Evening Tide

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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Fresh Catch Series #2

Today's painting is of the evening tide in the Gulf of Mexico. There is very little surf in the gulf. Sometimes, it is so calm that it seems as if someone simply turned off the "surf machine." By evening, the sea does manage to muster up some waves. Watch for a future painting of the morning tide to compliment this piece.

Windward Breeze

8"x10" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Fresh Catch Series #1

This is the first installment of my new costal-inspired painting series called "Fresh Catch." Today's fresh catch is a plein-air painting of dunes on a breezy afternoon at Inlet Beach, Florida. 

Hallelujah

16"x20" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife
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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

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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

SOLD

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.