Our Cardinal

Well, friends, I haven't had the time to paint this little guy yet, but he sure did make an impression. It was a bit tricky making it outside onto our back deck to get a photo of this little guy at our feeder.  Anyone looking at our little suburbian yard would think we are insane.  Two suet feeders, two finch socks, two seed feeders, and a large feeder with a great perch for cardinals....and it is a haven for local wildlife. My nine year old asked, "Mom, do you think we went a bit overboard?"  In the beginning, I would've answered "yes," but when I look outside and see every single feeding station covered with birds of one type or another, I have to say, "No, it's not too much." 

God has really blessed me through the visits of these little guys.  I've spent a great deal of time searching internet sites to learn the names of all of the little ones who visit our feeders.  Yesterday a little tufted titmouse left the safety of the tree to come close to the house and perched himself on our deck chairs.  He modeled for me for a good 20 seconds before flying off.  He was the cutest thing I think I've seen, besides my son when he was born. :)  I cannot get past the though that all of this was created for His good pleasure.  When I think about why I like to create things and remember that this too is just a small taste of what my Heavenly Father is like - that, like Him, I enjoy being creative just to enjoy the process, it quiets my heart, stills my spirit, and makes me catch my breath.  We are created in His image.  So, when I find delight in His creation, I am really delighting in Him.  Nothing happens without His knowing.  Nothing that is could've been in existance except that He made it so.  And, why?  Because, as Genesis says, "God saw that it was good."  Nothing good comes except by the Father.  How blessed, how fortunate, how lavishly loved and treasured am I that in this small corner of the world - a suburb no less, He would bless me by the visitation of these little creatures of His.  How beautiful.  How different each one is.  What a great and mighty God.  What a loving Father.  What a precious King.  What love. God's blessings everyone!  Happy Spring!

Peacock Feathers

Thank you, thank you Dean Nimmer!  I've been checking out Dean Nimmer's book, Art From Intuition: Overcoming Your Fears and Obstacles To Making Art.  I sure did need a break.  I've been doing that thing that I think many people do - spending way too much time looking at other people's art and way too little time exploring it for myself.  Obviously, if you've read my posts before, you know that I am certainly NOT one who makes any kind of a living from what I paint.  Some of you are now saying, "Yes, and it's a good thing!" Ha. Anyway, I had forgotten why I love art so much - because it is FUN.  Life, I think, like art is always a learning process.  You stop growing, you may as well not get out of bed as far as I'm concerned.  I love teaching, love learning new things, and pray I will never feel fully satisfied but will continue to look for ways to grow and improve in all areas of my life. A friend said, "When you stop being hungry, you're dead."  On that note, here is my exercise in creative freedom.  It was fun.  I enjoyed the process this time and didn't worry about the end result.  I believe I'm going to do more of that.  Life should be fun.  It's a gift.  Hope it makes you smile today.

God's blessings.  And, thank you Dean.

Waiting for Spring

As the snows have now, hopefully, come and gone and the air turns sweet and warm, our bird feeders have been attracting more and more native Tennesseans.  The variety has surprised me.  Home sick one day I was able to see a little "garden party" in our backyard. Robins, cardinals, finches, chickadees, bluejays, starlings, and even a couple of mourning doves enjoyed seed while the squirrels munched on corn.  It was probably the most peaceful I'd felt in weeks.  I was captivated watching them. I was inspired then to redo "Mom's Chickadee" in a softer color palette. It was my little tribute to those little guys - so expertly made, so tiny.  Next to come will be a cardinal.  I can't get enough of them either -  the bright fiery red against the pale of the branches.  If God took such great care to create them in their amazing variety - and these were just East Tennessee birds! - what does that say about the care he takes for us!  As I found serious, surprisingly deep joy in watching them, it occurred to me that God must take serious, deep joy in His children, too.  For Him to know the very number of hairs on our heads means He MUST take such deep interest in all that we are and do.  Why are we so afraid of Him sometimes?  He is so gentle.  So loving.  And wants so badly to wrap us in His arms to love and forgive us if we will just come and ask for it.  He truly does make all things new.  Amazing.  When the Bible says, "God is love," it is sooo astoundingly true.  So, here's to a Father who knows intimately and loves deeply all He has created.  Here's to the promise of Spring.  And, especially, here's to the One who died to make us new!

I'm "Hooked!"

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!  Well... I've thought about painting time and time again.  My mind was so busy I felt like I needed a new way to get rid of my nervous energy.  A student of mine brought in a round loom for "show and tell."  She and her family make hats and scarves and donate them to a local community outreach.  I was, pardon the pun, "hooked."  With all of the Christmas preparations beginning, I knew I needed something monotonous to do to just sit and unwind.  I began with a hat, then a scarf, then another.  I wasn't happy with just doing the patterns I found for the loom, so I decided to try to learn to crochet... and do some macrame.  I made a bracelet, two necklaces, a few coasters, some little circles, and a few granny squares.  The whole time I was working, all I could think was that this was, yet again, just another lesson, another moment God arranged just for me.  A reminder.  Patience, perseverance, determination... and peace - allowing Him into the small moments of my day. 

Talking to Him about the things on my mind, good and bad, and sitting in silence ready to listen.  Not a lot was said, but He brought peace.  There was peace in my holiday season!  A remembrance of why we celebrate in the first place and the depth of what that truly means.  Transformation.  He transformed Himself into a baby to live life with us and transforms us in the end to be more and more victorious with Him through His death and resurrection!  In all that silence I remembered that He's not done with me yet.  And, man, I am SO glad!  And I'm so glad that He has way more patience than I do.  It's moment by moment, task by task, prayer by prayer that He transforms me, if I let Him.  And, Oh man do I want to let Him.  The coolest part is that He bothered.  He could've stayed up there in His royalness.  But He didn't.  He thought we were worth the effort.  Worth dying for.  And worth waiting for, hanging out with, forgiving, loving, you name it. Wow.  I guess all of this knitting and crocheting has reminded me that I'm pretty "hooked" on Him, too. :) God's blessings.

"Treehouse"

Happy Thanksgiving!  This painting was inspired by a home I photographed while taking a walk with my mom through her neighborhood.  It was a gorgeous fall day, perfect weather, beautiful colors.  The tree was not a part of the actual yard.  It was born out of my frustration.  I rather like it though.  I started to pitch the whole painting and then decided I WOULD make something out of it.  It's pretty cool when you can make something positive out of a frustrating moment.  It's about choice, I suppose.  I'm learning that choice is one of the aspects of painting (and life) that is both exciting and a bit frightening for me. Recently my class and I shared a devotion about the decision to be thankful.  I'm (re)learning that it starts as an intentional act before it becomes an emotion.  Actually, it produces the emotion.  It involves discipline, choice, and intention.  The coolest part about the attitude of thanksgiving is how it links us up with the Giver of all good gifts.  God has really been opening my eyes lately to all of the amazing blessings He has given me.  Nothing has changed, really.  Just my attitude. Seems the more blessings you count, the more your list expands, and expands, and expands.  Try it.  God's blessings for a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

6 x 12 Acrylic

Camofrog

This original photo of this guy came from James Parkers' Windows to the Words art challenge. I sort of sketched him onto the canvas and then walked away. Finally I pulled him off the shelf to finish him. He looks like a happy frog to me. He made me smile when I finished him... and my son has decided he should be added to HIS collection. That's high praise. :) I called him "Camofrog" because he's a bit camouflaged against the leaves there... corny little play on words, I guess. God's blessings!

6 x 12

acrylic

gallery wrapped canvas

Turning...

You've heard the expression "turning over a new leaf," well, I just feel like I've been turning lately. Nothing new yet, just going through the process and waiting for the newness to emerge. For something wonderful to come out of the blah-ness. For a month I've felt terrible. I thought I was heading toward some form of chronic fatigue, or thyroid problems, or who knows what. Turns out vitamin d deficiency is extremely common in women despite the amount of sunlight you may get. Ladies... get your levels checked!!!

My pastor spoke Sunday on a verse that is posted in my classroom. A verse I overlook, obviously. "I am the vine, you are the branches." John 15:5 It really resonated with me. Why? I like to be the vine. Then I wonder why I'm so exhausted. Turns out a branch can't be the vine. Who knew? What a different message Christ gives than the one the world gives. The world says, "push harder, go faster, do more, be more excellent, get ahead." Seems that when I try to follow that mentality I only end up pushing myself to the edge, exhausted, frayed, frustrated and spent. How does that translate into a daily life experience, though? The message God has made sure to reiterate to me quite a few times lately is, "Stay in the moment. I am in the moment. I have tomorrow. If you try to take it from me you destroy the peace I've given you for today. You don't need to figure it all out. You aren't supposed to have the answers. Rely on me. Fear not. Don't push so hard. My strength is made perfect in your weakness. Just walk with me. Trust me."

So, I guess I'll just be content with the turning... and let Him do the new leaf thing. He's much better qualified. :) Peace everyone!