Hallelujah

16"x20" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife
$300.00 + Shipping

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It was Easter Sunday. The service was concluding with the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. I had planned to sing along. Having sung it for many years, the song is very familiar to me. But God silenced my mouth that day and encouraged me to listen. I closed my eyes and let my entire being embrace the music. The talented musicians and passionate voices filled my soul like wind filling the sail of a ship, carrying me away to an encounter with God. 

I saw a vision of Heaven—a vast space filled with glorious light. I was part of a landscape of souls. There were countless people, all singing and giving praise to Christ. We were all singing because we all shared the same experience. We had all been redeemed by our merciful and loving savior. There was no more judgement or disagreement for we had all been made one by grace. That reality produced an overwhelming song of "Hallelujah." Lifted up in the crowd was our beautiful savior. The one who had conquered sin and death for our sake was allowing us to praise him with all of our love and gratitude. 

Then I saw how that kingdom manifests itself in the reality of our world. People loving one another and caring for each other.  I saw the world as perhaps God sees it. Beautiful. Diverse. Delicate. Its broken places being mended with compassion and love. "The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. And He shall reign for ever and ever."

It was a moment that brought me to tears.

I never expected to have an experience like that. Perhaps it was the choir and the musicians putting their all into the music. Perhaps it was the composition and the words. But there's no doubt that it was a God moment. 

Azaleas

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

Today’s painting of Azaleas is dedicated to mothers everywhere.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Retreat

8"x10" Oil on Canvas Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

We all could use a little break—some time away from our every-day responsibilities. For me, the best retreat is to be outdoors near water. The gentle breezes, the warm sunlight, the sound of cascading water—they all renew me and bring my soul closer to the heartbeat of God. 

In my life, there is a special place for retreat. It is Camp NaCoMe, in Pleasntville, TN. Our family goes there for camps and church retreats annually. This year's spring retreat was all about embracing God's gifts. I am thankful to God for so many gifts. Like a running stream, God's grace continues to run over our pebbled hearts. God's gifts to us are abundant and freely given.

This is a plein-air painting of the creek that runs through the heart of Camp NaCoMe. It is a reminder to me of just how revitalizing it is to unplug from our technology and connect with our loving, giving, living God.

New Heaven and New Earth

St John's Church, Bilton, Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Several weeks ago, I got an email form a woman living in North Yorkshire. She wanted permission to use my painting, "Emmaus Road" as inspiration for her church's Easter art project. 

The "Easter" club and "Smelly Yellow Welly" club of St John's Church Bilton, Harrogate, learned all about the disciples adventures after Easter. The clubs consisted of 100 5-11 year olds and around 40 teenagers looking after the children with 50 adults involved in games, crafts and artwork.

This is a photo of their finished art. It is a large canvas 10ft tall by 5ft wide. The children painted the background and the fabric trees. They then stuck the trees and bushes on and added tissue paper leaves. The figures have tissue paper stuck on to give it a look of paint.

This is why I love doing what I do. God has given humanity a precious gift, CREATIVITY. With this gift we are able to contemplate concepts of God, Love and Grace. We are capable of creating beautiful works of art. We are able to create and technology which allows us to share our ideas with others anywhere in the world. It truly is a glimpse of "A New Heaven and A New Earth."

Whatever your gifts are, use them for the Kingdom of God. You will be amazed with the results.

Racing to Resurrection

11"x14" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife
$175.00 + Shipping

Click HERE to Purchase

In Luke’s account of Jesus’ resurrection, the women were the first to discover the empty tomb. They ran back to tell the disciples—most of whom discounted their story. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb to see for himself. 

This painting shows Peter racing to the tomb on that early morning. Burdened with a cloak of shame and guilt from Jesus’ death, Peter is fueled by hope. Hope that his beloved Jesus is not dead. Hope that brokenness can be mended. Hope that forgiveness can be given. Hope that The Way will continue.

May we all run with that Easter hope. 

May we get up every morning and race to find our living LORD. 

It Is Well with My Soul

9"x12" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Here is another installment of my abstract series based on Christian hymns. This song has a very moving story behind it. You can read about it by clicking here.

It Is Well with My Soul

Horatio G. Spafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

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What Wondrous Love Is This

8"x10" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife
SOLD

And now for something completely different. After exploring impressionism with the 30 days challenge, I have decided to switch to abstraction for a season—specifically the season of Lent. Over the next few weeks of Lent, I hope to paint abstracts based on christian hymns. I have always wanted to paint expressions of hymns. Since hymns have an artistic beauty of their own, I dare not get too literal with my painting. Therefore, I have decided to paint abstracts to express the emotions I have when engaged with the hymns. 


What Wondrous Love Is This
American Folk Hymn

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.