Blessings in Brushstrokes

My Last Post but not my last painting

2011-08-01T12:27:00.001-07:00

This will be my last post on Blessings in Brushstrokes.
For you 8-10 dedicated weekly readers, I want to thank you for following a blog with a new post every four months or so!

I simply cannot write two blogs - I am barely writing one. My heart is in Coffee Tea and Thee and I plan to increase posts as well as broaden the scope. My painting news, when I have it, will appear there. Please take a look and read through some past posts and follow me there. The Coffee Tea and Thee address is on the sidebar.

And about my painting... I've taken at least a six month break due to Sarah's wedding. But, give me a little time on my hands and the creativity starts flowing. Today I dug in my old closet and pulled out paints, palette,a big box of ideas to paint, and blank canvasses. I'm back.

One more thing... August is the month for lists. Found this on an artist's site...

Gala!

2011-02-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to run by the Museum and see all the Gala art on view until March 2! Even if you are not able to attend one of the three events during Gala week, the art is a must! And absentee bidding is easy...

Here are some of my favorites:
Lesley Lockhart
Leslee Bechtel
Kim Barrick
Jill Steenhuis
Rosalind Roy
William Thompson
Jean Chambers
Bradley Robertson

Oxford: Little Town Big Arts

2010-10-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

I should have remembered when Ben and I sat down at Ajax's for lunch and were surrounded by folk art that Oxford is an artsy place.
I mean, William Faulkner surveys the scene on the Square for goodness sakes! Southside Gallery was showing Blair Hobbs, a mixed media collage artist...
and Oxford Floral had a new Mississippi potter, Erich Emmenegger.
The little town of Taylor nearby is practically an artist colony. I've been looking for something to inspire me to get out my easel and paints! Oxford did it!

A New Artist in Town

2010-07-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

I love creativity at any age!

A week or so ago Ben and I attended the first art exhibition of a young new Huntsville artist. We were thrilled to be invited! Greeted at the door by the artist, we were ushered in and given a bio and a refreshing mocktail. His most recent works were on view as well as a few older works. He received accolades for his colorful palette and interesting subject matter. Mocktails were followed by munchies - the menu planned by the artist... mandarin oranges, apple slices, fresh fruit with cream cheese dip, Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets, pimento cheese with crackers and chocolatey nutty brownies.

Let me introduce to you my new favorite artist, John Randall Howard.

A showing of his current works...

Mocktails & munchies...

Father of the artist....

Grandmother and baby sister of the artist...

Blessings in brushstrokes!

Heaven on Earth

2010-07-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1: 3

I've mentioned Monteagle, Tennessee more than once. It has to be in my top ten favorite places on earth - right up there with the Splendido in Portofino, Italy. Why? Because it totally captures my sense of place. It is like stepping back in time. Nothing but good memories of easy fun-filled days!

Here's a recap of the art class I attended a few weeks back.

college roomies 38 years later - we both took up oil painting 5 years ago

where we call home while we're there, Edgeworth Inn in the Assembly...

Our fabulous teacher and portrait artist is Angela Kuprion from Kentucky - pictures of her demonstration...

Some shots of Nancy at work...

And a look at what I was working on... but nowhere near finished!

Painting Notes

2010-06-17T07:56:00.000-07:00

I'm anxious to get to Monteagle next week and paint for two days! I'm meeting my college roommate there... we discovered a few years ago that we both had taken up oil painting as a favorite hobby. We had a wonderful time painting together last summer and we have been able to squeeze in a few days again. I will for sure take the camera - I want to show you around The Assembly, as well as picture Nancy's work.

Until then, enjoy summer!

Lambs and Bunnies

2010-05-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive

the kingdom of God

like a little child will never enter it.

Luke 18: 17

I've had so much fun working all spring on a series of bunnies and lambs for nurseries.

Finished up today. After they dry they are off to Judy's shop.

Here's a sampling....

Moved to Monteagle

2010-04-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know me well, your hearts probably just skipped a beat! No, I have not moved to Monteagle (although I would love it) but four of my paintings have! Lethia Watson, owner of The Gallery in the Assembly, has my current angel paintings and stacks of notecards. If you are in the area, her Gallery is a must-see and she is a must-know. Just driving through the Assembly is a must-do. It is a slice of heaven! Call Lethia for her hours since The Gallery is in her home. She has lots of artists and fabulous McCarty pottery.
The Gallery - 931-924-2103
I highly recommend a day trip! You'll be in for a blessing!

Notecards!

2010-03-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

Are you a note writer? I am. I am a note lover, paper lover, pen lover and should have owned a paper store! Even as easy as it is to call or text, I still find that when I want to get my words just right I go find pen and paper. I love notes that come to me and save most of them to reread months later, sometimes even years later. If that's you too, I have notecards for sale. There are four to a package - two of The Green Cup and two of A Season for Seckels. My sincere thanks to Belinda and Elaine for giving me permission to use images from my paintings they now own. The notecards are fold-overs, approx 5 1/2 x 4 1/4, packaged ready to give as gifts; 4 notecards for $10.
Just email me and we'll find a way to get them to you.
Bless your words!

Art with a Twist at the Museum

2010-03-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

Thursday night I taught an art class at the Museum to 24 potential artists! We were all painting Leslie Lockhart's angels while enjoying lively chatter about art do's and dont's, great snacks and the evening view of Big Spring Park. Being creative is so much fun!

This was our demo painting and thanks to O.R. for purchasing it. It is titled Waiting for Instructions and is based on Psalm 27: 14... wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Now take a look at the wonderful creations from the class...

This was mine and was auctioned off to aid the Museum - thanks again to O.R.!

The Museum will be offering a new schedule of Art with a Twist classes soon - so sign up with your friends! It could be a great birthday gift and loads of fun!

Be blessed!

Surrounded By Angels

2010-03-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

I've been living with these four angels for the last month. I hate to part with my sweet companions, but as of Monday they will be out of my sunroom and living at Judy's shop. Feel free to drop by the shop Mondays - Thursdays or email me anytime to talk paintings.

Take a look... each painting is ready to bless your home or a friend's or for a memorable Easter gift.

Going to Meet with God
8x10
framed
$115
Ps 42: 1-2 … My soul thirsts for God
for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

Hold Me Close
5x7 framed
$75
And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18: 5

Guard Your Heart
5x7
framed
$75
Prov 4: 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Come With Me
8x10
framed
$115
Mark 6: 31 …come with me by yourselves
to a quiet place and get some rest.

I'm taking commissions for March and April - angels, pears and lemons.
After Easter I will start on a new series of baby bunnies and lambs. It is titled Enter In Like A Child and based on Luke 18: 17, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
This must be the year for babies - I have ten on my prayer list at the moment!
Until next time, blessings to you!

I'm Back!

2010-02-21T15:42:00.000-08:00

Where has the time gone! I promise you that I will update more often and I promise myself that I will never go this long again with paintbrushes and canvasses packed away. For the last month I've had a pen in hand, not a paintbrush!

Now I'm back! I had one commission in January titled Go Quickly and Tell. The verse is Matthew 28: 5-7 - The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid for I know that you are looking for Jesus... go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you'...

The painting depicts a special friend of mine and her two daughters, one in college and one in high school. All three listen intently to the Lord - not just in the painting but in real life. All three look for Jesus' guidance and instruction and opportunities to tell His Good News. Both daughters will move away in the next months and year but the painting is to remind them that Jesus has already gone ahead of wherever their travels will take them. I love this family and they have been angels to me, pointing me to Jesus with their love, vulnerability, words and walk.

Speaking of angels, more to come! I have 4 angel paintings in the process and they should be finished in March. I'm teaching a class at the Huntsville Museum of Art on Thursday night March 17, 5 - 8 pm and I understand there are a few spots left. The class is called Art with a Twist and we will be doing a 12x16 acrylic angel painting to take home that night. Thanks to my angel mentor, Leslie Lockhart, who is going on a spring break trip and recommended me to teach the class for her. Call the Museum for details - 535-4350/201 & talk to Jenny.

I hope to back soon with pictures of finished paintings. Blessings to all!

Packed Away for the Holidays

2009-11-19T08:20:00.000-08:00

Hi sweet friends,

I've been busy painting and wanted to show you a few new ones before I pack up my paints and palette for the holidays. I'm taking commissions for January, but for the next month cooking, shopping and decorating have taken over my life! Yours too, I safely assume.

It is still the season for pears and I've completed a wedding gift and a commission...

A Perfect Pair
8x10
Colossians 1: 10

Abundant Blessing
6x12, wrapped canvas

thanks M.A.F.!

I absolutely love this verse... Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your life. Luke 6: 38

And one more little lamb for a precious new baby...

Dear to the Shepherd
8x10 on board
I am the Good Shepherd. John 10:11

Two Christmas gifts...

I took a class from the master, Leslie Lockhart, and tried my hand with her angels. This is for an angel in my life, but shhhhh, don't tell...

Angels
16x20
Jeremiah 6:16

and this is for my son - no worries, he'd never look at this site...
Strength in Solitude
8x10
and I guess my all-time life verse, Exodus 24:30... Little by little, I will drive them out before you until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.

And finally, when I pick back up my paints in January, this is what I'll be doing... a series on angels. I've been inspired by Leslie Lockhart's angels, Gina Hurry's angels, and cemetary angels.

This is my favorite - isn't she beautiful! She is just laying her heart out to God. I can't wait to paint her! Can you imagine the wonderful Bible verses I'm going to discover for this new series.

Hope you all have safe, blessed and abundant holidays. I pray your hearts overflow with love for Christ.

A Season of Pears and Pairs

2009-10-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

I've been buying pears, cooking with pears, eating pears, thinking pears - and painting pears! All because we used pears as the theme for my son's recent rehearsal dinner...

Do you know those wonderful small pears called seckel pears? I have no idea how they taste, but they are incredible to decorate with and to paint!
Here are our table arrangements and my favorite, the head table arrangement with the quail, lanterns and pears. I wish I could take credit but the inspiration came from two friends, Lee & Elaine. After I had seen pear preserves as a wedding favor in a magazine, they took the idea and ran with it.

And yes, I copied the idea and used pear preserves as placecards at the dinner. Aren't they adorable!

Many thanks to Tricia, the best cook in Mississippi!

A long way of getting around to saying that I've been painting pears for two weeks! These are not for sale but I thought you might like to see seckel pears on canvas.

Pears and Pairs

5x5 wrapped canvas
Colossians 1: 6

A Season for Seckels

12x6

my new favorite verse -

I Thessalonians 2: 8

A Perfect Pair

8x10

Colossians 1:10

Just looked at my calendar and I'm amazed I have two days to paint this week! I'll keep you posted as to what my next 'season' will be...

Welcome to Blessings in Brushstrokes

2009-10-08T18:58:00.001-07:00

Hello friends!

Welcome to Blessings in Brushstrokes - my new blog for art chit chat and painting news!

I have the awesome privilege of announcing that I now have a few (4 to be exact) of my paintings for sale at a shop! My dear friend, Judy, has given me wall space in her shop, Design Guild. Thank you, Judy!

Design Guild is on the southwest corner of Pratt and Washington and is open 10-4, Monday - Thursday. Feel free to stop in and take a look.

Why the name Blessings in Brushstrokes?

Because with each painting I select just the right Bible verse, one that speaks to me, and I find a way to hide it in the painting. For instance, the painting of lemons and the blue bowl is titled, Waiting for Lemonade. If you were able look closely at the top left lemon in the bowl, you would barely see Matt 7:20. That's the verse. Then, on the back of the painting I write the entire verse - Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. That's how it works - my little way of attaching a blessing to each painting!

Take a look at the four for sale...

Waiting for Lemonade

12x6, unframed, Matt 7:20

$135

SOLD!

What Will He Make?

8x10, framed, Ps 27:14

$145

Morning Hope

8x10, framed, Ps 33:22

$145

and for babies... since I'm in the wonderful season of babies...

Baby Bunny

9x6, wrapped canvas,

Luke 18: 15-16

$95

if you look closely you can see the verse written with a palette knife in the paint under the bunny...

I can't resist showing you two others for babies...

this one,

Bunny Scraps,

hangs in Weston Trefry's nursery

and this one,

Jesus' Little Lambie,
is for Baby Sarah Grace Rowe.

I wish you could see this most delicate color of pink...

Which reminds me of two things...

One, I apologize for my photos. I've definitely got to improve in that area and Molly says she will help me.

Two, I'll be happy to accept commissions. Just email me at swm0804@bellsouth.net

I'll be back in a few to show you what I'm doing with pears...