with it which is good and what i aim for. I'll post the photo of the painting below, but again, it is not my place to explain its meaning. :)
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Cool Snowburst!
I just had to share this cool photo I took tonight while walking Finnie at the Elementry School in my neighborhood. I thought the snow was pretty cool illuminated by the spot lights on the Flag, but was amazed when I captured a "snowburst" I love how amazing God's world is :)
Snowmageddon in the Smokys 2014
So we are in the midst of snowmageddon 2014 here in the Smoky Mountains and so I'm not planning on leaving the house for the next day or two. I'll be spending the time reorganizing my work area (today) and painting tomorrow. They are calling for 5 to 10 inches although there has been a great deal of uncertainty with this forecast.
Uncertainty can be frustrating and scary. Most people like a safe and predictable course and when something upsets that they can become discontented, stressed out and can make some hasty bad decisions. Been there, done that. But uncertainty is all a part of life, and it is in uncertain times that we need to rely and trust in God more then ever. No one can know what will happen tomorrow, only God knows that.
Matthew 6:25-34 ESV
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Right now I can honestly tell you I am in one of the most uncertain times of my life. I worry more then I should and I know I need to trust God more and worry less... or rather, trust God COMPLETELY and worry NOT AT ALL. but I am human... and I do trust God completely.. but I still have to deal with the consequences of my decisions and actions. Trusting God does not mean all our problems go away. Anyway, I am making an effort to worry less, to not let uncertainty rule my thoughts or decisions. Whatever happens, God's got this.
Winter cabin
12" x 6"
Pastel
Uncertainty can be frustrating and scary. Most people like a safe and predictable course and when something upsets that they can become discontented, stressed out and can make some hasty bad decisions. Been there, done that. But uncertainty is all a part of life, and it is in uncertain times that we need to rely and trust in God more then ever. No one can know what will happen tomorrow, only God knows that.
Matthew 6:25-34 ESV
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Right now I can honestly tell you I am in one of the most uncertain times of my life. I worry more then I should and I know I need to trust God more and worry less... or rather, trust God COMPLETELY and worry NOT AT ALL. but I am human... and I do trust God completely.. but I still have to deal with the consequences of my decisions and actions. Trusting God does not mean all our problems go away. Anyway, I am making an effort to worry less, to not let uncertainty rule my thoughts or decisions. Whatever happens, God's got this.
Winter cabin
12" x 6"
Pastel
Sunday, February 02, 2014
Ground Hogs Day and Distractions... with a side of Superbowl
Well happy Ground Hogs day.. that silly ground hog saw his shadow so its 6 more weeks of winter ... but then again... its still 6 weeks and 5 days till Spring.. so.. duh! :)
I was born in the 60's, raised in the 70's and went to high school in the 80's.. and well, lets not even talk about the 90's... but as time marches on, and most especially in the last 3 decades, the amount of things, gadgets, and technologies has us more distracted then ever! We are distracted from our families, from our friends, our jobs, and most importantly from God with things like video games, on-demand movies and tv shows, and particularly social media. More often then not when a group of people get together, at some point at least half the group will be staring down at their phones, facebooking or tweeting, checking emails or playing angry birds or fruit ninja insteadof just enjoying the company.
Thats the world we live in where technology has us hooked to the point that most people feel they couldn't live without it,. I'm totally guilty. I allow so many distractions to keep me from creating artwork, Facebook is my biggest weakness. I love to read all the facebook post, I love to watch all my artist friend create and post new art to their timelines and to groups, so much so that the 10 minutes i figured I would give myself to "check" my facebook turns into an hour or two. By the time I finish its time to start dinner or I just feel I havent left myself enough time to get started on a new project.
I also have let Facebook and other technologies distract me from spending time with God, in his word and just simple time with him. Going back to the artwork, when I'm painting I feel like I'm spending time with God, as it was God who gave me the talent to paint, and God who created the world around me that i paint. So His hands are all over it and when I allow other things from keeping me from enjoying my time painting, Im also allowing myself to be distracted from God.
Friday night on Facebook I announced I was taking the weekend off of Facebook and wouldn't be back on till Sunday night. I was going to use that time to create art. That lasted til about 2 pm Saturday... sigh. The good news, is that I did create some art.... and I will be making a conscience effort to avoid the distractions.
Oh and there is a Superbowl on tonight.....
I was born in the 60's, raised in the 70's and went to high school in the 80's.. and well, lets not even talk about the 90's... but as time marches on, and most especially in the last 3 decades, the amount of things, gadgets, and technologies has us more distracted then ever! We are distracted from our families, from our friends, our jobs, and most importantly from God with things like video games, on-demand movies and tv shows, and particularly social media. More often then not when a group of people get together, at some point at least half the group will be staring down at their phones, facebooking or tweeting, checking emails or playing angry birds or fruit ninja insteadof just enjoying the company.
Thats the world we live in where technology has us hooked to the point that most people feel they couldn't live without it,. I'm totally guilty. I allow so many distractions to keep me from creating artwork, Facebook is my biggest weakness. I love to read all the facebook post, I love to watch all my artist friend create and post new art to their timelines and to groups, so much so that the 10 minutes i figured I would give myself to "check" my facebook turns into an hour or two. By the time I finish its time to start dinner or I just feel I havent left myself enough time to get started on a new project.
I also have let Facebook and other technologies distract me from spending time with God, in his word and just simple time with him. Going back to the artwork, when I'm painting I feel like I'm spending time with God, as it was God who gave me the talent to paint, and God who created the world around me that i paint. So His hands are all over it and when I allow other things from keeping me from enjoying my time painting, Im also allowing myself to be distracted from God.
Friday night on Facebook I announced I was taking the weekend off of Facebook and wouldn't be back on till Sunday night. I was going to use that time to create art. That lasted til about 2 pm Saturday... sigh. The good news, is that I did create some art.... and I will be making a conscience effort to avoid the distractions.
Oh and there is a Superbowl on tonight.....
One Last Ride
9" x 12"
Pastel
9" x 12"
Pastel
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