Can I say I am a little excited? I've been published again! And my husband gave me the sweetest compliment about how he thought I was a very good - drum roll here - "ARTIST". Yep. That's what he called me! And I have trouble saying that myself! LOL!! My art was one of the Judge's Choices for the 2011 Calendar Contest - look for me on page 71 : ).
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sneak Peek Friday - Daughter of Virtue
(Click the button to see more studios from around the web!)Here is what I have been working on this week:
I've been re-working some of the art I did during the first class I took after listening to the call back into creativity...I had found Paulette Insall, an inspiring Christian artist, on etsy and enrolled in her "Faces" class. Recently, I noticed that some of my first paintings seemed a little stark - I have grown in the area of experimenting with and developing layers and so am bringing changes into some of the early work...
Here is an image of what this piece looked like "before". I changed the name from "Young in Mind" to "Daughter of Virtue". There will be a companion piece, too:
This is a sketch from a photo of my little girl...I changed out her curls for straight hair - I love the look on her face, and I know I want to turn this into a piece of art of some kind!
Five things I am glad to have come across this week....
1. This post at Messy Canvas - she is offering a free e-book for download!
2. This wonderful picture for the Feast of Tabernacles.
3. This great FREE spelling program online!
4. This HILARIOUS video - for all the dads out there! Yes, it's "A Dad's Life"!
5. This skirt pattern - Angel loves a twirly skirt.
I love the informal name of the days between (and including!) Rosh Hashana (New Beginnings) and Yom Kippur (Atonement). These are the days of Succoth, the Feast of Tabernacles (or booths - meaning a temporary dwelling place). Tabernacles is also called the Feast of Trumpets for it is marked by daily blowing of the trumpets (shofars). It is a time of celebration, a time when the entire nation stopped normal activities and focused on the Lord, remembering how He made His dwelling with the children of Israel during their journey away from slavery and into their new beginning in a land of blessing and abundance. During this exodus from their bondage and limits, God taught them about worshipping Him, about His great lovingkindness, about His might, about His deliverance, about His provision...and Israel learned to trust, rely on, and depend on Him. He promises to do the same for me, and I must learn, as the ancients did, to trust in, rely on, and depend on Him. Their temporary dwellings served to remind them that their present condition was not permanent - and remembering their tents calls my attention to the fact that my sojourn on this earth is only temporary as well. How "awesome" is the fact that He walks with me, in the temperal, as He did with Israel so long ago!
The shofar calls of these days do have various meanings, but one of the most powerful I think is the one to awaken us to be alert - alert to His soon coming, alert in the spirit to His voice, alert to what He wants to impart to us - the same things He provided to the Israelites so long ago!!! Are you awed yet?
Blessings,
Cindy
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...I am lovin' the cooler weather here in North Texas; the little hint of the autumn to come that we are receiving. Today a nice, steady rain began just around dawn, adding to that deep contentment of being tucked in at home. These pictures show the view I would have if I get a writing (think art) desk for the round corner of the living room...there are 3 windows that give me more than a 180 degree view - you can see some of the wrap around porch in the pictures, too...
FOR TODAY September 7, 2010...
Outside my window...check my "picture for thought"!
I am thinking...about the fall "appointed times of the Lord" beginning tomorrow.
I am thankful for...the whisper of the Spirit in my heart.
From the learning rooms...focusing on science and history today in order to get a alot of our activities ready to laminate at Mardel's free laminating event - woohoo!
From the kitchen...finding the perfect chocolate chip cookie that uses no sugar or milk. Have a recipe to share? I'll try it!
I am wearing...denim capris and a black tank top (again).
I am creating...reworks of previous paintings - I got inspired and after a year it seems my artistic eye is developing.
I am going...to take DVDs back to the library today and grabbing a few grocery items at Aldis.
I am reading...a vintage book entitled "The Father Heart of God" by Floyd McClung.
I am hoping...for a writing desk with hutch to put in the round room.
I am hearing...the sounds of the ceiling fans.
Around the house...working on simplifying and ordering to keep things picked up.
One of my favorite things...rainy days with a comfy worn quilt!
A few plans for the rest of the week...hanging the wall decor in the living room.
1. Finally deciding to get rid of that direction with the word font! "Shema" will be there - I just don't know how it will look yet, and now I am back to doing the color blending....
2. Temperatures in the 80s that actually feel like fall!
3. Last weekend of swimming - and enjoying it with friends!
4. Da Vinci at the Museum of Science and History - what a great party to send the exhibit on its way!!
5. Sweet encouragement from my husband on a direction to take this season of my life...
Oh, would you like to see how the above piece looked at the VERY BEGINNING? Here it is...
That's it, behind the pink and white paper (another project) sitting there....I must have 3 more layers over this...and I wish I could go back here! It is definitely one of those things that is taking on a life of its own!
I am working on companion pieces to her (remember?), but something is wrong! I put the word on - sort of like an art journaling word and just haven't liked it, but yet I feel the word needs to be there! Every night I work on it and every day I come back to the table wondering what in the world I was thinking!!!! I definitely want the letter "shin" there - but am. not. liking. how "shema" is looking -today, I decided to keep it AND the direction I ended up going in last night (which is the photo you see here), and when I am finished I think I am going to play a little with it in photoshop! I will see!! (And so will you - LOL.)
