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 past week while working on this painting of  “The World Within;  a Journey in Meditation,”  the creative door slammed shut.  No creative “juices” were flowing…nada..nothing,  I was at a stand still!  Can you identify?  This process seems to happen periodically to [...]]]> Visio Divina – Have you ever Hit a Creative Wall while Painting a Picture?

This past week while working on this painting of  “The World Within;  a Journey in Meditation,”  the creative door slammed shut.  No creative “juices” were flowing…nada..nothing,  I was at a stand still!  Can you identify?  This process seems to happen periodically to all creative people.  Painting by inspiration is a process and each step on this spiritual journey requires reliance on the Holy Spirit.  It’s as though you are creating or walking like a person that is blind!  We need help to take the next step or go in a new direction.  This can be true in every aspect of our lives.

How Do You Open the Door?

While walking into the studio to get some brushes that needed cleaning, I glanced at the painting.  Wham! Ah Ha,  I had a “serendipity moment!”  There was a TRIANGLE in the middle of the painting.  Then a complete thought came, not sentences or some words but a “creative revelation.”  This is difficult to explain but you know it when it happens to you….it’s Visio Divina, Divine Seeing. Then you realize you are not alone in the creative process!

We Don’t,  God Does!            

At each point in the TRIANGLE was a symbol of the Godhead.  The Lion, representing God the Father;  The boat (you) being guided by the Christ, the Shepherd of Your Soul, and the Holy Spirit hovering over the water bringing forth creation. WOW!  Yahweh is already at work before we even realize it… initiating, guiding, leading us to the place within.  This place of meditation, prayer,  revelation and even creation.  This is the Kingdom of God where spiritual sight is given,  revelation,  understanding,  and SO MUCH MORE!

The Divine Dance

In every Visio Divina  painting you study or paint, I believe you will learn something about this Divine Dance with God.  My hope is this blog blesses you today.  May you keep on dancing even when you don’t know all the right steps because you have a great teacher within you! ♥

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