O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion

8"x10"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here To Purchase

An Abstract Expression from Handel's Messiah
O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion,
get thee up into the high mountain:
O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up thy voice with strength;
lift it up, be not afraid;
say unto the cities of Judah,
Behold you God!
Arise, shine, for thy light is come,
and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

Comfort Ye, My People

6"x6"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here To Purchase

An Abstract Expression from Handel's Messiah
Comfort Ye, My People

Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God. 
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, 
That her warfare is accomplished, 
That her Iniquity is pardoned. 
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness
Prepare ye the way of the Lord. 
Make straight in the desert a highway 
For our God. 
(Isaiah 40:1-3)

Wait for the Lord

One of the greatest gifts the season of Advent gives to the church is the gift of waiting. As our attention spans shrink and our cravings for instant gratification grow, the more we need waiting space in our lives. Waiting is a gift that fills us with blessings. Waiting blesses us with hope, wonder, patience and self-control.

This year’s Advent art is an abstract depiction of a dawning morning. It is that moment when the sky glows in soft, low light, but the sun has not yet revealed itself over the horizon. That’s how if feel about waiting for God to act in my life. I feel like I’m never alone, but rather surrounded by God’s presence like dimmed, soft, pre-dawn light. I wait for a fully revealed sunrise over the horizon. The metaphor is also quite true for Christian Advent waiting. We live in the pre-dawn light of Emmanuel while we wait for the full light of Christ’s return.

Accept the gift of waiting this season. Let us slow our rhythms for a fuller experience of time and discernment. Let us enjoy the gifts of wonder, hope and patience. Let us walk towards the horizon in the soft, dim light. God is faithful and will answer our prayers. And sooner or later, the day will come.

Sunlight Trio

6"x6"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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Here's a more representational painting form the lake. This one is of three sunlit hay bales across from us.

Sea and Sky

6"x6"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Here is a new plein air painting from Florida's Gulf Coast. This one focuses on the color relationships between the sky and the shore. I was intrigued how some of the shadow colors on the shore matched the deeper shades in the clouds. I'm glad I got up early to capture this painting. By the time I finished, a storm front was blowing in.

Plein Air Painter’s Tip: 

Some of you pros may already know this, but today I discovered a handy painting hack. If you're using a french easel, you can position your canvas in such a way so you can use the top of the easel lid to act as a guide for your horizon line. See how the horizon line runs right across the top of the easel lid in the action shot below.

40 Days: Day 14: You Are Light

6"x6"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here To Purchase

Matthew 5:14-16

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

40 Days: Day 13: You Are Salt

6"x6"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here To Purchase

Matthew 5:13

You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

40 Days: Day 12: Early Bloomer

6x6 Acrylic on Canvas

with palette knife

Email me to purchase

Spring came early this year. only to be quickly stopped by another blast of winter. 

This is a painting study from that earlier, warmer time.

40 Days: Day 4: Water to Wine

6"x6" Oil on Canvas

Commissioned

John 2:1-11, The Wedding at Cana

On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

There are no parables in the Gospel of John. Jesus' miracles are parable enough. They are "signs" revealing the kingdom reality. There are so many things to meditate upon in this story. Mary's perspective. Jesus' perspective. The servants' perspective. Spend time with this story however you like. But as for this commissioned painting, the focus is on the the jars of water. 

The wedding and the main characters in the story are represented in the festive colors in the background. The focus is on the stone jars now filled with wine, reflecting festive colors dancing on the surface. They jars are filled to the brim with plain water. But after being changed by Christ, thanks to the faith of his mother and executed rather quietly, the water is transformed to wine and becomes the star of the show and an abundant gift of grace to all. 

God can take the most ordinary of things and, with grace and love, make them extraordinary. Simple canned goods can become life-savers for food-insecure families. Smiles can become ambassadors of hope for hurting souls. Everything in our very ordinary lives can become extraordinary gifts of grace. Our very lives can be used as signs of God's grace to the world. With God all things are possible.

Redbird

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

One of the paintings for "A Walk in the Park" event at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park, 

Brentwood, on Oct 30 from 1-5 PM.

One morning while walking on the trails of Smith Park, I came across this little Cardinal perfectly perched in a tree. I could not have asked for a better composition.

September Sunlight

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Another day at the barn, horsing around, while my daughter rides. This time, I had some visitors watch me paint from behind—as shown in the photo below. 

There is now a new way to purchase my paintings. Click the link names "Click Here To Purchase." The link will take you to my new website—including a store where you can select and purchase with a click.

Sforzando

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here to Purchase

BAM! Here is the next post in my music abstract series. 
Sforzando means "with sudden emphasis." 
Hope this adds a little excitement to your day.


The series will be on display and for sale during 
The Frankin Art Scene 
at Shuffs Music, 118 Third Avenue North, Franklin, TN
on September 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Allegro

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here to Purchase

This is the second post on a series of abstracts based on music.  
Allegro means "lively, brisk and rapid." I used a lot of warm colors on this one to convey the burning muscles and the instruments' heated friction when playing fast.

There are more music inspired abstract compositions to come. Stay tuned.


The series will be on display and for sale during 
The Frankin Art Scene 
at Shuffs Music, 118 Third Avenue North, Franklin, TN
on September 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Vivace

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

I've been playing a new tune lately—art for music lovers. 
This is the first post of a series of abstracts based on music. 
Entitled "Vivace," it means "lively, quick and upbeat."   
There are more music inspired abstract compositions to come. Stay tuned.


The series will be on display and for sale during 
The Frankin Art Scene 
at Shuffs Music, 118 Third Avenue North, Franklin, TN
on September 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Psalm 30: You Have Turned My Mourning Into Dancing

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click Here to Purchase

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,
    and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
 O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
    restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.

 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
 For his anger is but for a moment;
    his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”
 By your favor, O Lord,
    you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.

 To you, O Lord, I cried,
    and to the Lord I made supplication:
 “What profit is there in my death,
    if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
 Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”

 You have turned my mourning into dancing;
    you have taken off my sackcloth
    and clothed me with joy,
 so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

40 Days: Day 40: Torn

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 

Matthew 27:51

40 Days: Day 39: Psalm 22

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
    and by night, but find no rest.

 Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
 In you our ancestors trusted;
    they trusted, and you delivered them.
 To you they cried, and were saved;
    in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

 But I am a worm, and not human;
    scorned by others, and despised by the people.
 All who see me mock at me;
    they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
 “Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
    let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”

Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
    you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
 On you I was cast from my birth,
    and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
 Do not be far from me,
    for trouble is near
    and there is no one to help.

 Many bulls encircle me,
    strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
 they open wide their mouths at me,
    like a ravening and roaring lion.

 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
    it is melted within my breast;
 my mouth[a] is dried up like a potsherd,
    and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
    you lay me in the dust of death.

 For dogs are all around me;
    a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;
 I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
 they divide my clothes among themselves,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.

But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
    O my help, come quickly to my aid!
 Deliver my soul from the sword,
    my life[c] from the power of the dog!
     Save me from the mouth of the lion!

From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued[ me.
 I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:

You who fear the Lord, praise him!
    All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
    stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
 For he did not despise or abhor
    the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
    but heard when I[g] cried to him.

 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
    my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
 The poor[h] shall eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
    May your hearts live forever!

 All the ends of the earth shall remember
    and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations
    shall worship before him.
 For dominion belongs to the Lord,
    and he rules over the nations.

To him,[j] indeed, shall all who sleep in[k] the earth bow down;
    before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
    and I shall live for him.
Posterity will serve him;
    future generations will be told about the Lord,
 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
    saying that he has done it.

Psalm 22