A Special Lunch Time Sketch

Such a beautiful day yesterday - spent with my aunt, my 2 sisters, and my mom.
We ate lunch at The Artist's Cafe in Newton. These flowers were on every table and they are REAL!
This lunchtime sketch is extra special because it's a memoir of a beautiful day with family.

Latest in Lunchtime Sketches

Lunch time sketches yesterday 3/24

and today 3/25

Apparently I am feeling rather "fowl" lately :-)

Today's Lunchtime Sketch is in memory of Patti Gregory, because I could not get her tragic death off my mind today. My heart breaks for Danny and Jack and their extended family. Praying for you all - that God will comfort and bring peace - something only God can do.

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Above is my traveling art studio. I grab this in the morning along with a water jar that fits in my cupholder, and Voila - a fully equipped studio right there in my car.

Going for two weeks without art made me realize how my life does revolve around it. My thoughts continually turned to art and I would channel them elsewhere - feeling a huge loss. I felt such a loss! My daughter and I talked last night and she said (not knowing anything about my decided abstinence from art), "What's wrong?? For the past two weeks you have not been like yourself. You seem so sad." I told her about my decision to fast from art and I realized that it had to be that. Yes, work is very, very stressful right now; I have a lot on my mind both at work and personally, but art - those lunchtime getaway sketches - are what keep me happy. I realize too that God made me that way. He gave me this drive to create art. He gave me eyes to see beauty and that urge to get my impression or the expression of it onto my journal page. I didn't actually set a time to begin making art again; it just felt like it was time. And the urge had grown so strong it would not be silenced any longer. I was almost in tears yesterday when I painted that daisy, just so thankful to have that ability. So thankful to be able to pick up that brush and paint and pick up the pen and draw - it was worshipful in itself. And the One I worship was pleased. I believe that. It felt like I had been in a dry, hot desert for 2 weeks with very, very little water and suddenly before me was the awaited oasis. I can hardly stop drinking! Thank you, God!!!

I'm Back, I'm Back, I'm Back!

I painted at the park at lunch today from a photo I took. Bliss! Absolute bliss!

Sharing from my heart...

The reason for my sabbatical is that I felt God speaking to my heart - about priorities and about "hungering and thirsting after righteousness", about seeking Him first and His righteousness, about having no other gods before him. He is my first love and He must be first in my heart. I realized that art and blogging and the opinions of others had taken first place in my heart. Art had taken over as an addiction, occupying a place in my heart and mind that only God should have - the throne of my heart. So I laid my art at his feet and I walked away from it. I asked him to purify it and make it holy before giving it back to me. I want my heart's desire and delight to be Him.

Art is a GIFT from Him - pure and simple. My ability, my talent, and even my passion for art are all gifts from Him - every good and perfect gift comes from the Father.

I have learned and experienced much during the past couple of weeks. I have worshipped Him more. I have made up songs of praise as I drove the car this week. I have felt His presence and I have heard His voice clearly because my thoughts were not consumed with art and painting and blogging. I have channeled my creativity this past week into making up recipes for my family. I cooked almost every night and I enjoyed it so much.

I want God's will for my life. And I feel that there is a book within me that needs to be written. I don't know how or when, but I sense that there is more than just making paintings and sketches and blogging. I want my blog to be about my journey with my Heavenly Father as much as it is about art. I also have a passion for reading Christian fiction and for books in general. I have a habit of writing in a journal - recording my experiences with God and also working through issues that are troubling me. I have a dream of somehow putting all those experiences from years of journals into a book - I'm not sure if it will be fiction or what. It's a very new dream and I really don't quite know how to go about making it a reality. But...

If I commit my works unto the Lord my thoughts will be established, according to Proverbs 16:3. And Psalm 32: 8 says, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

I wanted to share this because the truth of it may touch someone else and because maybe I needed to share it.

I'm excited about what next week will hold and I admit that my heart longs to pick a brush or pencil back up and sketch. I will but it will be with a whole different perspective. A newness and a reverence for the God who created me and for the gift that He gave me by making me an artist. Oh how I thank Him for that gift!

Taking a Sabbatical

I am going to take a break from blogging and the internet for a while. I wanted to let you know so that you wouldn't wonder where I have gone. I am here, but busy doing other things right now.

I want to thank all of you for your wonderful, uplifting and encouraging comments; for following my blog so faithfully and just for being you...my wonderful online friends!

Until we meet again - keep making art and living out loud! I love you all!

Aloha

I'm working a little at home today - making posters for our Volunteer Appreciation Luau at work!

This is the LIFE!

Stress Reliever

I experienced again the truth of Picasso's statement, "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
Stressed and overwhelmed with so many different responsibilities at work, I went to the park today at lunch and painted. When I finished this sketch in my Hand-Book journal I felt brand new. Washed, refreshed, and ready to again face the day.
The inspiration for this sketch was a photo I took at a friend's house of the apples on their kitchen table.

A Pre-Spring Watercolor

I couldn't wait to share this! What a fun sketch in my hand-book journal. A beautiful pre-spring day. I spent my lunch today in the park with my watercolors, my new brush, my journal, and my Heavenly Father. I prayed, I wrote, and I painted all under the brilliant blue sky. Perfect!

THE BRUSH!

As requested, here is a picture of THE BRUSH. Also here is the link to order it from dickblick.com

http://www.dickblick.com/products/loew-cornell-ultra-round-watercolordecorative-brushes-series-7020/

New Brush, New Sketches = Much Fun!

The new Loew-Cornell 7020 brush is the best (hands down - the BEST) brush I have ever held in my hand and used. It is an absolute joy to use and amazing how much difference a quality tool makes in your work. Thank you so much Laura (http://laurelines.typepad.com)!