Sorrows

[You keep track of all of my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8 NLT]

Did you know you are known and cared for to this extent? When this life can overwhelm, each tear is seen...caught. He loves us so.

Artwork for Online for Life

What a great honor to have some of my artwork on a series for Online for Life's newsletter back in the spring of this year.
I just love and admire their work to save babies and love women!

The task of all tasks

I had the joy (and the task of all tasks) of attempting to capture a glimpse of Heaven on canvas.

Let me explain.

The groom (with tears in his eyes) recounted to me the reoccurring dream his bride has shared with him.  He would give the painting to his new wife as a surprise wedding gift. The image he described was of her sitting next to Jesus under a tree overlooking a vividly colored valley. You see, both bride and groom's lives (and mine, so I get it) have been drastically changed by coming into relationship with Christ, and truly understanding Who He is; the King of all, reckless Lover of our souls, and the Fulfillment of our every desire.

Wow. So the scene is true and real and oh so impossible to actually capture.

As I began, I did some word studies of the description he provided and found out just how Biblical this scene was. Here's a little of what I found, which he asked me to write out along the edges of the canvas.

Tree: 
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon  Psalm 92:12

The trees of the Lord are well watered, 
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. Psalm 104:16

She (wisdom) is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; 
those who hold her fast will be blessed. Proverbs 3:18

Valley:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.  Psalm 23: 1-4

Majestic color/Rainbow: 

I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. ²⁸ Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.  
Ezekiel 1:27-28

You are radiant with light,
more majestic than mountains rich with game. Psalm 76:4

I imagine in Jesus' presence there will be trees, certainly the ones who trusted Him to be their righteousness, and He Himself the fullness of wisdom; there will no longer be dark valleys, no more fear and no more evil, and no more longing to be near Him but actual nearness. There will be no sun because Christ Himself will shine, and the rainbow as a picture of God's faithfulness for all of the ages will be made visible in His radiant Presence. 

Are you kidding me? This is incredible. And it's true for those of us who know Him. (Do you know Him? How He loves you and invites you to the table of grace.)

So after I picked my jaw up off the floor, I humbly trembled before my canvas and got to work. 

Thank you, Jeremy, for letting me be part of this sweet gift. 

acrylic on canvas

16" x 20"

flowery & feminine

I had the joy of painting a flowery, feminine, very fun-lovin' piece for my crafty, articulate art-admiring friend Maurie. Read: super fun to go this colorful and bold.




The painting was inspired in general by our mutual admiration for dear, sweet Anthropologie--and these plates in particular.

source

What fun it was.
Acrylic on cold-pressed heavy paper, 20" x 24".

A Bouquet of Life

Jesus defeated death and is making "everything sad come untrue." 

Happy Easter! 

...An acrylic bouquet of flowers to celebrate new life!

Finished Products

An update on these sketch paintings for the Rick family...
      They became paintings on full-sized 2' x 4' x 2" canvases.


The beautiful blue-green-gray walls in their living room form the backdrop for these colorful panels to flank the crisp white mantel and smooth stone-wrapped fireplace.








They have a love for nature--trees, specifically--and their appreciation for art in their home was refreshing.

Thanks, Ricks! These were a lot of fun :)


For more images, visit my flickr page here.

Planning & Sketch-painting

I'm overjoyed to have an opportunity to paint two expressive and colorful pieces for my interior designer's client-friend. It's a great challenge!


Concept: abstract but loosely containing tree forms, expressive, not timid in color, fitting for a trying-to-step-a-little-bit-away-from-traditional family room.


24" x 48" x 2"deep canvases, acrylic paint


Some general composition planning.



Sketching and picking colors



Almost there

And with those last touches of deeper grey, our test-run is complete.



Stay tuned for the {large and in-charge} full-sized version. 

November Calendar

I'm thankful for so much this November. Happy Autumn to you!

    

As always, just click on this image to make it bigger, then save it or make it your desktop image from there.

Wedding Portrait: NYC

Talk about dramatically romantic in Central Park. 


I was commissioned to take this gorgeous engagement photograph and put a painterly spin on it as a surprise gift from groom to bride.


Architecture + portrait.  I'm in. 


He wanted to include a sweet quote she loves. It happens to be from Winnie the Pooh.



Congrats and blessings to the newlyweds!


Acrylic - 18" x 24" 

Sketch: Blue Parrot

Oh, just a personalized parrot of the blue variety.

For my uncle, the Cap'n of the Blue Parrot and now the Two Emeralds.


acrylic and ink

Paint + sketch

then see what it becomes.




acrylic + ink = psychedelic tsunami

Sweetie Pie Portrait

Blue-eyed and smiley.

Cutie pie.

A Christmas commission piece for baby MK's grandparents. (10" x 10" acrylic)

Orchid

A little painting I did for my sweet grandmother Mar.

Remember, she's the daughter of Sallie the artist and gentle cultivator of orchids?

I know, she's pretty special :)

I never had a photograph of this piece until our recent visit. I love having a place now to keep all my work {play?} archived since I tend to part with most of it.

No, I wasn't afraid of color on this one.

And here's a look at her grass cloth wallpaper in case you missed how cool it is :)

Anniversary Portrait

For her parents' thirty-plus wedding anniversary (!!), I got to do this for sweet friend Jess to give to the lovely two as a surprise.

Classy, sweet, vintage.

I loved getting to celebrate long love.

focal point

abstract painting: when colors that float around in my

head are squeezed out of tubes to meet canvas and are

shoved around by choice bristles until their end position

allows me to rest; something i do to challenge my right

brain to take the reins--and the small analytical portion

that remains to turn off

are you up for that sort of exercise? it's therapeutic once you get going.

a gift for my great parents. above the mantle that the

whole room has gathered around all of my life.

now a focal part of their beautiful, cozy home

Acrylic for great friends J&J~ Dedicated to their cute old red bed :)

Waves

Psalm 89:9
You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.

Mark 4:41
They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"