Shout out to Monet

It's been a while, I know, but I thought I'd show you a photo of my latest. I did this for my mom's guest room. Yes, I know, it's a copy of a Monet seascape. I used acrylic as opposed to Monet's oils--not quite the same effect, but I glazed it with a varnish, which gave it more richness and depth. I'm definitely leaning more toward the oils these days.

Crickett's Painting

Crickett's Song

Oil and Paper on Canvas

24"x36"

Last year, an old friend from college, affectionately called Crickett, contacted me and asked me to do a painting. She is a very gifted violinist and music teacher, and she had a wall in her studio that needed some color. She remembered some pieces I had done back in college and wanted me to do something special for her, giving me total artistic freedom. This is what I came up with. It's not the best picture--the color is a little more vibrant in person, but you get the idea. This one was very experimental for me, using many, many layers of oil color, drybrushing, gluing on pages from a Bible, using leaves to make imprints, dripping the sludge from the bottom of the turpentine jar, and more glue to add sheen and dimension. I'm really getting excited about mixed media lately. God is so amazing to provide me with ideas and inspiration in the midst of all the madness of life.

Three's Company

One of the most popular questions I've gotten as a mom and artist is "Do you find any time to paint?" This was a depressing thought when I first embarked on motherhood--that I would somehow lose my ability or time or passion to paint because my much more important children have taken priority. Well, had no problem painting through my oldest's first year of life, since he was an amazing napper and also very content to sit in a swing and watch. It became more of a challenge as he got older and napped less. Since baby #2 came along, I have often wondered if I needed to just store all my art supplies and give it up for a few years. I have recently come to terms with not having nearly the time or energy to pour into my artwork like I did before kids. I still long for the day that I can go to my easel and paint whenever the inspiration hits me.

A sweet friend and fellow artist, Ramona, gave me some great advice shortly before she passed away. She encouraged me to get Asher his very own easel and art supplies to put next to me while I'm painting. That way, he won't feel like art is off limits for him. I always remembered Ramona's words, and this Christmas I asked grandparents for art supplies for Asher. He now has his very own awesome two-sided easel, paints and art kit in the art room. For the first time last week, we created together--Asher with watercolors, Eden with chalk, and it was so wonderful to share my love for art with my son and daughter. So, the answer to the question is, yes, I do find time to paint! Sometimes it just looks different than I thought it would.

Jesus and the Marshmallows

This Christmas, Brandon and I decided to simplify and scale back on our normal gift giving and holiday activities. We want to focus on giving to those with less than us instead of loading down our already blessed family with more stuff that we don't need.

Every year I look forward to Christmas, and the meaning quickly gets lost in the stress--oh the stress! Self-imposed stress, triggered by a compulsion I have to decorate my house and tree and car (ok maybe not the car part) and bake and buy and wrap and dress everyone in beautiful clothing. These are all things I love! I enjoy baking and dipping lots of sweet goodies and making my house look festive and shopping for fun toys and wrapping beautiful packages of things that I will have forgotten a year from now. But after many years of doing these things, I am realizing that these activities, if they don't draw us closer to Jesus and to each other, are crap! Totally meaningless time-filling, pound-gaining, self-centered, empty fluff. It's pretty much like stuffing myself with the marshmallows love so dearly but don't help me out too much.

So, as much as is possible in our crazy suburban life, we are trying to scale back. This year I only made two kinds of treats instead of 17. I got my shopping done early, which is a first, partly because our shopping budget was much smaller, and Brandon and I are only giving each other stocking stuffers. The kids are getting 2 gifts apiece and we also did simple or no gifts for family members and friends. We have continually reminded the kids what we are celebrating and talked about giving. Asher took his full piggy bank to Living Water so kids could have clean water.

I must admit all of this was tough at first. It has been hard not to just focus on what we're cutting out or even be prideful that we are doing so good with what we have. It's also been amazing because I actually have a little time to reflect and enjoy my husband and kids. I still struggle keeping my eyes on the Lord and will until the day I die. But hopefully every little change we make will draw us a little nearer to our Savior.

Tonight as we go to our Christmas Eve service, I hope and pray that we are all freed up to really feel God's presence.

Fall has Fallen! (at least for a day or two)

Monday brought some fabulously chilly, windy, overcast weather that gave me hope that it might not be summer forever! That day Asher and I decided to make playdo pumpkins to welcome Autumn! Who says pumpkins can't be purple?

This idea, inspired by my friend Kathleen, was the easiest and most hilarious pumpkin decorating we've done. Move over, Mr. Potato Head.

Bubbles!

Asher has become quite the helper around the house, so I started putting noodles in a jar for every time he does chores or helps (a reward system I got from my friend Jen). Once the jar was full, Asher finally received the long awaited prize--a Spiderman Bubble Pipe! This brought forth endless hours (or minutes) entertainment for him and baby sis.

Thanks to you, Linda.

Throughout my life, God has provided miracles and provisions in a million different ways. A couple of years ago, a quirky thing happened. A stranger whom I had never met, named Linda, called me and said she was an artist who no longer painted. She wanted to bring me all of her oil paints and other art supplies if I wanted them. Of course I said yes, and, as a result, I experimented with tons of colors I never would have bought. I still have all the paint, including many tubes that are so old I can't even open them (although I have tried with pliers and other various tools). But I keep them as a reminder of how God has lavished me with so many gifts I don't deserve. I may never see Linda again, but God used her to open a door for me that may have remained shut. This painting below was painted almost entirely with Linda's paints.

Thanks to you Linda, Oil on Canvas, 24" x 36"