Gourdeous Gourds

This summer I saw a lot of Native American pottery. It was inspiring and yet I will never be a potter. No access to a wheel or kiln, and even if I did all of my attempts resulted in lopsided messes! My creative friend Daniela found some small gourds on the side of the road and painted them, and gave a few extras to me. We also saw an artist who decorated gourds in old town. I began to wonder if I could grow my own or buy dried gourds online. I ruled out growing as it seemed more trouble than it was worth. But found there is a whole world of people making art out of gourds. So I joined them!

Some patterns are inspired by things around my house as well as from some geometric patterns I found online. I used oil paint, wood stain, sharpie marker, raffia, hemp, beads and a few power tools! Love the process! The following are all canteen gourds that are all between 8-12 inches in diameter.

Gourds

When you play sports you have a coach. Hopefully they encourage you, and give guidance to help you play the game more effectively. They can leave the players with a feeling of accomplishment and pride or dejection! I think we could use coaches in a lot of areas of our lives. People who have more experience, who will cheer us on, and give us direction!

In Remembrance

For over 2,000 years the church has had a many opinions as to what communion means. Is it just in remembrance? Or do the elements become the body and blood of Christ? Do they give merit? Lots of questions. A few books I've read recently (one being "Looking for God knows What" by Donald Miller) suggest thinking about the disciples getting together for communion as a time of community and sharing stories, memories of what they had shared with Jesus. Friends enjoying each other over a meal.

Clothed with Compassion

Throughout the Bible we see references to how the Lord is clothed with splendor and majesty, and how he covers or clothes us. We are to put these garments, a new nature given as we inherit Christ's standing. Heavy stuff. Started thinking what would that look like. Thought of someone placing a robe or covering on the other. It's received. It's given by grace not because we did something to deserve it. As I started painting it lead me to thinking about those in our society who have little. What they have is piled into a shopping cart. Is that what we look like to God? Wandering around, everything precious carried with us, when really we have nothing of worth. And He gives us what we really need, sees us for who we are, and embraces us, covers us. (See Isaiah 61:10, Psalm 30:11, Zechariah 6:13, Romans 13:14, 2 Corinthians 5:4, Colossians 3:12)

Molded

As an artist I'm drawn to the imagery of God being a potter and we are the clay. He shapes us just how he wants us, he reshapes as he sees fit. He works skillfully and each creation is made carefully and purposefully. We are his workmanship.

I am HIS

Recently I was reading in a book that talked about how relational God was, he refers to himself as a shepherd and a father and a groom to the church. I've explored some of these relationships with previous paintings. I'd never explored what it looks like for Christ to be our Groom. As I thought of how to portray this I scraped the idea of the wedding day, as it would look very western. I think the idea of marriage as a relationship is one where the person sees you as you are, you are vulnerable, loved, accepted. This is what I strove to capture here.

This is probably the riskiest painting I've done, I didn't do it to be inflammatory. I just thought that clothes came with the fall, with sin, clothes were not worn in the garden. I thought they got in the way of the message which is why the couple is portrayed as they are.

Prodigal returns

Prodigal Returns

Finally finished, largest pastel I've ever done. Wanted to capture the father's love and acceptance of the son who has nothing to offer but himself.
Luke 15:11-32
11And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me(A) the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided(B) his property between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in(C) reckless living. 14And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16And he(D) was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17"But(E) when he(F) came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father,(G) I have sinned against(H) heaven and before you. 19(I) I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' 20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and(J) ran and(K) embraced him and(L) kissed him. 21And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.(M) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'[b] 22But the father said to his servants,[c] 'Bring quickly(N) the best robe, and put it on him, and put(O) a ring on his hand, and(P) shoes on his feet. 23And bring(Q) the fattened calf and kill it, and(R) let us eat and celebrate. 24For this my son(S) was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
25"Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' 28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might(T) celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came,(U) who has devoured(V) your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' 31And he said to him, 'Son,(W) you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32It was fitting(X) to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother(Y) was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Emergence

I completed the "Waiting for Transformation" piece over a year ago, although I did make some recent small adjustments. I kept waiting knowing I wanted to make "Emergence" but wanting it to feel more true to where I am in life. When spring arrives, things are alive and fresh and vivid! You feel hopeful and full of faith. Not sure I'm there yet, some days I catch a glimpse.