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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Golden Gifts


I did a photo shoot of my grand daughter this Christmas and when I got ready to paint I saw the Easter Bunny laying in the rocker behind her. I pondered painting it out and after serious consideration decided to leave it in. The reason I left it in is because Christmas and Easter are not just two separate Holidays. As I painted this picture of my grand daughter I decided its title would be "The Golden Gifts" and  I hope one day my granddaughter will understand why. As I reflected on all of this I pondered God sending his son to earth to be the way of salvation for those who believe. How else could we connect with a God who is a spirit unless we realize he knows what it is like to be human? This story is not complete with out Easter and the knowledge that just as Jesus chose to come to earth to be an example of forgiveness and holiness he also chose to be a sacrifice  for our sin, how else can we connect with a God so infinitely holy and pure?   No other God that men choose to worship died for His people. When He walked the earth He told us to lay down our lives for each other, how could he ask that unless he was willing to do this himself?
..and this is my commandment that you love one another, greater love has no man than this, that he would lay his life down for his friends. You are my friend if you keep my commandments..John15: 13:14

I received little rocking chair in the background as a Christmas gift in 1960.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

What Getting A Speeding Ticket And Art Critics Have In Common

The Traveling Artist recently put her camera in the car to visit an old friend. A bit of snow had jsut fallen in North Carolina and Virginia  and I was already anticipating the joy of coming around the corner on one of the back roads to see a cow in the snow, I was going to pull over and capture a shot. I did not anticipate pulling over for anything else. I do not like highways but  in this case I had to begin the trip by taking the highway and I got behind a large truck throwing bits of debris, I was  deep in thought about art, so at first I just trudged along behind it. When I decided to pass I gunned the engine and pulled into the left lane only to look up and see flashing blue lights behind me. What was my reaction? I was not surprised, or angry, and my heart did not change a beat -I thought to myself, " Hum, I am curious what I did besides pass this truck."  I know you do not believe me but you will have to take my word for it. I got around the truck and pulled over into the right lane and was pulling onto the shoulder when the flashing blue lights whipped on past me, I was not the offender. I pulled back on to the road and continued my thoughts about art, but thoughts about policemen and tickets now interfered. Why was I not afraid when I thought I was about to get a ticket, or relieved when I did not? I think it is because I know that receiving correction is good for a person. I try hard to see life as learning, even if it is from a policeman telling me he found something I did that deserved punishment. Even if I do not understand another persons reasons or interpretation of a situation I still celebrate honesty and correction.

A policeman is not going to preface his words with  "Well I think you may have been.. or maybe you should have," neither is he going to say " You always.. You never, You are this or that.- Each mistake will be handled on the side of the road, individually.  He is going to get right to the point and I like that.

I think an artist has to learn  to accept  judgement and to refrain from being defensive in order to grow as a painter. You can only get peace with your painting and your life until you are able to accept criticism and instruction.  It is not enough to say to yourself, well that is your opinion when someone looks at your art and gives an honest appraisal, instead you must get to the place of being able to take a fresh look at it from their eyes. You do not have to change it, although I have found that when I try what ever it is the person has told me, more often than not- it was just what I needed to do. When I can not do the suggested correction in my experience it is good to put that information, instruction or opinion into my"things to think about " file. When you are able to approach life that way it makes it so much more interesting to ask another - So tell me what you think honestly . As they give me their advice I try hard not to think of my own reasons or explanations of why I am doing what I am doing. It is harder when one person in the conversation is trying to prove they have the only way of looking at something, or if they feel they have a case against you, your work, action or personality. Some people compromise, some give in, some only want to win.  Once reasonable people realize you are willing to learn and value their opinion you can grow and learn so much faster.  This is fun to do with strangers, but is especially rewarding in relationships with people you trust and value, and this approach works with so much more than art. Trust me.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Bronze Pot and Apple Blossoms


All Her Ducks In A Row


This is a painting I did of my nieces daughter.. she is the blond with the determined look on her face leading the pack! This child has the biggest brown eyes I have ever seen and she has a great imagination.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Vincent (Starry Starry Night) Don McLean


I have always loved this song, but I will admit I did not like Vincent van Gogh's art until I learned his story. The struggles Vincent van Gogh  had and his beautiful swirling colors remind me to be nonjudgmental and enjoy the differences that make each one of us unique. We all suffer, some of us suffer in black and white, some of us struggle in vivid color.

When I was at Duke University Hospital as part of  the Chaplaincy training, we were reminded to search for and listen to a patients life story, each person has a string of events that they have lived through that becomes a part of them. During times of trouble, pain, sickness, death, or hurt, our past story intertwines with current trials and things can become overwhelming; until some one comes along beside you and tells you it is okay to experience life, struggles and all, and assures you that they will work through it with you. Chaplains do that, true friends do that. 









I discovered the same thread when working with troubled teens. Their story is still all entwined with their family, their story sometimes is short and confusing. Many times they get hung on a certain narrative of what they feel life is supposed to look like.  When you put a blank canvas in front of a troubled teen they see one blank canvas and think of all the
 complicated steps to make one painting. They are afraid to make a mistake. When you tell them to just paint one block of shape at a time and that if they do not like it they can paint the canvas back to white and start over - then they begin to relax and create something they can enjoy. Life is like that, one step at a time, add a little color and see what takes shape, give yourself and others lots of forgiveness to cover up the mistakes, start over.  

If no one else believes or listens to your story, paint it. If you do not like what you have done, paint over it.  

Brothers On The Beach


A client sent me this photo to paint as a gift to her daughter. She said " I know the little one is scratching his bum but we think this is so cute!" I had a hard time not calling it the " Red Solo Cup" - because the older brother is sipping his breakfast juice from a red Solo cup and enjoying the scenery. It was fun to paint- little boys with jammies on and little squirrels hopping around on their little back sides. The client texted me after Christmas and said " My daughter loved her painting!"