Two New Paintings!

I LOVE color, and am continually exploring it! I did this with liquid acrylics and inks on an 8x10 board. Many layers have been built up because I enjoy seeing depth in my paintings. When you see them in person, it actually looks like some colors are floating on top of others, and other colors recede. In this particular one, the parts that are glowing orange are actually gold pigment.





My favorite medium is liquid inks and liquid acrylics on YUPO. I also add a powdered gold pigment to a lot of my paintings. YUPO is a completely polyurethane 'paper' which has a, well, polyurethane or plastic-y (good word) feel. What this means is that it is absolutely non-absorbent and the only way for the inks to dry is for the liquid to evaporate. This makes it a difficult medium because you're at the mercy of the paint's movement while it's drying. On the other hand, your mixing-abilities and on-surface freedom are just crazy! It's also heavy and virtually indestructable, which means I can add many layers to get the effect I want. Many of my paintings have a number of layers, probably averaging between four and six. The downside here is that it has to be absolutely dry before the next layer is added, and you can only make one brushstroke in any give place, or you will lift the previous layers right up!

For the leaf, I used a nice board, I think Mona Lisa brand, but I'd have to check on that to make sure. It's small - 8x10. The boards also afford some layering and are really nice because you can hang them without bothering with framing. I give each one of my paintings two layers of archival UV spray varnish, and then I brush on an archival UV gloss varnish. These varnishes preserve the pigments from damaging UV rays by scattering them as they hit the painting. I brush on the liquid varnish in different directions to help with that; believe it or not, it makes a difference.

The ocean painting is on YUPO, and is 11x14. I use this size almost exclusively because it's a really perfect size once you mat and frame it. My ocean paintings individually take a lot less time to paint than others because I have to get them down quickly to capture the moment. However, I usually have to paint five or six of them to get one I LIKE! Nothing like a perfectionistic artist - sheesh!  My ocean paintings are layers of blues, violets, greens with iridescent greens and some pearlescent whites.


Let me know what you think of my paintings!

Earth's Crammed with Heaven

Here's a quote by Elizabeth Barrett Browning that I love:

Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

I believe this. Our God is in everything He made. All we have to do is open our eyes and become aware to see it. All of creation praises Him - so must we! I popped two pics of a painting I did of, well, not blackberries, but blueberries (like 'em better.)  Let me know what you think.

This is the blueberry painting I did and referred to in the above-noted posting, 'Earth's Crammed with Heaven.' There are a few reflections in the photo, a testament to the fact that I am an artist, not a photographer! I'm betting you can find the reflection of my home and outdoor table in it somewhere! This is a watercolor. I also used wax pencils in spots to add texture and interest.

Blueberries. This is where I have my painting hung - in my 'green corner.' Note the stained glass light - I culled it from a garage sale for a buck. It's actually a lampshade, but I turned it upside down, stuck a nightlight in it, and... voila! 24/7 ambience!  This little corner cheers me every time I walk past.


 

Hot New Show - Music Man!

We're busy working on the sets for our upcoming show, Music Man! It's going to be an awesome show, and if you live in the Houston area, you DO NOT WANT TO MISS IT! Shows will be November 5,6 and 7, and November 13 and 14. For ticket information, check out www.cythouston.org.

Here are some pictures of me and my students working on the sets. We're currently working on the bookshelves for the library scene. Already, the bookshelves have four layers on them, a base layer, and two brushed on textured layers to make them look like wooden shelves, and then the dark 'shelves' background color, which will peek between the books-to-come.

Tonight I taught my students how to use a chalk line, which they loved. I think they would have enjoyed thwacking out nice, straight blue lines all night long. After that came the tape so we could have beautiful, straight shelves. It was entertaining watching a bunch of young artists figuring the math measurements. They got it, though, and did very well. Yes, even artists have to do a lot of MATH! I learned the importance of that many years ago when I made a stained glass window that was too big for the window! Turned out well, though, because we had a deep, backlit frame built for it, and have been able to bring it with us wherever we move! Even now, it imparts a cheery glow over our bed. :) I think that's the only math mistake I've ever made that turned out well!

Here you can see that we're finally adding books. I had each student choose his or her own color, and paint books on all the various shelves. The next step will be for each one to write down his chosen book titles on the books. Then I'll do some final touches of highlights and lowlights for shadows and light.

We've got two colors of benches going - one set for the gymnasium, which are presently yellow and will have a light layer of teal ragged on. I'm going to have them do it with a few plastic Walmart bags. The drop that we have for the gym is yellow with turquoise highlights, so they'll go well. The darker benches will be antiqued, likely with black.

I have my students take inventory of all the paints we have at the beginning of each session. They're categorized and shelved according to color, and I give them some lessons on color. Every now and then one of the paint cans has gone bad. EVERYONE knows when one of these is opened because the smell is HORRENDOUS, and it's quickly disposed of! One of the things I show the kids is to use an awl and hammer out about ten holes on the inside rim of each paint can. This way, the paint drains down through the holes instead of clogging the opening, which sometimes eternally seals the paint inside! Try it, you'll like it! All in all, we've been having a lot of fun and at the same time have been getting a lot of work done. The sets are going to look great!

If I Could Talk to You

I took this shot from a rooftop of a church.  They make full use of their roofs!

 Recently I went on a missions trip to a country that is really, well, out of our reach. It's very difficult to get there, in fact, most people aren't allowed. Having made many friends on the trip and feeling like I'd made a big impact, I came back pretty torn up. This is the poem I penned when I got back. It's simply called,


                      If I Could Talk to You


If I could talk to you,

I would share my life with you.
I would tell you of my love
and my constant thoughts toward you.

At a cemetary we found a row of these beautiful angels, all different.

If I could walk with you,
We would walk hand in hand
through life –
together –
through the good and the bad.

If I could but reach you,
I would laugh with you,
enjoy you;
a deep friendship that never ends.

If I could embrace you,
I would hold you
and never let you go.

If I could be there for you,
I would pick you up
dust you off,
wipe your tears,
and carry you
until you could once again walk.

Gorgeous, verdant countryside viewed by bus.

Alas! I cannot do these things!
I cannot talk to you or walk with you
I cannot reach you or embrace you
I cannot be there for you!
You are too far, too far!
GOD! OH GOD!

… beyond my reach.

Help me!
Help me be there.

Be there.
Reach for me.

No, I cannot do these things.
But I can pray for you.


And I know Someone
Who shared His all for you,
and has constant thoughts toward you.
His love for you reaches down through the heavens.

He will walk with you,
laugh with you,
enjoy you,
And His love for you will never end.

He will hold you
in His everlasting embrace
and never let you go.

He is always there for you.
He will pick you up,
wipe your tears,
and carry you when your strength is gone,
until you rise up with the wings of an eagle.

He will be your friend.

These are the things I would tell you,

If I could talk to you.


That's how I feel about this country. Another other poets out there? I don't write a lot, but when I'm very emotionally moved, I find myself reaching for the pen.

These are aptly nicknamed 'Octopus Trees.'  Wonder why? :)

I wrote this poem in the night, well, in the morning, between 3:30 and 5:00 a.m. I woke up freezing and began to think (dangerous thing, that thinking at night!) It took a half hour to write it and do the first revision, a half hour to rewrite it and do the second and third revisions. Somewhere in that time, I went back to bed, but couldn’t get it out of my head so I had to get up to make final, minor changes. When I sat down to type it out, I only changed two words. I'm curious to know how long it takes others to write poetry?

A Musician's Musings

Now that it’s September, I mark three years since my car accident. I’ve been thinking about life. I remember that date, September 6, and rejoice that I’m alive. Looking through my diary, I just found the following entry which I wrote last Christmas. I stood before our congregation at church and spoke before playing a solo.

I’m thinking about some of you who may not be having a very good Christmas. Like many musicians, one of the most important things about Christmas for me is to make music. Well, last Christmas was a very difficult one for me – you see, there was no music.

About 14 months ago, I was on Highway 45 going 70 mph with the line of traffic, and it suddenly came to a stop. A big, Dodge duely didn’t even slow down and smashed into the back of me. Changed my life! Last Christmas, there were many things I couldn’t do, one of which was holding up this 300 pound flute.

When I come into this building, I look around and think, ‘these are my people.’ Many of you don’t even know me, and I bet you didn’t realize that you were my people! I can’t help but smile when I’m with you because I love you all. I’m standing before you today because many of you walked through this last year with me. You knew that behind this smile there was a lot of pain.

I’m here because of you. I’m recovering because of physical therapists that are trying very hard to kill me. But I’m here especially because of my nine year old son, Noah, who prayed for me every day, day in and day out, faithfully, even when I couldn’t pray for myself. Thank you, Noah!

So, I stand before you today with music welling up from my very soul. Music in thanks to the One who created us, who formed the mountains, who made the wind, who declares His thoughts to us, who makes the morning darkness and treads upon the high places of the earth, the LORD GOD OF HOSTS IS HIS NAME.”

Then I played ‘Mary Did You Know,’ and it was truly beautiful. Thank YOU, Lord, that I can play again! For over a year, I couldn’t sit at all as I have bulging discs. Even as I sit here and type, my left leg is tingly and numb. Excruciatingly slowly, I’m getting better, and I continue each and every day with my 20 minutes of sweaty, therapeutic exercises. All this to say – life is very special. Let’s all walk worthy of our Creator and LIVE.

Balancing Art and Christianity

I have been doing some deep thinking and reading some philosophical books on Christians and the arts this summer, and it has solidified many of my thoughts on the subject. Last night we watched a movie that was a perfect example of where I’m at.

We watched “The List,” by Robert Whitlow with our daughter.
I believe that as a Christian artist I need not only to portray a beautiful Christ and a hope to this world, but to admit that we live in a fallen world, and that we live amongst evil and sin. If the world sees nothing but smiley face bumper stickers that say “Smile, Jesus Loves You,” and cute, big-eyed puppies with catchy Christian slogans, that same world is going to write us off as living in la-la land, and as people who can’t possibly understand their problems.
“The List,” rated PG, was perfect. It portrayed evil for what it was. It gave a number of beautiful pictures of believers, and offered hope. The overall message was PRAY MORE. That thought lingers with me still. The author and producer clearly painted the Christian message without the in-your-face obviousness that turns people off. I highly recommend it for you and your teens. (By the way, Whitlow is a master at this in all of his non-fiction books).

I believe that as an artist I must somehow paint a balance of dark and light, evil and good to meet people where they are and draw them to Christ. Hans Rookmaaker, in his book Modern Art and the Death of a Culture, states that we must use arts “not as a mere tool for evangelism but as an authentic expression of human life in a broken yet redeemed world.” THIS the world can relate to.
When we as believers show beautiful, squeaky-clean faces to the world and never let them know of our problems, we’ll be turned off immediately. This not only goes for fine arts, but music, books, movies, theatre, the internet, etc. While we are raising our children, we must be conscious about preparing them for the future. It’s important that we give them a balanced view of the world. It’s important that we prepare them, and ourselves, to speak to a lost world.

Francis Schaeffer says “Just because something is beautifully written it does not mean it is true.” We need to teach our children not only to write well, but to know how to speak to meet unbelievers where they are - presenting both darkness and light, sin, redemption and hope. Teach them to paint. To imagine. To create. To make music. To debate. To dance. The Harvard Business Review now says that “creative edge is what businesses now want.” Let’s train our children up to be creative people so that when they are grown they can be salt and light, as we are called to be.

Rookmaker says “To be Christian involves all our work and activity, understanding that there is nothing neutral, nothing apart from Christ’s reign.” Paul calls us to be Jews to the Jews and Greek to the Greeks. This means we need to study and understand their problems and be able to meet them where they are. And prepare our children to be the best they can be in whatever area they have been gifted in to reach lost people.

Psalm 137:5 says, “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.” My we be both skilled and prepared, and may we remember Who it is who gifted us. And, we shouldn’t forget, the way we live our lives before God and the world should speak loudest of all.

Durer's House and Artist's Studio

These pictures are from our recent trip to Germany. We visited Nuremberg and toured Albrecht Durer's house. My favorite part, of course, was his studio. In those days, an artist couldn't run to Texas Art Supply for his acrylics, but had to mix his own paint. It was typical for him to grind his own pigments, mix them, and put them into little squares of pigs' bladder to preserve them. Durer's studio had an extensive display of pigments for this purpose. They also had on display a nice wood block depicting one of Durer's 'St. Jerome in his Study' blocks, along with someone demonstrating how the artist made his prints. Altogether it was a lovely experience. After that, we ate outdoors at a cafe in the Tiergartnertorplatz (I'm assuming this means the garden plaza, near his home.) In that same square, there's a tribute to Durer's masterful watercolor hare - 'Hommage a Durer,' which is a modern, ten foot rabbit. I'm ready to go back.