Oklahoma Redbuds

This is a painting I did a long time ago, and gave to a friend, who reminds me of it almost every time I see him. The painting came to my attention today, when I was looking for something on my computer. Being that we are in the redbud season of the year I thought I would post it.

Our redbuds have already started blooming almost a month early. In fact spring is here in Oklahoma already. I look out in my backyard and the daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths are blooming everywhere. Lots of flowers on the plum and peach tree, and I pray that it won’t freeze so we can have an abundant crop of fruit this year, but you never know in Oklahoma. The weather can change dramatically. It’s hard not to get your hopes up.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

On the Other Side of Silence

What is she thinking as she is posed for this painting? What is behind the silence in her eyes?

I am reading slowly through Makamoto Fujimura’s book Art and Faith… slowly because there are so many wonderful thoughts to contemplate. His chapter called “Jesus Wept”: Martha’s Response contains a quote by George Eliot, nineteenth-century English novelist…

“If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel’s heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence.”

And imagine if we could hear the thoughts of all humanity… I would never think of dying in the tremendous noise and vibration and the hearing of the thoughts no one would want anyone to hear… but it would be overwhelming. I’m so thankful for silence. And yet looking into my daughter’s eyes in my painting of her… I still wonder what is behind the silence in her eyes?

11″ x 14″ oil on linen

Botanical ~ Grevillea

My daughter Anna and I went to the cutest floral shop in our town Cottage Floral and she bought a stem of Grevillea. I had never seen this plant before, and when we came home I placed it on a white canvas and decided it would make an interesting botanical painting.

Are you familiar with this plant? I had never seen one before. Searching on the internet I found that Grevilleas are native to Australia and there are about 360 species of the plant. The flowers come in different colors and are described as toothbrush-like because of their clusters. If you are interested in knowing more here is the website that I used to find the information I shared… Gardenia

12″ x 24″ oil on canvas

The plant was the same size as what I painted, so about 23 inches tall. Now it has dried and it has joined some other dried flowers that I have been saving in a large vase in my living room. 🙂

All Thy Works With Joy Surround Thee

This painting is from a photo I took on a road to the beautiful Sandia Mountains in Santa Fe.

It reminds me of this beautiful verse from the hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee written by Henry Van Dyke:

“All thy works with joy surround thee,
earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
call us to rejoice in thee.”

El Santurio de Chimayo

This beautiful Catholic church in Chimayo, New Mexico is a National
Historic Landmark, built before 1813 of adobe with a bell tower on each
side, wooden doors, gardens, and arched gate.

12″ x 16″ oil on linen

$425

Canyon Road

An adobe house on Canyon Road… Santa Fe, New Mexico.

12″ x 16″ oil on linen

$425

Work in Progress

This Coca-cola sign is on one of the buildings in downtown Guthrie. I’m waiting for the sign to dry so I can go back and make corrections. In the meantime I thought I would share this progress shot.

Did you notice the cat in the upper left window?

Old Roses Drying

Old roses drying…

From Art and Faith by Makoto Fujimura…

“The Bible begins with Creation and ends with New Creation. Everywhere in between, Creator God (the grand Artist) beckons the broken, but creative, creatures (the little- ‘a’ artists) to create shalom/peace in the face of our “Ground Zero” reality all around us. God sent God’s Son, Jesus, to be the reconciler and redeemer – to set the world right, and to exhibit God’s love in the world.”

A Few Minis to Share

Belle of Balmera and Arabian Night

6″ x 6″ oil on panel

SOLD

These were my last dahlias of the season. There are no flowers in my garden that I spend as much time coddling. I wrapped each flower in netting for a month or so to prevent the grasshoppers from decimating them. I do love dahlias!!!

Red Berries in Red Vase

4″ x 4″ oil on mini canvas

SOLD

Lily of the Valley

4″ x 4″ oil on mini canvas

$45

A beautiful poem by my daughter Anna to accompany this mini painting…

blanketing the forest
tiny bells worship
without a sound
bowing to the breeze
her tears
bathe the valley
heavenly balm released

Let Your Light Shine

4″ x 4″ oil on mini panel

$45

These last two minis are available at the G Gallery and Glass Studio in Guthrie, OK.

Here’s a quote from a book I’ve been reading called “Art and Faith”, a very inspiring book for artists, makers, and creators by Makato Fujimura:

“Our creative intuition, fused with the work of the Spirit of God, can become the deepest seat of knowledge, from which our making can flow.” – Makato Fujimura

Enjoy your day… 🙂

Back Pasture Plein Air

I spent a lot of time last fall, practicing plein air painting up in our back pastures. Plein air painters always make the process look easy, but there are a lot of things to know and remember just in the equipment you are using… portable easel, paints, pallet, brushes, paper towels…etc. We have an old Kawasaki Mule that I loaded up, which makes it easier for me than hiking with all that equipment, but I still would end up usually forgetting something.

One day I was doing some small sketches in the afternoon of some gorgeous fall trees, when this deer came and stood in front of me for the entire time, I’d say at least 15-20 minutes, just staring at me. This was the time I unfortunately forgot my camera, but I did add the deer to my sketch… 🙂

As I said it is not a simple thing to get all the gear ready to plein air paint, but then painting outside as the lighting and shadows are constantly changing is another challenge. Here is my fall painting and what it looked like before I took it into my studio and finished it up…

Now I really liked this, but wasn’t exactly sure how to finish it up. It sat in my studio for a couple of months and then this happened…

I tried out a whole new technique of painting, and I love it!!!

Autumn Wanderings

12″ x 12″ oil on panel

$280