Heap of help on the way!

Hello art lovers! wow.. 3 posts in less that 2 weeks! I'm on a holy roll!

Okay, so I'm almost finished framing "African Angel." I want to make sure its as perfect as possible so that my painting can be part of the church plant team's efforts in raising funds for the trip to Kenya. I'm hoping that her eyes will open hearts and wallets so that her little village receives the help they  need and a brand new church building where they can worship.

"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

Sometimes being an artist is so hard emotionally and even physically, but when God uses your talents to help humanity... which He desires from all of us... it's the most amazing feeling... to know that God is smiling when we do. I mean, that's why He gave us talents in the first place... to bless others and to give Him joy!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..Colossians 3:23

Sorry, I goofed on my last post - correction: Bondo is in Kenya and not Uganda. Our church has a mission to Uganda every years as well. I get them confused.  Maybe someday I will be on one of those teams. I would love it!


so I'm fixing this post and adding links so you know I'm for real. feel me?
http://www.ichooseyou.net/  and  http://www.cypresscreekchurch.com

Almost forgot - I'm having an image made for gicleé prints of African Angel. I hope to sell them to recoup some of the money invested. I'd like to sell a few for continued help in the missions efforts...if anyone is interested. $50 ea.

the original is 18"x14" oil on canvas and the gilceé will also be canvas. 
add $8 for shipping.

Be blessed

....over and out!

African Angel

Hi art lovers! You'll have to read my last post to understand this one...

Here she is!  I'm happy with this painting, however, I never did pick up a brush on my night alone. I sat on my couch and watched a movie instead. I couldn't bring myself to start the painting. I was real bummed out at mo.

It was getting dark to fast, the lighting in my studio wasn't right, my old oils were hard as rocks. Not that a little linseed oil and mineral spirits couldn't loosen them up but it was just enough for me to give up.

I also never posted my last blog. I just did... if anyone cares to read about my continued frustrations in being a older mother, a full time business owner and artist who doesn't have time to paint. As a matter of fact I started this blog thing to post a painting-a-day, thinking it would be a great discipline for me and I would improve my art. Ha! So, guess I should instead call it a painting-one-day! : )

African Angel was a blast to paint once I got started. I stalled for hours then knocked it out in 1 1/2 days, about 8 hours.  I wanted to be loose with my brush strokes so the art wouldn't be tight. Thanks to Carol Marine who I watched do a demo at the Wimberley Valley Art League last week, I was able to suck it up and move on to paint it. She encouraged me and I went for it. Hope you like it too.

Pulled out my dusty oils

Hey there art lovers, I actually have a night to myself! Really exciting but, I feel kind of lost at the moment. I hope to start a new painting tonight.  My subject? A little African girl with the biggest eyes I've ever seen and a an innocent smile that says, "I dont have a care in the world or a clue about how desperate I am."

I've never painted a dark skinned person. I consider this a challenge involving a great deal of joy!  The only problem is I haven't painted with oils for almost 8 years. Scary stuff!  When I'm finished I'm giving it to a friend who will sell it at a fundraiser/concert to raise money for a mission trip to Bondo, Uganda. I hope it sells.

Okay, so I'm stalling....playing with my cat, Mogli. He is so fat and soft. He knows he's not getting my full attention because I'm scratching his ears while I type this. He really wants to bit me right now but he's stalling.

I'll post this little African Angel soon....

Another Jesus?

Hello Art Lovers! I hope you are well. Well.. I painted Jesus, again. I know.. not another Jesus painting... so over done. Ah, but I never get enough of Jesus! If He was all I ever tried to capture in a creative way, I would be happy. Michael Angelo move over. I'm captivated by this painting. For one thing its primitive. I like primitive art. Another thing is its on tortured paper, like my troubled dad did in the 50s. The Acrylics skipped over the crumpled texture and added a dimension that I love. Third thing is the nail frame. My husband helped me make it. We demolished our old picnic table so its real weathered wood. Then there are the red nails. Why red you say...Duh..turns out I'm one nail short of the 39 lashes Jesus endured before the cross. I think I know just where to hammer it in. I have to admit that this frame housed a previous Jesus I painted in 2000. One even more primitive than this one. As I grow in my faith my Jesus grows bigger in my vision. One day I'll see His face! Never again will I try to create a perfect human example because I don't think any human can capture Him... it has always been the other way around. I will always try and reflect my God given talent and hopefully my heart. Here it is hanging on the back of my house: peace...

Primitive Reflection of Perfection
Acrylic on paper and board

31.5"x37"