Ministering Angels

What a few enhancements can do for an image.

 I'm so happy with the editing techniques I'm learning from Kim Klassen.  This time I combined a "recipe" from Beyond Layers with inspiration from Beyond Beyond and Texture Tuesday.

Enhancements include the filters high pass and gaussian blur as well as layer adjustments to levels, saturation, gradient and color fills. This was topped by Kim's texture layer Mary from the Downton Collection.

Cropped only, no enhancements.

 Even though this picture has a cluttered background and a dark exposure, I had hope for it because of the highlights on the angel's head, praying hands and tops of the wings.
Using the gaussian blur helped push the background back and when I erased the angel from the blur layer exposing the focused layer, I gave it the emphasis I desired. (I'm still working in PSE 4, an old version of PS Elements that doesn't have the masking capabilities that new versions have which is why I literally erased the blurred angel.)

There were ten layers when I completed this image.

A few years ago Mom gave me this garden angel to thank me for helping when she had health issues.  I placed it by roses in my garden. One of my sisters and I had a great day selecting the roses. A pretty yellow variety was to remember my Grandma by, but the rabbits and Japanese beetles have taken their toll on it.  I think last summer's drought finished it off.  Obviously, this angel doesn't have mystical powers to ward off enemies in my garden, including the dandelions popping up around it... But it reminds me of Mom and how when we give of our self to others, we may seem like an angel to them.  The Bible tells us that God sends angels as ministering spirits to help us in time of need.

Earlier today I finished a novel on my Kindle called "Not A Sparrow Falls" by Linda Nichols which is a free download from Amazon at the time of this posting.  I wasn't sure I liked it when I was in the first couple of chapters, but I decided to keep going.  Soon I was hooked.  There are references in the book that go with this image very well.  If you have a Kindle, you should check it out.

Homeward Bound

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

Let Your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 57

This is the latest painting that I completed. It's been mostly done for a few weeks. I joined a critique group earlier this month and picked up a couple tips to improve the composition. After taking time to consider the ideas, I tweaked the painting a bit, added varnish coats and now it is ready to be installed in a black frame similar to the black border I added to the digital image you see here. The acrylic painting is on an 18" x 24" canvas panel.

The painting started out with a completely different idea in mind. I painted a mottled blue violet background on which I printed white gesso with plastic canvas circles. To soften the circles, I applied filmy layers of gesso with cheese cloth. At this point my original concept was abandoned. I started to see clouds and my inspiration took off. I imaged traveling through the universe to heaven. That's why I named the painting Homeward Bound.

What else have I been up to? I exhibited jewelry and paintings in Marshalltown and Nevada earlier this month. It's a lot of work, but the reward is meeting people who appreciate art. Next week I will start painting a mural that has been in the planning stage for the past several weeks. I have been working out the composition and color scheme. Check back for an update on the project.

Ames Art Walk 2009 Sneak Peak

May was a very busy month with special events and special visitors, so I've been away from this blog. Thanks to those who keep checking on me.

Tonight I will join my Tuesday night painting group, Artists of the Heart, to set up our exhibit at Chocolaterie Stam in Ames, Iowa. The annual Art Walk will be held in the downtown shopping district on Friday, June 5th from 5-8 p.m. This is a great venue to hold an open house because the atmosphere is cozy and the treats can't be beat... gelato and European chocolate. ~swoon~

Earlier this week I took paintings to the Swinging Bridge Studio in Story City. The annual Scandinavian Days festival is being held all weekend in Story City. I plan on spending some time at the studio and meeting fellow art-lovers.

The above image is cropped from my mixed media painting "Remember". I'm showing it at Stam. You can read more about it here.

I just finished reading "A Three Dog Life, A Memoir" by Abigail Thomas. Memory is a major theme in this book. Abigail's husband suffered a major brain injury when he was struck by a car one evening while out walking the dog. His skull was crushed and part of his brain was destroyed. He lost his short term memory. You would think this was a depressing read. Yes, there were aspects that were extremely sad, but Abigail does not wallow in sorrow. She is a woman of courage, loyalty and strength. The book stimulated a lot of thought for me.
I thought of the journey my Mom took with Dad as he was taken away gradually by Alzheimer's Disease. I wonder what lies in the future for my family. Where will AD show up again?
I am so grateful for the hope I find in Scripture. When fears nip at my heals, I remember Who will never forget me and find my comfort in Him.

It is finished

This week, Christians around the world are observing events that occurred in Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ, Son of God, was arrested, crucified and died. He was laid in a tomb. Three days later Jesus rose from the dead.
Jesus, who is God in the form of man, lived a perfect life. When he was crucified, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for ALL sin, for ALL men. No longer would there be need for the sacrifices of animals by priests to answer for sin. Forgiveness of sin is available to all who come to God believing in Jesus and repenting of their sins.
Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to many of his followers over a period of 40 days. Then he ascended into heaven. There is much more I could say. The Bible tells it better.

This artwork started as a random use of paints off my palette and favorite texture tools. You can see that below. I added more layers and textures earlier this week. As I turned the piece around, I saw the cross. I started thinking of lessons I've learned in my most recent Bible study. At the moment Jesus died, the temple curtain that separated all but the high priest from the Holiest Place was torn from top to bottom. We have free access to God. No longer do we need a priest or other mediator to communicate to God for us. There are places on this painting that remind me of tattered curtains. They remind me of the old way of coming to God.

I have greatly simplified my thoughts in this post. If you have questions, please contact me. The painting was revealing to me. It was a surprise to see that what I have been studying and contemplating came out in what I had consciously started as an abstract painting with no representation in it at all.

Remember - "He Knows My Name"

Misty Mawn prompted us to journal/make art inspired by a song. For some time I have wanted to do something in response to Tommy Walker's song "He Knows My Name". I first heard the song while my Dad was still alive, but Alzheimer's Disease had stolen our names from his memory. The song was and is a comfort to me and reminds me of the promises of God, our Father & Maker, who will ALWAYS know my name. He knows me. He knew my Dad.

So I sketched a woman who is feeling sad, but she is not desolate because she remembers these words when she hears these words.
I collaged some scrapbook & found papers onto a gessoed illustration board. Some of the paper bubbled & so I distressed the surface by sanding off the bubbles. There are arms reaching down and you can see part of one of the hands if you look closely. I sketched the woman with watersoluble graphite & painted her with a combination of acrylic & gesso. Stenciled motifs were also done with acrylic paint. Chalk pastel was used for accents. I stamped the word remember with chalk ink on paper I had distressed.
Here's Tommy Walker's song.

Merry Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas to my faithful readers. I'm grateful for you. I'm grateful for your encouraging comments.

At Christmas, many of us take time out to consider what we believe is the greatest gift of all. His name is Jesus.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (New Living Translation)

The traditions of Christmas point to a King born in a stable. We hear of angels announcing His birth to humble shepards. They sang “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Jesus grew into a man who loved the outcast and brought hope to the hopeless. He spoke Truth.

When He was 33 years old, Jesus was put to death when those in power were threatened by this man. But Jesus was not just man, He was God. In three days He arose from the grave.

Jesus has many gifts for those who believe in Him. Eternal life is one of them. He also gives the gift the angels sang of. Peace on Earth. We tend to think of this peace as an absence of war, an ideal world. But there is peace on earth today. It is in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus and have asked Him to forgive their sins and to live in their hearts.

"Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. " Philippians 4:6-7 (Contemporary English Version)

Beloved

"Because I am the loved creation of so great a maker,
I cannot help but be a person of great worth."

This is a favorite quote that I copied onto card stock to use as a bookmark in my Bible. The quote came from a Bible study written by Beth Moore. Her commitment and passion to and for God are evident in her teaching.
This week a group from my church started Beth's study, "A Woman's Heart." I am looking forward to growing in my relationship with God, to learning, and spending time with the women in our group.

One thing that Beth very clearly points out is how the Bible assures us of how precious and loved by God that we all are. He created us. He cares about us each personally... not in some generic, universal sense.

I have peace and joy knowing that I always was and always will be loved.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 NIV

As for this 5"x7" mixed media piece, I built up the background using stamps and inks on bristol board. The woman was painted with Liquitex acrylics and accented with Caran d'Ache Neocolors II. The verse was printed on text weight paper. The technique for this piece was inspired by the art of Paulette Insall.
Drawing and painting people is still pretty new to me, so this was a challenging project. She was drawn partly from imagination and partly influenced by photographs. [It's a great cop-out when you've intentionally NOT tried to make a face look like someone. ;) ] I've been holding on to this image for a few weeks, still feeling shy about going "public" with it. I brushed a layer of gloss medium over it to seal it, but I should have spray sealed it first. The Neocolor II bled a bit and I lost some of the details.

Another reason I have been holding off posting this was not being sure how to share the inspiration behind the piece. It's hard for me to put into just a few words the significance of what having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ has been. Being confident of His love for me has change my life.

SO. Here's just a little piece of why I am SO GRATEFUL.
I am loved just because I'm me.
-Not because I did something nice today.
--Not because I worked hard at my job today.
---Not because I had a healthy lunch.
If it were left up to me, I'd never be good enough to be loved completely for always. The good news is that there is nothing I can do to make God love me more than He already does.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! "

I John 3:1 NIV

Thanks to Lucy whose post prompted me to "just move forward" and post this entry.