40 Days: Day 2: Lent

5"x7" Acrylic on Paper

Available for Digital Download

email me to purchase the original art

This project is all about experimentation and exploration. That includes techniques, medium and subjects. This one was on the road to failure. However, the more I worked on it, the more interesting it became. The painting took on all kinds of layers and textures. Just when I was about to give up, something beautiful happened. Cross turned into Christ. If you look carefully at the top of the cross, circled by the thorny halo, is a christ-like face. It almost looks like a South American or Gothic European carving. What an unexpected joy!

This painting is an invitation to the journey of Lent. It sets the stage for all that is to come. The cross, palms, purple cloth, blood, a crown, and most importantly, Christ. Welcome to Lent. Come along with Jesus as he sets his face towards Jerusalem to suffering the cross.

This painting is proof that  I need to let go of my personal expectations for this series. There may be failures. There may be surprises. Thanks be to God for both.

Dust

5"x7" Acrylic on paper

Available for Digital Download

email me to purchase the original art

You are dust. And to dust you shall return. That is the theme of Ash Wednesday. It is what is said when a cross of ashes is placed on the head. The sobering kickoff to the season of Lent hammers hard on getting us to face reality. God is God. We are not. We are but creatures of dust. Apart form God, we are all mortal, broken, suffering, lost, naive, delusional, hopeless failures.

But here's another truth. God chose to lovingly take the most meaningless of stuff to create a masterpiece—us.  And flawed and frail as we are—destined to be dust—we are God's beloved. The cross that is placed on our heads also remind us of God's saving love that endures beyond death itself.

In life and in death, we belong to God.

40 Days

Tomorrow begins the season of Lent for 2016. Many people traditionally give up something for the next 40 days. My goal this year is to create something every day.

Beginning tomorrow, I'm attempting to produce 40 inspired works in 40 days. It's like the 30 paintings in 30 days challenges that I have done. But this time, I'm throwing the creative door wide open to include painting, illustration, photography, design and who knows what else. 

Stay tuned to see what happens.