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Evening Delight

A couple of years ago, as I've written before, Jim and I enjoyed a fabulous vacation to the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State. We stayed a week in a house on Orcas Island with our friends, John and Linda, enjoying the most wonderful fresh seafood, exquisite views, peace, and tranquility.

One evening we sat at the window of the New Leaf Restaurant in the Outlook Inn on Orcas Island. The food was spectacular and the view mesmerizing as the sun began to lower on the opposite side of the island, creating an amazing changing of the light on the bay. Colors went from blues and grays and greens, to pinks, corals and yellows. 

It was a spectacular display of God's artistry. But, the best was yet to come. After dinner we drove to the the beach where the sun was setting. Many had come out to view the show. It was getting dark but water and sky were on fire with the light from the descending sun. Oranges, reds, violets, pinks consumed water and sky, a sunset unlike any I'd ever experienced.

 

On returning home and viewing my pictures, I found it difficult to pick the first one to paint.  I love all the colors but decided the one without all the brights best suited me.  I chose the one before the show really got going.  The quiet, peaceful blues and grays.  

 I'm not done with those San Juan Islands.  If I can never physically return (which I so hope I do!), my many photos which will provide a vehicle to take me back!  

Take time to enjoy the handiwork of God around you today.  If you let it, it will inspire and bring some peace in this busy world. 

  

Hydrangeas and the Unpainted House

One of my sweetest childhood memories were the flower bushes that graced my Grandma Hall's humble unpainted house out by Bayou Bartholomew near Bastrop, Louisiana.  They rented the house and land, and raised cotton and soybeans.  My cousins who lived there also might want to put their 2 cents worth in at this point and further, but I know those were two of the crops.  

The picture of that house will forever be etched in my mind.  It had a front porch and a screen door which on a Sunday afternoon was forever slamming echoed by the certain "don't slam the door".  To the right of the open porch, if memory serves me well, was the hydrangea bush and a lantana, the old fashioned pink and orange variety.  (cousins, is this correct?) 

To my child's eye, it was just a flower in the yard, but as years have passed the beauty and magnificence of those blossoms have increased for me.  I love them!!  They are so hefty and colorful with lush foliage, their color determined by the kind of soil, acidic or alkaline.  Which makes which?  I think the blue is from alkaline, but I did not Google it.   My pitiful little one is a pinkie.  

Recently a college friend purchased a watercolor from me of Hollyhocks in front of an unpainted house (thank you, Facebook!)  She loved it and wanted another to hang with it.  I suggested Hydrangeas, and she liked the idea.  

Time sure does fly.  It seems like yesterday, in a way, and a millions years ago in another way, that door was slamming and us kids were having the time of our lives out at Grandpa's on a Sunday afternoon.  It's been said a million times, kids today do not know what they are missing, and I'll say it again, they do not.  Some of the best memories of my childhood!

 

The Birds

Sitting here at my desk this morning, I look out my window and before me is a Great Blue Heron.  We live on a golf course which is normally busy with, of course, golfers and their carts, but currently there are no golfers.  A renovation is taking place.  There's a creek/drainage ditch which runs into a pond and it divides two fairways.  We often see herons and cranes visiting that water.  But since there are no golfers we now watch this beautiful great bird, strolling around near our house.  He must be wondering what in the world is going on and is taking full advantage of his territory being fully available without threat of being bonked in the head.  

I do love birds of any kind.  We have a bluebird house in the backyard which houses several families a year.  At our last home, there was  hole way up in a tall pine where screech owls nested several years, and I wonder if they still do.  That was a very fun experience.

So, speaking of birds, a couple of my most recent paintings were that.  I was pleased to paint a commission for a friend from my home state of Louisiana of a Great Blue Heron wading in the Louisiana waters, back-dropped by gaunt, moss draped cypress trees.  The bird itself was photographed at Magnolia Plantation near Charleston, S.C.  

On finishing that painting, I chose to salute Louisiana again and paint its bird, the Brown Pelican.  I love his attitude. :)


One more of my somewhat recent paintings is at the tail end below and has nothing to do with birds.  A still life which sprung from a workshop with my friend artist, Susan Hotard.

What an inspiration nature is.  The beauty of God's creation is unsurpassed at any level.  The Greatest Artist, the Original Artist certainly.  If we only pause to look around each day and observe His works, we can know He is real.

If you are interested in any of my paintings, you may contact me at mjwillis52@gmail.com or comment below.

Waiting for Supper (sold)

Mr. Louisiana

12X12 Oil

Reflections in a Blue Urn

16X20 Oil

This is God's Country

 
Unless you've been sleeping under a rock for the last 5 years, you are painfully aware we are in the throes of a presidential election.  It has been disturbing to say the least.  I believe at the heart of every person is the desire for peace, love, freedom, and prosperity.  It feels like those very things are being threatened today.  


The name of this painting is "This is God's Country".  It is God's country no matter what happens today or tomorrow.  He will still be in control.  In the end, God will allow the person He sees best to be our leader, for whatever purpose/s He has in mind.  I know this.  He desires His church to humble herself before Him.  That is when He hears the prayers of the His people and answers them.

Daniel 2:22 in the King James Version of the Bible says:

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.

I feel like I want to write a prayer here, and I invite you to join with me.

Dear Lord, we humbly ask you to be merciful to this great nation.  We have sinned against you, and we ask forgiveness, even though we do not deserve it.  Lord, we are at a crossroads, and we desperately need you to do what needs to be done to save our freedoms.  We have our own thoughts about the way it ought to be, but we know that your thoughts are not like ours, they are so much greater.  Lord, please act in your great wisdom, might, and mercy on behalf of this nation.  We are in a mess here, and we need you!!  We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son. Amen!!

I had not actually planned to expound so theologically...but it came out, and there you have it.  My plan is to spend more time praying about this election in the next few weeks.  We need a miracle.

I hope you enjoy this painting.  I must give credit to my nephew's wife, Wendy Hall, for taking this photo on her walk in Oklahoma recently.  I loved it and offered to paint it.  I'm very excited about how it turned out.  Thank you, Wendy.

And, by the way, this is a 16X20 oil on canvas and will already have a home soon.  I will be painting a couple more similar to this if you happen to really like it!!

I hope we can all take some deep breaths and relax in the presence of Jesus in these coming days.  He really does have it all under control.

Peace.



  
   

The Foot Bridge

I really love to pencil draw.  Over the past few weeks, I've been a bit under the weather (because of this yucky rainy, humid, mildew producing weather) enough to not feel like doing much, but not enough to keep me from being totally bored.  I took that as an opportunity to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes.  

Again, I went to my photos of our recent trip through the South.  At the same place where I took the shot of the Great Blue Heron, Magnolia Plantation, near Charleston, there were beautiful foot bridges throughout the gardens.  As I looked through my photos, this one just jumped out at me and said "DRAW!".  The place gave me the feeling of what I think Monet's Giverny might give, where he painted the various waterlily scenes.

When I draw I can focus so well and lose myself in what I am doing.  I relax and totally enjoy it.  

 Nothing profound comes to me today other than the peace and calm that this place exudes.  May peace and calm be yours...always.

Competition

I'm excited to post my selections to compete in the Conroe Art League Fall Show.  There are some strange shadows on the drawings which definitely don't belong.  You'll have to come see them in person!  From the top down are:
                                                                Chuck
                                                                  Angel Baby
                                                        Anchored in Doe Cove
                                                         Sweet Baby Dreams
                                                        Red Shouldered Hawk

I painted Chuck in a group portrait studio where "Chuck" (his name is not really Chuck) was the model.  This was done in a 3 hour time span (with breaks).  I like the way Chuck turned out.

Angel Baby is none other than our sweet granddaughter, Jodi.  She had fallen asleep shirtless, with diaper only, on top of her snoozing daddy on our sofa one lazy Sunday afternoon.  I snapped the irresistible scene.   She is definitely our little Angel Baby.

I've blogged about the next painting before.  The photo was taken at Doe Cove on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands.  This was a spot that could entertain me for days, weeks, months, without doing one thing.

The first pencil drawing is of my great great niece whom I've never even met.  She lives in Vermont, and I so hope to meet her before she and her big sister before they are all grown up.  Her mommy posted this picture on her Facebook page and I grabbed it.  Mommy, I hope you don't mind???

One day I looked out my living room window and right there on the deck railing, just beside the bird feeder, sat this Red Shouldered Hawk, and he was not there to snack on the nuts and seeds in the feeder, rather on the small partakers of the feed.  He was beautiful.  What a treat to have him so close and be able to snap this shot, then draw him/her.  How do you tell the difference?

The Conroe Art Show will be held during the months of September and October. The show is divided into the 2 months as follows:

September:  Oils/Acrylics, Drawings, Photography, Digital Art, Studio Fine Art

October:  Watercolor, Mixed Media, Pastels, Abstract, Sculpture

My works will all be on display throughout September.

If you are in the area, I hope you'll take some time to stroll through our lovely gallery and view all the works of many amazing artists in our area.  The gallery is located at...
                                     127 Simonton
                                        Conroe, Texas

Thanks for dropping by and many blessings for you and yours!







 

The Carriage House

Our recent trip to Charleston, Asheville, and Savannah sparked my creative juices.  There were so many opportunities for photographing beautiful architecture and nature.  

In Charleston, we stayed at the Rutledge Avenue Inn which was barely in the historical district, and north of Broad.  If you know anything about Charleston, "north of Broad" was considered less than the best, not the upper crust, "the other side of the tracks", socially unacceptable.  Anyway, we were north and we were still happy.

North or south, this charming Carriage House was our residence for four nights and it was delightful.   Built in the 1800's, it is a lovely cottage, perfectly appointed, totally updated, and comfortable.  We enjoyed our stay with our friends, John and Linda.  

This was our first visit to Charleston, S.C. and what an eye opener it was.  I knew of the beautiful antibellum architecture from magazines and books, but the surprise to me was the abundance of beautiful homes and their magnificence.  Knowing that just a few miles out in the country lay their other beautiful home at the plantation, for some of these, at least, was astounding.  There are a few of the "town" houses with square footages of over 10,000 feet. 

We took a horse carriage ride through the historical district whose tour route is determined daily by lottery from a basket of colored balls.  This way the routes don't get cluttered with all the tours.  So, you wait in line in your carriage behind the other carriages, until your turn at the twirling basket of balls.   Your route will be determined by the color of ball that pops out.  The wait is quick. The tour is very interesting, historically informative, and entertaining.  Highly recommend!

Oh! the tastes of the south!!  We so much enjoyed all the fabulous food as we ate our way across the south.   My husband compiled a list of all the restaurants we tried and presented it to the four of us to rate.  It was unanimous that the whole group's favorite restaurant was Magnolia in Charleston.  Delightful, luscious food.  My very favorite dish (which wasn't even mine...I just had a taste) was the fried green tomato appetizer, in such a way I cannot even accurately describe except they were fried to perfection and drizzled with this yummy sweet sauce, and, I believe, there were goat cheese crumbles on top.  Wonderful ambiance at Magnolia with a modern decor and "up a notch" southern cuisine.  

I could go on and on and on, but will stop before I bore all to death.  Too much of a good thing...

There's nothing like the south in so many ways.  If you're looking to take a trip that will delight all the senses, this one will do it!

My painting for this entry is my version of the Rutledge Carriage House, our cozy and comfortable "Home Away".  (rented through VRBO)  It is a 16 X 20 oil on canvas.

Road Tripping through the South

The Great Blue Heron in Spring Plummage

America sparkles with God's handiwork.  Recently we did a road trip to the Carolinas and Georgia...Asheville, Charleston, and Savannah.  What a fabulous time of sight-seeing historical places, grand architecture, enjoying the absolutely lucious cuisine of the South, the glorious scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Atlantic coast, the hundreds of moss draped stately live oaks and the forests decorated with blossoming magnolias.

Magnolia Plantation is just outside Charleston and has been in the same family since 1676 when it was founded by the Draytons.  It is one of the nation's oldest plantations and public gardens and the first ever to open its gates to visitors for the cost of a quarter, because hard times warranted a new way to keep the place afloat.  A truly fascinating place which offers the house, the gardens, and a genuine swamp with boardwalks for experiencing firsthand its birds in the rookery, numerous alligators and other reptiles..  

The walk through the swamp was totally fascinating as it offered a haven for herons and other larger birds (names escape me) to nest and fortunately for us, the young were out on display.  Simply beautiful.  Thankfully, a fence appeared to separate us from the reptiles which were very visible in the water.  The visible ones were alligators, and I don't even want to consider what the invisible ones were, which could slither right through that wire fence.

Strolling through the gardens, I was thrilled to come upon this Great Blue Heron who appeared to be so otherwise engaged in his prospective aquatic lunch that I was able to get very close for a photo without his taking flight.  For added attraction, he was displaying his spring plummage. This made a perfect opportunity for painting when I arrived home.  The background water and trees were of my own imagination.  I preferred a much brighter setting than the one Mr. Heron had chosen.

Open your eyes and look around.  Drink in the beauty of God's artistry.  He is the Master Artist. He is the original Artist.  He knows how to put it all together.  And, I mean all.

Please enjoy the other posts which display my artwork.  If you find yourself taken with any, please contact me.  mjwillis52@gmail.com.

The Harbor

One of the most peaceful places I've ever visited is the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington state.  My last blog several months ago contained a painting of the market there.  

On our first full day on Orcas Island we scoped out the island via car, getting our bearings.  It was early morning, the skies were cloudy, the air was misty, and we pulled into this lovely cove whose name escapes me.  In every direction the views cried out for a camera. Wildflowers on the shore, the not so distant islands across the way, the fisher-people with their rods, the bench of solitude on the hill.  The sailboat anchored in harbor was beautiful and such a symbol of peace and security. That cove inspired this painting.

There is One who offers a Harbor of peace and security to all who will take refuge.  In the world we now live, that is a priceless offer.

I'm thankful for the Harbor.

                                                   

Island Time

 Summer Market

Last summer my husband and I were blessed to spend a week on Orcas Island in the San Juan group in Puget Sound off the coast of Washington State.  Oh what a lovely time!  Joined by our dear friends,  John and Linda, we reached the island by ferry.  We relaxed on the patio with the view of Puget Sound, Mt. Baker and the surrounding Cascade range before us.  Dinners of fresh Dungeness crab and fresh halibut stir up my tastebuds as I type!  Ah!  It was SO delicious!  The picturesque village of Eastsound was just a few miles away down the mountain, its streets lined by quaint structures of shops, churches, restaurants, inns, and graced with hollyhocks and roses.  It was July and the temperatures never reached above 80. Oh...take me back!  

The market was on Saturday in town so we decided to enjoy it with the locals.  There was an array of products...jewelry, handmade soaps, lotions, art, woven goods, clothing, carts preparing the local fare, all calling out to my camera.  This ice cream cart and the cute lady standing there with her glass of iced tea was one.  The background is from my own imagination.  I love the colors, the bright summer day feel.  I can almost feel the breezes and smell the aromas.

When we travel, I am always ready to return home.  Always. There's no place like it.  Not this time.  I could have stayed a month!  I begged Jim to let's please come back.  He loved it nearly as much as I and we do plan to return, but there are so many places to go and so much to see.  Time will tell.

Thanks for joining me here and at Orcas Island.  Blessings!

 

Bluebonnets, Clouds, and a Clear Path.

Surely the whole world is aware that among the many things Texas is known for is its Bluebonnets, that brilliant cornflower blue blossom that covers many a central Texas field and hillside in spring, plus many Texas roadsides.  The tradition of packing up the kids and carting them off to the best field of bluebonnets, along with the camera, the tripod, and the family dog is common to families.  Cars will line the highway shoulders, as families tromp out to the perfect spot for the pose.  This spring especially after the tremendous amount of winter, then spring rains, the blue fields flourished. 

I saw several photos on Facebook this spring of a particular field near Muleshoe, Texas.  Someone has called it the "Field of Dreams".  I received Taylor Kelly's permission to use her photo which was so beautiful and try my hand at painting it.  I've added my own touch to it, including a limestone bluff which is common in the Texas Hill Country.  When I paint this again, I will move the road to the right about an inch.  There's just something about focus being in the center of the painting that is not a pleasing as it being a bit "cockeyed".  This is a 24"X30" oil. 

Clouds.  I really love clouds.  One cannot be precise when painting them.  A loose wrist,  an imperfect edge.  Clouds really are not all white. There's yellow and pink and gray, and I'm sure many other colors I'm yet to learn about.  It was fun to fill the majority of this canvas in clouds.

This painting is laden with clouds yet full of promises fulfilled.  Growth, beauty, peace, clearness of path.  That's the way life can be.  Clouds everywhere, but peeks of blue sky and goodness.  God is gracious and full of mercies.  Even if our path is clouded, He provides all that we need to travel this path of life. 

Proverbs 4:26
Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.

Today I may have experienced the most gratifying result of any painting I have been privileged to paint in my short number of years as a painter.  My good friend's daughter and her husband have been trying to adopt for years.  After many difficult years of waiting, praying, and hoping, they recently brought home from China a precious 9 year old boy.  They knew God had answered their prayers.  

My friend (the young man's grandmother) one day showed me a snapshot of him shooting a basket on the driveway of his home.  His dad is a basketball coach.  My friend said, "this looks like something you'd paint".  I was on it!  I loved the photo.  I said  "please send it to me."  She texted it to me and I couldn't wait to get started.

Today we celebrated with this family and "showered" him with gift cards!  He was so excited and happy.  I surprised them with this painting.  I believe they were thrilled.  I was thrilled to see the smile on his face when he saw himself in oil. I am thankful to have this privilege.  I would hope for many more opportunities to share my art in this kind of happy circumstance.

God has a plan and purpose for everything.  When times are tough, we can be assured He will work out everything together for our good.  I believe this little family has gone through some long years of waiting and wondering and hoping and praying.  To see them all together today, so happy, was such a blessing!  May God bless them all!

Moving Along

This painting is (tbh) part of a whole.  The whole is called "To Market" which I partially drew from my own thoughts but the lady in polka dot comes from another painting of mine who originally found herself in a travel magazine of the island of St. Martin.  Our next door neighbors were living on the island half the year and when they returned once, their little girl, Sabrina, who was around eight years old at the time brought me this magazine which she, who has very artistic abilities herself, thought would be nice for my inspiration.  Wasn't that the sweetest thing?  So, the lady in polka has now traveled from one of my paintings to another.  The first one was called "Market Day in St. Martin" and this, "To Market".  This little section of painting happened when Google decided to interfere with my painting image and this is the product.  I thought it was quite artistic, so I kept it.  

Ms. Polka Dot is certainly on a mission, headed in a confident direction, moving forward.  I think she knows just where she is going.   There are days when I don't seem to know which way is up or down or what!  There are times when the path I am on is foggy.  There are days when I get discouraged because I'm not sure what is just around the corner.  When my days get like that, there is one thing I know.  Jesus is with me and He will guide me.  I can trust Him to lead the way.  I may not know exactly where I am going on a particular day, but He knows. In this I am confident.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you like my paintings and get a bit of encouragement at the same time.  

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.   Psalm 32:8  

The Protector

There is a story for sure behind this painting.  When I was volunteering at our high school office some years back and around the time I began painting, one of the office workers brought me a photo, and truly flattered me by asking if I could paint it for her. (my first commission).  She told me it was of her little girl and a cousin.  The two are taking in the view from a window from which my friend's two year old had fallen a couple of years prior!  Horrors! Can you imagine the story this child must be telling which likely has been repeated to her over and over by her parents?  Wouldn't you love to have been standing nearby to hear that?  Thankfully, she only had bruises after the fall from this second floor window.  Babies are made of rubber, pretty much, aren't they?  God always knows what He is doing.  He protected this little one in an amazing way.  

There are times when we are so very much aware of His protection over us and our families and are amazed, but we truly have no idea how many times each day our Heavenly Father reaches out to keep us from harm. He gives His angels charge over us, His children, to keep us from falling, physically, mentally, and spiritually!! (Psalm 91)  He is our Protector.  When it comes right down to it, He is all we need.  I hope you know Him.

Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy.  Jude 1:24

Safe Harbor

So, I hope we don't float away.  The rain has been coming down constantly since Friday evening, heavy at times, light at times, but constant.  Our area was in drought for over a year but no more.  The lake is brimming and the ducks out back are happy, happy. (I didn't realize what I was just typing..quack, quack..DD, anyone?)  A rainy day is very pleasant to me, but not a rainy several days in a row with rather chilly temps.  Today's weather forced me to exhibit today's painting. 

Our neighborhood is extremely supportive of the American Cancer Society, raising many thousands of dollars each year through various events.  This painting was done a  couple of years ago specifically for that cause and purchased by a local couple who are former owners of several art shops.  That made me feel great, a donation to a great cause and a nice pat on the back for me.

As an aside, daylight savings time is back.  How do you feel about that?  My opinion...let's just stay with it all year.  It would be easier on all of us, don't you think?

                                                                          Safe Harbor

Thank you very much for stopping by.  I am enjoying this pleasant way of exhibiting my work, putting "e-pen to e-paper", and perhaps bringing a glimmer of hope your way.  Please leave your comments so I'll know you dropped by. 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;....

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.  Isaiah 43:2

The Beauty of Spring

Can it really be?  Spring is beginning to subtly peek at us. I have not heard of so much snowfall in so many places in a very, very long time. My many friends and relatives in the north, surely you all are weary of the cold and the snow and the ice. Even my southern friends have had their share.  

 As I look out my window here in Texas,  I see pine trees blooming and I see those bushes with the reddish leaves and fuschia blooms whose name has slipped away from me.  Some of the early flowering trees have blossomed, and new growth is beginning to pop out.  (I looked it up...those plants with the fuschia blooms.. they are Loropetalum or Plum Delight, and to expose my horticultural ignorance, my Google search words were Laura Pedlum!)  Anyway, I believe the whole U.S.A. would say altogether, "We are ready for Spring!".

Today's painting is of one of my very favorite flowers in the whole plant kingdom.  The Peony.  I think one very excellent reason to move further north would be to be able to grow these in my own yard and go out and cut them for my viewing pleasure. I have one special friend in New Jersey who does just that.  I am jealous, Julie.   And, speaking of north, this painting was purchased by a college friend who lives in Illinois and with whom I had not had contact for some 40 years.   Thanks to Facebook, we have been reunited.  She saw this there and wanted it.  Thank you, Gail!

I would love it if you would post a reply here.  How great it would be to hear from you and get your feedback.  Follow me, if you like, by signing up on this page.  Thank you for stopping by.

[He has sent me] to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
Isaiah 61::3

Country Living

"Elaine's Barn" for my sister...Elaine.  She has this hanging over her fireplace in Oklahoma which is a real honor for me.  This barn is reminiscent of our Grandpa Hall's barn where we spent many fun times as kids on his farm a short walk from Bayou Bartholomew in Louisiana.  Those memories are the best.  Too many kids today have no idea what kid life can be like.  Sad.  

I love the peace and quiet out here in the country, after so many years in the rat race near Houston.   We live at the end of a cul-de-sac on the edge of our subdivision (yes, it is a subdivision, though in the country) next to a pipeline/power easement. Tall pine trees surround us and across that easement are farms.  I love to watch the birds that come to feed at my feeder(s).  Once in the midst of the terrible drought, a thirsty Pileated Woodpecker came onto our deck for a drink of water.  If you've never seen one it is quite awesome......they are HUGE!  This is also bluebird haven.  We have a bb house and it has been home to, I would venture to say, 100 bb's in these 8 years.  It's funny how they seem to all come back occasionally for a family reunion.  No kidding.  One night the scream of a bobcat pierced the quiet which was hair-raising indeed, and sadly in the midst of those screams were tiny yelps.  That was not peaceful.  A large lake is within easy walking distance.  We have deer and fox and possum and raccoons.  I swear I saw bear tracks once.  I spoke of the drought.  I was so amazed the spring after the drought, I had never seen so many wildflowers.  Could that have a spiritual connotation?  Something like the rainbow after the storm?

We are fortunate to live in a place like this.  Even in such a setting, peace in these difficult days can be elusive, but there is a peace that transcends all understanding.  Knowing Jesus, realizing who we are in Him...that's true peace.  

These things I have spoken to you, (said Jesus), that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

 

Something New

This painting is the result of a class I took a couple of years ago.  I like the movement and the color. Honestly, I do not even remember who this instructor was, but I was pleased with the way the painting turned out.  It is a copy of one of that painter's originals. This is a 16X20 oil and is available if anyone is interested.

 I hope I never get too old to learn, to improve myself, to develop the gifts God has given me.  Don't ever think you are too old to discover a new gift.  My first art lesson was 5 years ago.  My focus as far as talent was concerned had always been singing, obtaining a degree in vocal music and using that in various ways all my life.  There was a desire, kind of a little twinge and not a real yearning, deep in me for many years to draw and learn to paint, but had never pursued it.  Finally, I  met a lady at a party after our move to Montgomery, Texas who was an art teacher at a Christian school.  At the time she did not teach privately, but soon did and contacted me.  It was so cool for me to drive out to the country to her home to draw and paint.  Thank you, Lynne Peverill!

Never think it is too late to start something new!  If there's anything you've always wanted to try....try it!! You just might be surprised at the results!

See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19