Advent: Dark Morning

Digital Illustration for 

Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Joseph

Video Series

by Ascension Press

“Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.”

― George Iles

In this digital illustration, Joseph opens his door and gazes out into the pre-dawn darkness. Just before the birds begin to sing, all is quiet, peaceful, and still. 

Advent means "Coming." Many churches celebrate Advent as a season of hopefulness leading up to Christmas. If Christmas is the birth of the Light of the World, then Advent is the pre-dawn dark morning we find ourselves in as we awake from our sleep. 

Darkness can be a thing of fear and anxiety. In the dark, we are surrounded by unknowns and mysteries. But if you are assured that a light will soon arrive, the dark can be a place where we can live in hope and peace.

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.

40 Days: Day 35: Morning Song II

5"x7"
Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

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Here is a little impression from my back yard this morning.

O Dawn

2.5"x3.5" Oil on Board

with Palette Knife

ACEO

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer

our spirits by thine advent here.

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadows put to flight. 

"O" Antiphons series.

The Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.

There are many different texts for the O Antiphons. For this series, I'm using the verses to they hymn "O Come Emmanuel" which lyrically contains all of the O Antiphons.

A Walk in the Park

8"x10" 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.

If you're looking for a nice, short hike, Smith Park in Brentwood, TN has a lot to offer. There is a lot of varying terrain, from open fields to rocky climbs. The portion of the trail painted here was especially nice. It was a loose-gravel limestone path which meandered from a warm sunny overlook down into a minty-cool patch of evergreens. You could feel the temperature drop as you walked though it. All the while, the sun dazzled and danced through the trees.

Smith Park is one of Middle Tennessee's best kept secrets. If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend you give these amazing trails a try.

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.

40 Days: Day 24: I Am the Light of the World

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Available

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

40 Days: Day 18: Morning Song

5"x7" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

O Lord, open my lips. 

And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Psalm 51:15

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Fire & Ice

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 25

It was a bitterly cold morning in Middle Tennessee. As I drove my kids to school, the temperature was in the single digits. On the way, we passed a field where the treetops were just beginning to be warmed by the sun. The golden light looked like fire against the cold, icy ground. It was a beautiful scene to start the day.

Enchanted Gate

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 17.

On one of my walks, I came upon this magical scene. The path meandered thru the trees towards a crooked, open gate. The sun was making fog rise from the wood inside the yard. It looked like the gateway to an enchanted place.

Morning Walk

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 16.

My neighborhood is great for walking. There are so many wonderful little walking trails, and the whole community is edged with white fences. For today's painting, I managed to capture the morning light—softened by lifting fog. 

Morning Fog

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

NFS

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 10.

On the lake, I love those cool mornings when the fog quietly rolls across the water. So far, out of all of my lake paintings, I believe this one is my favorite.

The Good Cup

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 1.

Good Morning! It’s a new day—and a new year. A good cup of coffee is a great to kick-start the day. A warm cup in hand also encourages us to come together and talk with one another—sharing our dreams, our joys and our concerns. So, here’s to a good cup of joe to get us going. Here’s to another 30 days of paintings. And most importantly, here’s to sharing with each other and engaging in real conversation.

Have a good day!

Beautiful Dawn

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 26.

Today's painting is of a beautiful morning sky we had the other day. It reminds me of a great song by The Wailin Jennys called "Beautiful Dawn." I have included their lyrics and a youtube video of the song below. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYwh02xjKL0

Take me to the breaking of a beautiful dawn
Take me to the place where we come from
Take me to the end so I can see the start
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me to the place where I don't feel so small
Take me where I don't need to stand so tall
Take me to the edge so I can fall apart
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me where love isn't up for sale
Take me where our hearts are not so frail
Take me where the fire still owns its spark
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Teach me how to see when I close my eyes
Teach me to forgive and to apologize
Show me how to love in the darkest dark
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me where the angels are close at hand
Take me where the ocean meets the sky and the land
Show me to the wisdom of the evening star
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me to the place where I feel no shame
Take me where the courage doesn't need a name
Learning how to cry is the hardest part
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Misty Morning Lake

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 23.

Today's painting is a plein air piece from the lake. It was a cool and misty morning—giving us a taste of Autumn weather.

Good Morning

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: September—Day 1.

Welcome to another series of 30 paintings in 30 days inspired by painter Leslie Saeta. Today's post is a plein air piece from our spot on Tims Ford Lake. Mornings are hazy and peaceful on the lake—and today was no exception. The kiss of sunlight on the shady cove gives me a sense of new beginnings and hope-filled possibilities of a new day.

A Crepe Myrtle Morning

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Last week we had a beautiful stent of mild temperatures and low humidity—perfect for painting en plein air. I put my french easel in my car and drove around town looking for the perfect spot to paint. But nothing looked interesting to me. Turns out, I found the perfect subject in my own back yard.  It just goes to show that you don't have to look far to find something meaningful.

This piece also showcases a new limited palette that I'm experimenting with. So far, I love the results.

Its been a while since I posted a painting. I have been painting all summer, but just haven't had time to post them. I also took a trip to California where I took a lot of pictures for paintings.  Rest assured, there is much more to come. This September, I will be attempting another 30 paintings in 30 days. This time, I hope to have a mix of slice-of-life, still life, and plain air subjects (maybe even some conceptual pieces). I also plan to stick with this new palette as well. Please check back regularly to follow along. I look forward to hearing form you.

Morning Tide

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Fresh Catch Series #3

This is the companion painting to yesterday's post. This is the gulf tide in the morning. Even though there is very little surf, the calm waters and shallow sandbars make for a colorful seascape.

Break of Day

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 24.

Today's painting is inspired by a friend's in-flight photo of a sunrise over clouds. 
It reminds me of one of my favorite songs. 

“Sunrise in the morning.
Let all creation greet the dawn
And praise the Lord who created
Brother sun to open our eyes.

For all of us would be blind
If not for the light of the Lord.”

—John Michael Talbot based on writings of St Francis of Assisi

Patience

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife
SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 15.

I have now reached the half-way mark in the 30 in 30 challenge. Right now, it feels a bit like, "Only Day 15?" But when I look back at all of the work that has been done so far, I feel good about what I have accomplished. Today's painting comes from a friend's photograph of the Grand Canyon. What a marvel the Grand Canyon is. To think how it has been carved out for centuries by water is amazing. It is a miracle of patience. It inspires me to have more patience with my painting and the remaining 15 days of this challenge. And so tomorrow I will pick up the palette knife again and paint once more.