My mother, the planter of the hundreds of bluebells, called.  She said, “There is a frost coming and I don’t know how long they will last.”  There was no time to get [...]]]> A Wonderful Mother ♥  Daughter Story

A few days ago the bluebells were in full bloom and the earth was laughing flowers.  A painters delight!

My mother, the planter of the hundreds of bluebells, called.  She said, “There is a frost coming and I don’t know how long they will last.”  There was no time to get my oil paints (my preferred medium) so I threw some pastels in a bag along with some paper and headed to her house.  Upon arriving the wind had started blowing and the temperatures were dropping.  Grabbing my camera, I headed for the garden and started taking pictures.

See the color in the bells!

The mass of color was spectacular.  Bluebells everywhere and the extra benefit was the azaleas and dogwood trees had started to bloom, ah! How beautiful.

It was too cool and windy to draw outside so I headed for the sun room that looked out over the garden.   While pulling the art supplies out of the bag it suddenly dawned on me…there is a problem!  It’s been over 40 years since I’ve drawn with pastels!  The pastels and paper that were in my art bag were part of  art basket that I had won at a soiree.  Now what do I do?

Garden Art

Mother to the rescue!

Mom said,  she had a book in her library on pastels and  while I draw she would read to me.  So for the next 4 hours,  she read excerpts from the  pastel book that she thought would be helpful,  gave great encouragement and brought me tea and cookies.  This was a “keeper” moment in life.  What a special painting of life.

Mom's Bluebells Garden

Below is the pastel picture that is the result of  “our”  collaboration and my gift of love to her for a very special Easter.

This is not about hearing a voice on the outside,  such as the latest news happenings, T.V. shows, Family issues, etc.  This is about looking inward, deep within, in the heart of your soul.  What stays with you for days and weeks, maybe [...]]]> The First Question – What is Stirring Inside of You?

This is not about hearing a voice on the outside,  such as the latest news happenings, T.V. shows, Family issues, etc.  This is about looking inward, deep within, in the heart of your soul.  What stays with you for days and weeks, maybe even years?   How does this voice influence your life and cause you to do what you do?  While reading this paragraph did a thought come to your mind…if so stop,  write it down.  These thoughts of deep stirring are sometimes fleeting, or the voice of the critic or judge rises up and you discount the thought.

The Second Question – “Who They Be” vs “Who You Be”

Do you like this person’s artwork and that person’s artwork, this latest subject or style of art….what’s hot right now and then try to create painting from those ideas?  I’m not talking about learning,  and strengthening technical art skills.  I am speaking of creating art as an echo of another person’s work. This  is creating artwork out of Who They Be….not Who You Be!   This is what is happening in much of the paintings we see today.

The Third Question -  Are You an Echo or an Original?

Do you create art from the voices that come from the outside in or do your create from the still small voice within?  This is what separates you from the “art pack”, creating works from revelation and inspiration instead of being an echo.  This is creating art out of who you be!

My Example – The Process of Painting “The World Within”

I paint and teach coming out of  “Who I Be” as a spiritual director and artist.  You can read my About page for more information on my life.  My passion is to help enable you and others to create art from the heart which will inspire others and help them to see life with new eyes.  Art is not just about creating pretty pictures or art for art’s sake!  Art is about inspiration, painting what others are not able to see; it’s about opening eyes that are blinded by the busyness of life. In my series in the development of  “World Within” (which you can see below in my earlier blogs) is a painting that will be used as a visual teaching tool for meditation.  Maybe some of the examples I use may be helpful to you.  As you can see I come from a Christian perspective but the basic principals can be used or adapted by anyone regardless of spiritual belief.

To Realize One’s Destiny is a Person’s Obligation to God and Mankind.

Continuing development of the painting, World Within - A Journey into Meditation

In today’s blog I’ll show how I develop a mystical or contemplative painting.

This type of painting would classically be called  “Visio Divina” or “Divine Seeing”.  If you would like more information, there is an earlier blog written on this subject.  Because of my work as a spiritual director and a practitioner of [...]]]> Creating Visio Divina

In today’s blog I’ll show how I develop a mystical or contemplative painting.

This type of painting would classically be called  “Visio Divina” or “Divine Seeing”.  If you would like more information, there is an earlier blog written on this subject.  Because of my work as a spiritual director and a practitioner of contemplative prayer,  people are always asking questions about meditation.  So besides just teaching with “words”,  the thought was to create a painting to represent “the journey within”.  This process will be fun, very creative,  and challenging.  I will be taking concepts from the unseen world,  interpreting them,  and creating a painting for the seeing world.   Also,  as a finished work, there would be a painting that could be used to explore Visio Divina and meditation.

The Beginning

The painting was started using blues, purples and blacks to form a dark outer edge around the canvas.  This idea was based on the scriptural teaching that the “Kingdom of God is within”.  Another passage speaks of;  “the Temple of God being inside of us”.  The Holy of Holies,  which is the most interior part of the temple is totally dark,  the light that is produced comes from the  “Shekinah Glory of God”.

Next,  on the bottom left of the picture I placed a boat;  representing the meditative journey which begins by becoming quiet and looking inward towards Kingdom.  Then the symbol of the  “Lion of Judah”  was added to represent a concept of the nature of God. 

This picture is not yet named,  some ideas are;  Entering the Garden, or  The Kingdom Within.  I would love to hear any ideas you might have for the painting or the title.  You can write your ideas in “leave a comment” which is located at the end of the Tags at the bottom of this blog.