This is from a camping trip photo. What a beautiful place! Also on ebay tonight.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Middle Fork Powder River, 11x14, oil on linen panel
This is from a camping trip photo. What a beautiful place! Also on ebay tonight.
Spring Rain, 9x12, oil on linen panel
A fun painting to do! Soon it will be looking like this around here. Already on ebay, so click on the title to go to ebay. Thanks!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Just Me, 8x10, oil on linen panel
Just one friendly cow. On ebay tonight. Click on the title to go to the home page. Thanks!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Oh, Sweet Springtime!, 8x10, oil on linen panel
Wake up! Wake up! It's Spring!!
On ebay tonight, just click on the title to go to the home page. Thanks and happy spring!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Yellowstone Buff, 9x12 oil on linen panel
Aren't buffalo wonderful! On ebay tonight, so click the title to go to ebay homepage. Thanks!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
All Tucked In, 9x12, oil on linen panel
This was such a cozy scene. I would like to spend some time here! It will be on ebay tonight. Clicking on the title will take you to ebay home page. Thanks!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Quiet Evening, 11x14, oil on linen
This is a composite of a photo reference and my imagination. I've painted landscapes so much, its pretty easy to make one up, but I still need good references for animals and people. I hope to get good enough at both of those to not need too much of a reference. This will be on ebay tonight. As always click on the title to go to ebay home page. Thanks!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Side By Side, 9x12, oil on linen panel
There's something about horses that reminds me of dogs. They look so friendly and curious. This will be on ebay starting tonight. Again, if you click on the title it will take you to ebay homepage.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Chickens, 9x12, oil on linen panel
I almost forgot to put this on here! Chickens always look so friendly.
Got Your Back, 8x10, oil on linen panel
This is the third effort for this little scene. Painted it two times that day and wiped them both off the canvas. Third time's a charm.Click on the title of the painting (on my blog if you receive this by email) and it will take you to the ebay home page if you would like to bid on this. Thanks!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Room To Roam, 9x12, oil on linen panel
Another plein air painting from a wonderfully sunny day. There's no snow left now except for in a few of the deeper drifts. Spring is on the way!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Flirting With Spring, 9x12, oil on linen panel
This is right outside my house. What a beautiful sunny day this was! It smelled that sweetness of spring. It won't be long now.
A Reminder For Me
Recently I stumbled upon a blog called Ancient Artist: Developing an art career after 50. It is right up my alley and everything I read on it seemed to speak to me. I have been toying with the idea for some time of writing more of my own thoughts, experiences and ideas here in this blog. Often times I have my flashes of wisdom and insight - or clarity - when I'm driving and then when I get here I can't remember a single thing I had realized. Yet, I know its in there somewhere. This will be an attempt to get those things out of there and onto this page. I don't know how often I'll do this, but I expect it will become fairly regular. Along with my posts of paintings.
As a follower of Christ and an artist, I find the struggle to be twofold. I, like most artists I've talked to or read, suffer from bouts of huge self-doubt and confidence crises now and then. And as a Christian I struggle mostly, it seems, with pride. A few years ago I went through a time of re-evaluating the place art held in my life. My identity was so wrapped up in my painting it was debilitating. I had had a time of seeking God and finding Him in a way I had never experienced before. It was profoundly life changing. I was ready to give up art completely if it was going to get in the way of my relationship with Him. I did leave it on the way back burner for quite awhile. Then one day it seemed to all be given back to me, in its proper place. Not as an idol. Not as my source of identity. Just as something God had given me the desire and ability to do. I emerged from that time with a set of goals written on my heart and on my easel. I've not shared them with but two people since that time, but think it would be okay to do so now.
My first goal and priority was/is HUMILITY. The bible says in the first letter to the Corinthians, "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" I need to be reminded of this daily. It's not that I go around boasting that I'm so great, it's that in my heart I can so easily boast to myself and shore up my pride by thinking I came up with the goods, when I didn't. God is the author and creator of this and its my privilege to use it, hopefully, for His glory.
My second goal and priority is to STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE. I have settled for less than my best at times and it is not a good feeling, nor does it glorify God. Again, others may not see it that way - they may think my work is great, but in my heart I know if I've given my best. It's between me and the Lord. I've gotten to the liberating point of wiping a painting off the canvas if it isn't up to par. Better to start over than try to fix what can't be fixed with my limited knowledge. Excellence is an attribute of God. My work is not perfect, but when I strive for excellence it is a reflection of one aspect of the excellency of the Lord. The psalmist said "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens!"
My third goal and priority is GENEROSITY. To be as generous with what I've learned as I can be. To be always willing to help other artists in their search for truth (I see art as a search for truth and beauty) in plying their talent and ability. I have received so much help and encouragement from others and I want to pass it on whenever possible. Again, this is an attribute of God. His common grace is for all to enjoy. He makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust. He sends rain in its due season and gave us a beautiful earth to live on, with everything we need to not only sustain us, but to enjoy. And He is ever present to help in time of need if we call on Him. The book of Hebrews says "those who come to God must believe that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
And my fourth and last goal was/is to BE CONTENT with prospering as God sees fit. I had to grapple with this one a bit. One of my pitfalls is to be too idealistic or aesthetic or something. I would flip flop between thinking I shouldn't care about making money at all and that financial success was the mark I needed in order to be validated. As a Christian I don't want money to be my God, nor my sole measurement of success. But I do need to make money in order to keep going. Duh. So, again the bible addresses this in Matthew's gospel, chapter six. 'Therefore do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things." Ah, my Father in heaven knows. He knows about everything I need, whether its character development or a sale. He has all things in hand and I can trust Him.
So, those are my goals. Its been good to review them like this. To remind myself of the truth. To gain wisdom from the Word of God and walk in it. I hope its been helpful for you too.
As a follower of Christ and an artist, I find the struggle to be twofold. I, like most artists I've talked to or read, suffer from bouts of huge self-doubt and confidence crises now and then. And as a Christian I struggle mostly, it seems, with pride. A few years ago I went through a time of re-evaluating the place art held in my life. My identity was so wrapped up in my painting it was debilitating. I had had a time of seeking God and finding Him in a way I had never experienced before. It was profoundly life changing. I was ready to give up art completely if it was going to get in the way of my relationship with Him. I did leave it on the way back burner for quite awhile. Then one day it seemed to all be given back to me, in its proper place. Not as an idol. Not as my source of identity. Just as something God had given me the desire and ability to do. I emerged from that time with a set of goals written on my heart and on my easel. I've not shared them with but two people since that time, but think it would be okay to do so now.
My first goal and priority was/is HUMILITY. The bible says in the first letter to the Corinthians, "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" I need to be reminded of this daily. It's not that I go around boasting that I'm so great, it's that in my heart I can so easily boast to myself and shore up my pride by thinking I came up with the goods, when I didn't. God is the author and creator of this and its my privilege to use it, hopefully, for His glory.
My second goal and priority is to STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE. I have settled for less than my best at times and it is not a good feeling, nor does it glorify God. Again, others may not see it that way - they may think my work is great, but in my heart I know if I've given my best. It's between me and the Lord. I've gotten to the liberating point of wiping a painting off the canvas if it isn't up to par. Better to start over than try to fix what can't be fixed with my limited knowledge. Excellence is an attribute of God. My work is not perfect, but when I strive for excellence it is a reflection of one aspect of the excellency of the Lord. The psalmist said "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens!"
My third goal and priority is GENEROSITY. To be as generous with what I've learned as I can be. To be always willing to help other artists in their search for truth (I see art as a search for truth and beauty) in plying their talent and ability. I have received so much help and encouragement from others and I want to pass it on whenever possible. Again, this is an attribute of God. His common grace is for all to enjoy. He makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust. He sends rain in its due season and gave us a beautiful earth to live on, with everything we need to not only sustain us, but to enjoy. And He is ever present to help in time of need if we call on Him. The book of Hebrews says "those who come to God must believe that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
And my fourth and last goal was/is to BE CONTENT with prospering as God sees fit. I had to grapple with this one a bit. One of my pitfalls is to be too idealistic or aesthetic or something. I would flip flop between thinking I shouldn't care about making money at all and that financial success was the mark I needed in order to be validated. As a Christian I don't want money to be my God, nor my sole measurement of success. But I do need to make money in order to keep going. Duh. So, again the bible addresses this in Matthew's gospel, chapter six. 'Therefore do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things." Ah, my Father in heaven knows. He knows about everything I need, whether its character development or a sale. He has all things in hand and I can trust Him.
So, those are my goals. Its been good to review them like this. To remind myself of the truth. To gain wisdom from the Word of God and walk in it. I hope its been helpful for you too.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Come Along, 9x12, oil on linen panel SOLD
Soon it will be branding time and lots of scenes like this will be happening!
Breaktime, 11x14, oil on linen panel SOLD
I love these two pals taking a break. I learned from a friend that the ebay link only works from my blog home page and not from the emailed post. So, if you want to bid on this you'll have to go to ebay directly or to my blog and then click on the title. Thanks!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Path To The Creek SOLD
The path to the creek in back of my house. It was an almost sunny day, beautiful when I started. I was glad for the woodburner by the time I was done though. As always, click on the title to go to ebay home page and type in my name to find this on auction.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Come, Follow Me 8x10, oil on linen panel SOLD
And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!"
And let him who thirsts come.
Whoever desires, let him take of the water of life freely. -Revelation 22:17
Click on the title to be taken to ebay home page.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Grant's Red Barn, 8x10, oil on Wallis sand paper SOLD
This is Grant's barn up on Boxelder Road. It's a great place to paint! I've been thinking about going up there, but its probably too muddy for my little car. I might check it out anyway though. This will be on ebay tonight. As always, click on the title and it will take you to the home page.
Mid Day Sun, 6x8, oil on Wallis sand paper SOLD
This is just a little scene I walk by at the nearby state park. I'm not sure why, but I like scenes that are from a low perspective, looking up. This is on ebay and you can get to the home page by clicking on the title of the painting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
