Reflecting beauty

Gathering Blessings

2011-08-29T18:39:00.003-05:00

I started this project with a song in my head that asked if God would hold them together. I was thinking of how we are all broken and Jesus is the healer.

I liked the idea of using circles, that are supposed to be whole, but they are broken.

One morning I was reading in Romans from the Message version of the bible. The end of Romans 5:5 the paraphrase used is; "We can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit.

So now it's a combination, broken, but still blessed abundantly.

I used photography, cardboard tubing, paint, paper, rice, flower petals (dried and silk) and wax for this collage.

Focus of His love

2011-02-09T11:05:00.001-05:00

Wanted to make a piece for my daughter, that reflects who she is. A princess, lavishly loved by her maker, made to enjoy glorious living, and to be abundantly free.

Found this photo that my husband took, then had him take one of her hands holding a flower. Wanted to use textures and color, layers and wax. After searching for a verse that would try and capture what I wanted her to grow up knowing, I settled on Ephesians 1:4-12. A great passage that speaks of God's plans for us.

I enjoyed the process and MJ is really excited to have this hanging in her room. The hard part is knowing when to stop, what to keep and what just adds clutter. Although I like this piece part of me feels like it might be more like a scrapbook page on steroids than a great piece of art. But, hey, it's not for sale, and I have the freedom to fail.

Encaustic Art cont

2011-02-09T11:03:00.002-05:00

Hands Encaustic Artwork

2011-02-09T10:59:00.001-05:00

I’ve wanted to hang something in our guest bath for a while. The room has a beach feel to it. I saw it as an opportunity to do several small collages using fabric, found objects, photographs and graphics. They are 9x9 inches. The size gave me the freedom to experiment, and the found objects didn’t get overwhelmed. It also gave me the freedom to fail and try again.

To go with the beach theme I started searching for verses in scripture that talk about water, waves, the ocean. While I do intend to explore those themes with 4 mini collages (yet to be made), I got off on a detour when I encountered the verse: Isaiah 44:5

“This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; and that one will call on the name of Jacob; and another will write on his hand, ‘belonging to the Lord’

Hands are so expressive. I wanted to portray that idea. Seeing how the photo of the hand looked with the writing made me want to do more with hands. So my husband helped me take a few more photos and I found some verses I liked to accompany them.

Unlike other work I have done when I have an idea of what it will look like when finished, these are more about the process and exploring with textures shape and color, and then of course one of my new favorite things, playing with wax to bring it all together. Enjoy!

More gourds

2010-09-13T15:46:00.000-05:00

New Gourds

2010-09-13T15:43:00.001-05:00

Here are some more recent gourds I've done.

Ruts

2010-09-13T15:40:00.001-05:00

This piece has been more about the process than the end result. I’m not sure it’s done.

I was reading a book called sacred parenting, talking about how parenting can teach and refine our character. It was talking about how kids watch us, and they mimic us. I’ve heard my kids repeat back things I’ve said, both good and the not so good. We heavily influence the next direction. The author talked about how that influence is a motivation for us to continue to develop and grow in character.

This phrase really caught my imagination: “Our children frequently follow the ruts we lay down.” Usually when I think of getting in a rut it’s not a positive thing, but a bad habit. I don’t want my children to follow those. He uses the verses 2 Corin 7:1 and 2 Peter 1:5-7 that talk about growing in purity and other positive aspects. Those are the ruts I hope to lay down and be followed in by my kids.

So the painting, I started with an image of a field with, you guessed it ruts! The birds (yes, there are two, one is mostly obscured in the upper left corner) represent being able to fly and be free….as a bird.) And the keys and lock echo that thought of having the power, through Christ, to be set free, of hope.

I scanned the passages from my bible and printed them out and pasted them in the sky and then used several layers of tissue paper, glue, varnish, paint and wax. In the layers are the words grow in faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. (From the passage in 2 Peter 1)

Loved the process, putting down layers of thoughts. My first time using wax, and I’d like to use it again.

Gourdeous Gourds

2009-10-05T15:35:00.002-05:00

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

2009-10-05T15:28:00.002-05:00

2009-09-03T10:24:00.002-05:00

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

2009-08-24T18:31:00.003-05:00

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

2009-08-24T18:29:00.001-05:00

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

2009-07-01T19:18:00.000-05:00

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

2009-06-24T22:44:00.001-05:00

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

2009-06-24T11:42:00.000-05:00

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

2009-05-08T16:10:00.002-05:00

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.

Psalm 23

2008-12-22T22:44:00.002-05:00

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

I love the image of Jesus as our Shepherd. Perhaps as I so often feel at a loss. We were going through this passage at church several weeks back and I found myself sketching on a small scrap of paper so I decided to do a pastel. Enjoy.

Christmas Art

2007-12-09T19:47:00.000-05:00

In an attempt to give Christmas gifts that would truly be enjoyed and wouldn't cripple our budget I decided to make a few paintings. The boy is my nephew. The others are for the grandparents of their grankids. If you want to drive yourself insane, try getting two toddlers to sit nicely together and give a nice smile or expression at the same time. With each painting I had to composite a few different photos to get the views I was after.

Downtown from Lake Ivanhoe

2007-12-09T19:44:00.000-05:00

This painting makes me happy to be a painter and not a photographer. I knew this was the scene I wanted and I got my husband to take some reference photos for me, but this view, if it exist would be from a helicopter or maybe a small boat on the water. The sky was also unremarkable that day and I referred to some concept art to help me place a completed building into the picture instead of one that's still under construction.

Waiting for Transformation

2007-11-29T12:45:00.000-05:00

I'm a product of our gotta have it now culture, I do not enjoy waiting. However there are plenty of examples in the Bible where God is in no hurry. Moses spends years in the dessert after the burning bush and before he tells Moses to let my people go. Then once free they still spend 40 years in the wilderness before going to the promise land. Jesus goes to the dessert. Even Paul has a period of waiting after his encounter with Jesus. A book I'm reading talks more about God's redeeming purposes in waiting. She uses the imagery of a caterpillar waiting in the cocoon to be transformed into a butterfly. That's the inspiration for this piece. Waiting in a time of winter for the time to emerge for the cocoon with wings!

Ransomed

2007-10-17T08:50:00.000-05:00

This past summer I saw Chris Tomlin in concert. He sings a version of "Amazing Grace" that has a different chorus:
"My chains are gone/ I've been set free/ My God, my Savior has ransomed me/ And like a flood His mercy reigns/ Unending love, Amazing grace" Those words resonated in my mind, such powerful imagery. In my mind I saw someone who was being washed clean, rain coming down, chains having fallen off. This painting proved a challenge. The intention was to show rain washing over her, but it was not working well with my chosen medium. I added the window later as well as the background needed something more. I was trying to explain what the painting was about to my daughter, who is almost 3. A hard concept, that Jesus sets us free from our slavery to give in to selfish impulses, and frees us to be who he wants us to be. My prayer is to understand this more fully and live this truth.

New Old Town

2007-09-25T18:56:00.000-05:00

This is a painting of a few houses in Baldwin Park, Orlando. It has the feeling of an old small town but only a few years old.

Hope of Harvest

2007-09-09T17:14:00.000-05:00

Most of the time I start with a concept and then find a way to portray it visually. This painting came about a bit differently. I was drawn to the imagery of a hand in wheat. (Think of the scene at the beginning of the movie Gladiator.) I had my husband take a reference shot by the side of the road over a month ago. I wasn't sure why that imagery was so powerful in my mind. As I thought about the imagery, I thought of hope: hope of seeing a harvest, results for work done, a sense of satisfaction, of homecoming. I ran across the following passage:
"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal." John 12:24-25 (The Message Version) I portrayed a young mother with her child. She gives of herself generously, endlessly, dying to self for the sake of caring for and training her child. She looks forward when she will see the results of this loving sacrifice in her child's life. The wheat is a reminder, a promise that that time will come. Her efforts will be rewarded.

Through the water

2007-09-03T18:33:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 43:2,4
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;
the flames will not set you ablaze
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life
I've always loved this passage and wanted to do a painting that would show this idea of God being with us through the difficult times in life. I tried to picture what it would look like for Him to be with me through the waters. Holding hands, side by side? I decided to show Him holding us, protecting us. Again I used my Husband and son as models, showing how strong our father is, and how much we need him.

Tree Painting

2007-09-03T18:30:00.001-05:00

I had the opportunity to paint these two paintings during our church service. They wanted to show a visual representation of what was being talked about. The pastor talked about how there are things that are root issues in our lives, things that bear fruit-weather good or bad. Thus they wanted me to paint images of trees. It was a bit nerve wracking being on stage, being watched, wondering if I'd be able to finish each piece in a hour, but it was a great opportunity. (I'm glad I did it and that I attend a church that values visual expression.) Here are the results.

Covered

2007-08-03T21:28:00.001-05:00

Psalm 17:7-8 “Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Rich Mullins has a song that says “Hold me Jesus for I’m shaking like a leaf, you’ve been my king of glory, won’t you be my prince of peace.” I often feel like that shaky leaf and so want to be held by Jesus, protected, at rest. That’s what inspired this piece.

A Father's delight

2007-08-03T21:27:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 43:4 “Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me.You are honored, and I love you.” God delights in his children! This one is called “A Father’s Delight”

A Father's embrace

2007-08-03T21:25:00.000-05:00

My daughter is a daddy’s girl. She loves spending time with her dad, and her dad really delights in her. It’s a great picture of how much God loves and delights in us. This images is “A Father’s Embrace” and is inspired by Isaiah 43:13 “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”

Stepping out of my comfort zone

2007-08-03T21:24:00.000-05:00

I love doing landscapes. They show beauty, they are neutral, forgiving. But this past year I felt God calling me to venture out and do something other than landscapes. I was scared, I didn’t know what I would draw, and what if I failed. What if I couldn’t translate ideas in my head to pastel on paper? I finally got up the courage a few months ago to go ahead and try. I gave myself the freedom to fail, the freedom to portray concepts. It’s an ongoing series that I share with you, and I’m loving it!

My son is almost starting to walk, he crawls like a pro, and will stand and take steps if he is holding onto something solid. The phrase “walking by faith” keep popping up in my head. I thought how God will help us to walk by faith, he will hold our hand as needed and cheers with each new step we take. That’s what I wanted to portray, a baby who is taking those first steps, learning he can do it and daddy is nearby.

Un-forgotten

2007-06-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 49:15-16 "Can a women forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands..." Just before this passage Israel is saying that God will forget them, and this is the assurance he give them. It's become more personal to me now that I have children. I was trying to portray here the tenderness between mother and child. God's feelings towards us surpass this tender relationship. The mother and child are placed in 'God's hands' to remind us that we are not alone, he is thinking of us. Over and over again in Isaiah it talks about the imagry of God holding our hand, being with us...

Broken but Beautiful

2007-06-04T19:10:00.000-05:00

I heard this phrase in a song several months ago and it stuck with me. I'd been feeling broken but not particularly beautiful. I didn't like the feeling, still don't, but I think God is fine with us being broken, with our feelings of desperation. It's there that we know we need more than ourselves, we need him, and he can make the brokenness beautiful. So I had the phrase but wondered how to portray it and a broken vase came to mind. It's back together, not perfect, but useful, beautiful and what it contains is beautiful. I used different papers along with oil pastels for the piece. I was almost done, had the vase, window and table done but it looked unfinished. It needed something else on the table, and I wondered what I would put there. I wanted something that would show what brings about the brokenness. It came to me that my kids while a source of great joy, are also a great challenge to me. I often feel that I'm just not enough. Again I don't like it but realizing that God is ok with that feelings and wants me to turn to him. Hope you enjoy the piece.

Little Econ Trail

2007-06-04T19:05:00.001-05:00

Here is a pastel of the Little Econ Trail in Orlando. We enjoyed biking along the river and I noticed the beautiful purple water flowers.

New Life

2006-07-10T18:57:00.000-05:00

I usually don't paint people- they are less forgiving if a nose is too long, or eyes too far apart. But I am a few weeks away from gving birth to our second child, a son. I'm emmersed in motherhood. I was sitting at my midwife's office and decided I wanted to give them a painting but my landscapes didn't seem appropriate. I wanted to show the reward at the end of pregnancy, bonding with your new baby.

Oaks of righteousness

2006-06-23T17:41:00.000-05:00

One more painting to go along with the series for Isaiah 61. "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." How I want God to plant me, to put me in a place where I display his strength.

Isaiah series

2006-04-30T17:43:00.001-05:00

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives,
And freedom to prisoners;

To grant those who mourn in Zion,
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61: 1,3

In effort to try and get this scripture into my head and heart I've started a series of sketches depicting some of these things. I was encouraged in my reading to see that when Jesus read scripture at the temple and said this has been fulfilled in your time it was this passage. He is a healer and comforter, restorer.

2006-02-19T14:14:00.000-05:00

It had been months since touching my oil pastels. I just felt uninspired. I needed fresh material to paint, yet I think I would've stalled even if I had some great landscape scenes. I felt like God was calling me to trust him to do something different. To venture beyond my normal subject matter of landscapes to something more personal. It struck fear in me as I wondered if I would fall on my face. But I waited and eventually got an impression, an idea of what I was to attempt. I've been learning about faithfulness, mostly of God to bring about what he wants in our lives. And about fruitfulness, the idea of producing things of value like hope, joy, love, patience and other vitures in our lives. I wanted to see those kind of qualities in my life. So above is the result so far. I don't have a title yet, and will probably look to find some scriptures that speak to the theme. God impressed another concept in my head recently and so I set out again seeing if I can protray this mystery visually.

Flowers

2005-10-24T08:45:00.000-05:00

I have a black thumb, give me a plant and it will be dead within a few weeks. However I do enjoy other people's gardens. One of my favorite spots in Orlando is Leu Gardens. The following piece reflects the variety and beauty of some favorite flowers. I decided to use hexagons and arrange them to make the shape of a flower.

Glimpses of Central Florida

2005-10-14T14:41:00.000-05:00

A local magazine sponsors "Paint the Town" every year. They invite artists to submit pieces depicting Orlando. I will be submitting "Glimpses of Central Florida" that shows little pieces of what makes Orlando what it is. This and the asian piece were fun to do, brainstorming image ideas, and then creating them.

Glimpses of the East

2005-10-14T14:32:00.000-05:00

Several years ago I spent a year living in Asia. It was hard at times, yet it was a grand adventure that has shaped part of who I am. Rather than doing a series of paintings of Asia, I decided to do a "mini-series" that would give a feel for the richness of the culture.

choking worries

2005-08-17T12:42:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it's easier for me to express my feelings visually, than in words. Here I was processing while painting how hope feels at time. I want to hope but the circumstances of life come in loud and dark, and threatening my view, my hope. There are still glimmers even in the darkest times, yet I long to break free, to not let my circumstances dictate how I feel, to see what's unseen, to see God's purpose, which I believe to be overarchingly good, in my day. Having hope, having a whole heart is a battle.