Orvieto Peppers

Ciao! I ate a lot of Orvieto peppers fresh from the market when Judy and I went to that lovely medieval town two summers ago. Favorite memories include a street life that came alive when we laid our heads on our sweaty, tired pillows, Orvieto Classico, that blasted accordion player with his infamous 2 songs playing below our room, cobble-stoned streets that cleared out when drizzle set in (he he he - we had the place to ourselves), and just the beauty of the people and places. I love Italia!

I was such a rusty painter when we arrived. I was timid and shy about painting in public. Judy, thankfully, nudged me out of my cocoon of insecurity. Before I knew it, Judy was making sure I drew local children and lots of cups of cappuccino and Italian rolls. In public. I always marvel at her confidence for others! I even drew a baby; the proud papa ran to the photo shop next door, and popped the drawing right into a frame:-)

So, back to the peppers. I had to paint the peppers below quickly enough to be able to actually eat them! I hoped to finish painting them, along with the tomatoes, when I returned to America. Well, tonight I finished up the peppers and tomatoes. They are ready for framing and displaying with other Italian fruits and veggies I enjoy painting! Buon Appetito!

God of Hope

I began this watercolor 2 winters ago. I gave up part way through. I was living out in the countryside at the time.  I liked the idea of the bright distance in contrast with the cold snow and trees. There were similarities to my life in the symbols in the painting.

I was longing for that bright warmth in the midst of a cold winter. Art can portray hope without words. I think the painting has hope. I added more yellows in the background and more blues in the foreground tonight.

God is a God of hope.

Day 61 blogging and making art!

I can hardly believe I have stuck with art making for 61 days! It is really becoming a habit.

Today, I also went back to teaching. Teaching is a very creative vocation. I had much fun teaching today. I know a great deal of that fact was due to being rested and having detailed plans for the day.

I did get a second wash done on a watercolor tonight, and I continued on the sketch from the Italian fresco. Here is my work for this evening.

Thank you to everyone who has looked at my site and my work. I am praying to continue to make art throughout the year as I share my faith and life story. I need to add exercise to my day. I just hate to face dark rainy mornings and expect to do 40 minutes in that.

It was a good day, all in all. Thank you, Lord.

A Full Day

School begins tomorrow for students, and I had a full day preparing. I decorated 3 bulletin boards and thought they should count for art making for today. I'm getting up at 5 AM again tomorrow with the real hope I won't cave on the early morning walk in the rain.

I've worked on a drawing from an Italian fresco. It is a good way to practice the human figure in a classical way. I think it would be a good painting with drapery practice. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of being an artist. Please use this gift for your honor. Night All!

Our Rescuer

I sketched during the sermon this afternoon. I went to the 5:45 PM service. Pastor Jonathan spoke about Jesus being on a rescue mission when he came to earth. He also spoke about the Father being well pleased with Jesus even before He implemented the rescue. This detail reminded me of one of my favorite quotes this past year.

"I love the fact that the Bible records that the Father loves the Son and is pleased with him before he does anything public. That’s the opposite of religion... Religion basically says, “Work really hard. Try your best. And at the end of your life, maybe God will say ‘I now adopt you. I will now love you. I’m pleased with your life.’” Our God is a God of grace. He reveals himself as a Father. And our relationship with him begins with love and approval and affection." - Pastor Mark Driscoll

There had been 400 years of silence before John the Baptist showed up on the Jewish scene. He came telling people to repent of their sins for the kingdom of God was at hand. Then Jesus showed up, was baptised (....for our sin?) and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit all met with Him. As He came out of the water, The Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and God the Father said He was well pleased with Jesus. Thus, His rescue mission began, and He died, rose and ascended into heaven for lost sinners.

Here is my sketch with a bit of watercolor added.

Painting Fruit With Grandsons

I enjoyed a wonderful visit with my daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons yesterday and today. I love wrestling with Micah (Army Optimus) and Caleb (Bumblebee Transformer) 
and playing in their imaginary worlds. I also enjoy painting with them. They really seem to like it as well. Micah, especially, enjoys painting.

Caleb enjoys painting in one spot until he needs some tape to repair a hole in the paper. Below are pictures of a watercolor of tangerines I started. That prompted more painting with the boys! The boys had so much fun. Me, too!  I'll try to post a later picture of my watercolor if I work on it tonight.

Deny Oneself?

I was reading this morning, and came upon a quote that well worded thoughts I have been trying to distill.  Naomi Zachariah has written an article about her current experiences helping women and children escape who are caught in the sex trafficking industry.

She writes, "What does it mean to deny oneself? I think the call of Christ went to a greater depth than even our selfishness. I believe the choice to look at life's pain, both our own and that of another, affords one of the greatest gifts to life. When we see each individual as a life created by God, and therefore with intrinsic value and honor, we find the convergence of the denial of self, following Christ, and meaningful life. We are then handed glasses into depths of our soul and that of another - and offered a window into the heart of God."

I had blogged last year my thoughts on denying self and following Jesus as coming to understand who we are and being set free from our selfish lives. I'm adding to my thinking today that seeing and treating others as who they really are in God's mind, helps set them free to be who God intents as well. As so many have spoken worth and value to me and helped heal and free me, I speak worth and value to others with the same outcome. And it is a part of denying myself.

Going on the missions trips I have gone on have helped me to look at life's pain outside the United States. The connections one makes with people living in totally different situations from ours, the mutual respect, value and honor we bestow on each other has been amazing to be a part of. It has also helped me to deny myself, follow Christ and find meaningful life.

In my teaching, I speak and give worth, value and honor to each child as I respond to them as God's priceless artwork. As I start the new year and return to school, I pray I speak and treat each child in my care with great respect and honor, even in the midst of training and correction. I love each one of them, and I pray I show that well.

I'm continuing to study portrait drawing today remembering the value and honor of each human being God has created. My new book is helpful.  Thanks to my brother and sister-in-law, I was able to purchase it for Christmas. I'll post a picture before I take Virginia to the airport.

Virginia leaves today.....that makes me feel sad.