Today's Lunchtime Portrait Sketch

my sketch in H-Bk Journal

My lunchtime sketch today in water soluble graphite...

It's my beautiful daughter - voted "best smile" last year...
The likeness is not quite right. Her nose is shorter, which of course
makes her whole face a little shorter. But for a lunch break, it's not half bad.
I even got her approval!
She said, "I like it when you sketch me, it makes me happy."

It doesn't get much better than that!!!!!!!!! original photo

Today's Sketch and Finished Canvas

I needed to splash and play in my sketchbook today. A photo I took last summer of the zinnias in front of our house caught my eye first thing this morning. So I worked on it during breaks at work, at lunchtime, and a little while this evening - and... - voila... the finished sketch. This hand-book journal amazes me because it will take a real beating. Layers and layers of gouache and watercolor, scrubbing out, painting back in, splashing, spattering - and it just hangs in there with me!



Is this a lovely mess or what! My "studio corner" has pared way down, but there is nothing more beautiful or inviting to me than seeing my watercolors out and brushes lying around just beckoning me to come on over!

Last but not least:
I've been working on the large acrylic painting below for several months at work in my office studio. It is to hang in the bedroom of a friend who lives at the training center where I work. The canvas is huge - I think it's 24 x 30, so the photo doesn't quite give you the real feel of the size of this garden. My friend Jessica worked with me in my office and painted a piece of watercolor paper with the patterns and colors and then I collaged the pieces into the flower petals. The solid colored flowers I painted in. I'm pleased with how this turned out and I hope Jessica likes it! I can't wait to see it hanging on the wall above her bed.

Journal Entry In Response to Today's Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST -- http://www.heartlight.org/

April 23, 2010
THE WORSHIP OF THE WORK

Labourers together with God.
1 Corinthians
3:9

Beware of any work for God which enables you to evade
concentration on Him. A great many Christian workers worship their work. The one
concern of a worker should be concentration on God, and this will mean that all
the other margins of life, mental, moral and spiritual, are free with the
freedom of a child, a worshipping child, not a wayward child. A worker without
this solemn dominant note of concentration on God is apt to get his work on his
neck; there is no margin of body, mind or spirit free, consequently he becomes
spent out and crushed. There is no freedom, no delight in life; nerves, mind and
heart are so crushingly burdened that God's blessing cannot rest. But the other
side is just as true - when once the concentration is on God, all the margins of
life are free and under the dominance of God alone. There is no responsibility
on you for the work; the only responsibility you have is to keep in living
constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your
co-operation with Him. The freedom after sanctification is the freedom of a
child, the things that used to keep the life pinned down are gone. But be
careful to remember that you are freed for one thing only - to be absolutely
devoted to your co-Worker.

We have no right to judge where we
should be put, or to have preconceived notions as to what God is fitting us for.
God engineers everything; wherever He puts us our one great aim is to pour out a
whole-hearted devotion to Him in that particular work. "Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with thy might."

I love this! My responsibility is to “keep in living constant touch with God,” and to see that I allow nothing to hinder my cooperation with Him.
That is responsibility enough. But, oh, I can DO that! Joyfully! And what rewards are found in fulfilling that responsibility! And what freedom!

To come as a little child before our Father and acknowledge that we are totally dependent on Him. And then to rest in His loving care for us as we go about – playing, dancing; carefree and unfettered. Discovering the world around us and our place in it.

Then your work becomes easy and delightful because you know that your Father is there, protecting you, loving you, and caring for your needs.

If you fall and skin your knee, He is there to give you a warm hug and bandage the scrape.

If you are sad and begin to cry, He is there to whisper words of comfort and dry your tears.

If you are lonely He is there to hold you and His presence comforts.

If you lose your way, He is there to guide you back to the right path. At times He will walk with you and hold your hand and at other times He will let you venture out as He watches you to be sure you don’t make a wrong turn.

Best of all, if you mess up really bad, you can go to Him with the mess you’ve made and tell Him all about it. He will discipline you with love, not in anger. He will even help you turn your mess into something good. He won’t yell at you, put you down, or shame you. He will forgive you right away and won’t hold it against you. In fact, He will never bring it up again!

So rejoice, dear child! Your Father is there!
Look into his smiling face and rest in His love and care. You have nothing to fear.


…Maybe your earthly Father was nothing like this and you have no experience with a Father’s love. That doesn’t change the truth of the Heavenly Father’s care. Experience it, trust it, rest in it. He will not fail you!

Psalm 103
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within
me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not
all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth
all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who
crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth
thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are
oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the
children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to
anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither
will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after
our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the
heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our
transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so
the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he
remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as
a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over
it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear
him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as
keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom
ruleth over all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in
strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do
his pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his
dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Monday's Lunchtime Sketch at the Park

Chestnut Creek School of the Arts - Grand Opening!

I couldn't wait another minute to tell you about my day yesterday! I marched with other artists, some dressed in crazy fun costumes, in a parade of the arts to celebrate and announce the Grand Opening of Chestnut Creek School of the Arts (http://chestnutcreekarts.org). I displayed my journals and demonstrated sketchbook journaling, drawing interest hopefully for a class I plan to teach at the school. I completed the above pages during the demonstration/festival. I met so many wonderful people and sold a few of my small 5x7 and 4x6 paintings. Also completed the pages below which had a start but needed work.

I met a beautiful, sweet couple from Santa Barbara CA who are traveling with their family of 7 and one on the way (such well-behaved, beautiful children) through the 50 states. We talked and discovered our shared belief in Jesus Christ and they took home a 5x7 painting of a barn which reminded them of the many barns they've seen across the 28 states they have covered so far. After many hugs and smiles and well wishes we parted ways, but I will never forget meeting them. What a wonderful family! You can meet them and read of their travels at http://www.SurfinAmericaWithJesus.org.

A great, although very windy and cool, day spent doing what I love - making art and talking to people about art and a shared belief in the Lover of our Souls - Jesus.

Today's Lunchtime - a different kind of art

Today I went to the park at lunch, but instead of painting, I returned to my Bible study titled Breaking Free by Beth Moore. As I went through the lesson, I kept hearing the song of gurgling water coming from a little stream behind me. I went and sat on the bank and watched the water flowing over a rock and listened to its sound. The verse came to my mind and I could only think of bits of it “streams of water…make glad the city of God…” When I got back to work I used BibleGateway.com to look up the verse and then from the photo I took, I made the photo below by cropping and adding the text. My “artwork” for today is from my heart although not in painted or sketched form.



The study for today was on Tamar – her story appears in 2 Samuel 13:1-22. In Beth’s words, “If Satan has convinced you to see yourself as anything less than the handpicked daughter of the King of all kings, you have something in common with Tamar. If you think anything could happen to you that could steal your royal heritage, you have something in common with Tamar. If you think you deserve mistreatment or disrespect, you have something in common with Tamar. What you may have in common is a stronghold. My prayer is the Holy Spirit will be free to mend the torn coats of the daughters of royalty. And that he will also restore lost dignity, teach us our true identity, and liberate us to live in purity.” (pg. 119, Breaking Free Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life. Beth Moore. LifeWay Press, Nashville Tennessee, 1999.)

I don’t know about you, but I have lived for years thinking I deserved mistreatment and disrespect. I dated guys who were abusive and I probably helped them be that way toward me by my low sense of self-worth. I married a man that was abused verbally and neglected as a child and so the only thing he knew was verbally abusing and controlling me. I gave him power over me for over 10 years --- until God… began to set me free from the bondage of low self-worth and lack of self-respect. For the past 5 years God has been teaching me about who I am in Christ – a daughter of the King of kings – a woman with a royal heritage! I’m so happy to report to you that my husband is learning about his self-worth too and we are still married by the grace of God. Though separated for 2 years, God brought us back together and our marriage is healing. I say “is” because it will be a process until we both get to heaven it seems. But oh what a journey! I would have it no other way. There are still some tough times, but walking in God’s will is worth any and every tough moment! Because only in walking in His will do we find peace and contentment. I’ve learned that I don’t find peace and contentment in my marriage or in my husband – but only, only in Christ Jesus my Savior.

I started this study every day at lunch time and got halfway through and just stopped. I began painting and doing other things at lunch and put the study aside…even though I told myself in the beginning that I would finish it. I enjoyed it and looked forward to it every day for weeks, and then I just stopped. Today, I asked myself why I ever stopped, and I knew that it’s because we have an adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Satan’s plan is to so distract us from our purpose and from God’s purpose for us, that we are rendered completely ineffective in all we do. He doesn’t want me in the Scriptures, growing and becoming the woman that God intends me to be, seeing myself as a true daughter of the King, and walking in that identity. So he distracts…he devours – my time, my energy, my thoughts – and he draws me away from the Lover of my soul. BUT! I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me (Romans 8:37). God desires to give me “beauty for ashes” and to make me a “tree of righteousness”. (Isaiah 61:3)

I encourage you, if you have not read any of Beth Moore’s books or done her studies – check her out! Her studies feel as if you are sitting down with her over coffee and talking with an open Bible before you both. Intimate and very easy to understand.

Lunchtime Craziness!!

Lunch in the park (my car/traveling studio):

First I completed the mug that was in the photo a couple of posts back. The shape of this is absolutely sensuous to me! I just LOVE it!



After I finished up the mug, I went a bit crazy – I actually felt out-of-control – splashing paint, layering color with white gouache…dabbling and more splashing, then lines with the Ebony pencil… More splashes of color… more gouache… And here you have it – the finished painting in my Hand-Book Journal. The paper in this sketchbook sure holds up to some abuse! I love it! I did this painting from a photo I took last spring/summer at a local flea market.




The marker I used to sketch the pitcher went through to the previous and next pages. I drew this antique lamp during my play day on Friday in the antique store. I added the watercolor today and then wanted to remember the day so I pasted my blog entry on the left hand side of the paper. Voila – lunchtime at its finest. I hardly even looked up long enough to notice the beautiful weather!





And then for a short break this afternoon - I drew my Longaberger Mug - except I colored it blue instead of its original red.

All in all, a very productive day. Now I'm going to hit the couch and watch Antiques Roadshow :-)

Lewisburg Food and Friends Sketch

A trip to Lewisburg, WV on April 2, 2010 - I did these two sketches there at the restaurant and then added a lot of sloppy watercolor yesterday. I do like how the red background complements the green cup. Lewisburg is a lovely town. Very artsy and unique with lots of art galleries, nice cafes and coffee shops...it was a beautiful, clear blue day. Food and Friends is the name of the little restaurant where we ate lunch. What a yummy lunch it was too!

An Update

While it may appear that I have been doing nothing artistic because of my lack of posting lately, I will report that it is quite to the contrary. I have been under enormous pressure at work for the past few weeks. It all turned out to be a very good experience and I felt such a huge sense of pride to work where I do with such wonderful people, pride in my work, and satisfaction. What a feeling after so much work and stress!

So yesterday, I took the day off! I got my hair done, ate lunch, and then browsed around the antique stores, art supply stores, book store, and consignment shops all afternoon. Bliss! I bought lots of books with a gift certificate that my wonderful boss gave me in appreciation for all my hard work, and I had a check waiting at the consignment shop for some things I took in to sell. I got the cup pictured above - isn't it grand! and the pastel set below. This is an old Prismacolor Nupastel set, not sure how old, but Prismacolor was then owned by Eagle and they were called Prismapastels, as opposed to Nupastels. The colors were brilliant after I cleaned the sticks on a scrap of watercolor paper.



The following picture is of my messy coffee table "littered" with books, art supplies, stamps, all the happy things I love to surround myself with. You can see a drawing of the cup from the previous picture. I will post the finished version later.



I met a lady in a local antique store yesterday who was a delight to talk with. She has just learned that she has leukemia. She was fascinated with my sketchbook journal - I took it in to sketch and also took photographs of some interesting pieces they had in the shop to hopefully paint later. She said that although she didn't practice it, she firmly believed in journaling. I encouraged her to begin a journal - she wanted to leave it for a family member - I can't remember if it was a grandson, or what... I shared my bag of supplies that I carry around and some of my favorite pens (which she could buy right across the street at Artifax). We had the best chat. I do hope that she begins that journal soon.

What a fun day -- and the weather today is spectacular! I'm going to another nearby town to buy my daughter a new pair of earrings (she just got her ears pierced) this afternoon and evening. Life is just so wonderful and I'm so glad to be out from under all the stress at work - hopefully life will return to its more relaxed pace now that all the hulabalu is over.

And hopefully I can return to more regular sketching and blogging.

Happy, happy Saturday to you all!