Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 30.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Author: Thomas Ken

AMEN! Another 30 paintings in 30 days is completed. For today's final painting, I chose to do another hymn abstract. I have had the most fun painting these. It is such a refreshing change to paint completely from feelings and impressions. I can think of no better finale than the Doxology.

I have learned a lot in the past 30 days. Interestingly enough, I find myself in a completely different place, as a painter, from where I had expected to be at the beginning of the month.

Many thanks to all of you who have followed along and commented on my paintings. Your comments mean more than you can ever know. I have more projects in the making and many other small painting subjects still yet to do. So keep checking in to see new works.

Blessings be with you all.

The Gift of Love

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 29.

Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.

Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship, and are freed.

Author: Hal H. Hopson (1972)
Tune: O WALY WALY

Be Thou My Vision

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 28.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
Great God of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Buddy

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 27.

This is probably as close as I want to get to painting a portrait. Today's painting is of our friend’s Goldendoodle. His name is Buddy. I was amazed at how much expression there was to be captured in a dog’s portrait. I learned a lot from painting this fuzzy fella. 

Go ahead. You can say it. "Awwwwwwwwwe."

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

From Russia with Love, St. Basil’s Cathedral

8"x10" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife
Commissioned Painting

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 25.

Today’s painting is a commissioned piece by a mother and father to honor the heritage of their Russian-born sons. I loved working on this project, not just for the artistic challenge, but for the importance for all of us to know who we are and how much we are loved.

This painting was a real challenge. I began with a pastel sketch. Instead of blocking in large areas of value and color, I tried a different approach. Since the building was so intricate, I worked the painting one color note at a time—checking the value and color relationship with the note’s immediate neighbor. Piece by piece, I completed the painting. You can see the steps and my finished palette below.

Elk River

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge—Day 24.

Another of my favorite moments is to be painting by a river. I just love to hear the sound of water running by as I paint. The colors, reflections and shapes in running water are such a joy to paint. Things were even better for this plein air painting. I was fortunate enough to get onto a rock and paint in the middle of the river. A good day indeed.