Mountain Rush

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

Click HERE to Purchase

30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 5

Today's painting is another water abstract. It is from a recent walk along side a river in the Smoky Mountains. This one not only reflects the mountain river color palette, but also a sense of the water's rushing movement. 

You can see some of my previous water abstracts here:

Pacifica

Reflections of Summer

Ripples in the Rain

Playing with Puddles

Winter Hymn 24"x24"

24"x24" Oil on Canvas

with Palette Knife

Click HERE to Purchase

30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 4

Going big for today's painting. I revisited one of my favorite paintings from my first try at 30 paintings in 30 days, Winter Hymn, and enlarged it to be 24"x24".

Holy Family

8"x10" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 3

One of my resolutions for this year is to make more paintings of biblical stories and faith-based themes—what I like to call "illuminations." Painting illuminations was where my painting career began and I'm feeling a strong calling to return to my roots. 

Still in the spirit of Christmas, today's painting depicts Joseph, Mary and a toddler Jesus walking though town. In my opinion, the art world doesn't have enough child Jesus portraits. There are tons of infant Jesus paintings, and plenty of adult ones. To me, a child Jesus, toddling around, is a great way to see the humanity of Christ. After seeing a great painting of a child Jesus in the local paper at Christmas, I decided to take a shot at painting one of my own.

The family is out for a walk. They could be going to the market or to the synagogue for worship. Perhaps they are just out for a little fresh air—allowing Jesus to see the world with his fresh little eyes. Where they go is up to you. The real point is that they are taking the time to go together as a family. The parents are patiently slowing down to walk with the young Jesus, barely able to stand on his own two feet. 

I titled this painting "Holy Family." What makes the family holy, really? Is it because Jesus is in their lives? Is it because they have faith in God? Perhaps. But are they uniquely different from other families? No. I would contend that most families could be considered "holy." 

Families today, traditional or otherwise, share the same qualities as Jesus' family. When a parent, or parents, lovingly teaches a child to understand right from wrong—that's holy. When parents slow down with patience to connect with their children—that's holy. When a family spends quality time together—even if it's via FaceTime from half a world away—that's holy. When we go to worship—that's holy. Even a loving couple without children can be a holy family. Wherever there is love, there is God. Any relationship with God in their lives is a holy family.

I hope you take some time to reflect with this painting and think about all that is holy in your life. 

Winter Trees

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 2

Longing for some snow in Tennessee this winter, here is a painting of snow covered trees from our travels through Kentucky.

Winter Trees

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

30 Paintings in 30 Days: January, 2015—Day 2

Longing for some snow in Tennessee this winter, here is a painting of snow covered trees from our travels through Kentucky.

The Best of 2014

As the year comes to a close, it's time to reflect back and select my personal favorite paintings. Thanks to all of my patrons, fans and colleagues who have made 2014 my best year yet!

And the winners  are:

BEST ABSTRACT: O Master Let Me Walk with Thee

BEST FLORAL: Zinnias

BEST ANIMAL: Holy Cow

BEST LANDSCAPE: Fire & Ice

BEST LITURGICAL ILLUMINATION: The Word Made Flesh

BEST PLEIN AIR ADVENTURE (TIE): 

A Storm Rolled In

Moon Over Radnor Lake

BEST PORTRAIT: Mother & Child

BEST SLICE OF LIFE: Will

LARGEST PORTRAIT: Sisters 24x30

MOST TRAVELED (TIE): 

Breathe on Me Breath of God 6x6 - Paris France

My Eyes Have Seen Salvation - Singapore

MOST COMMERCIALIZED: Be Thou My Vision

NAILED IT AWARD: Pacifica

BEST OF THE BEST: California Dreamin

Be on the lookout for another 30 paintings in 30 days beginning January 1.

Happy New Year everybody!

The Word Made Flesh / God Poured Out

9"x12" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it…

…And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:1-5, 14

“who, though he was in the form of God,
 did not regard equality with God
 as something to be exploited, but emptied himself,
 taking the form of a slave,
 being born in human likeness. 
And being found in human form, he humbled himself
 and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him
 and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus
 every knee should bend,
 in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess
 that Jesus Christ is Lord,
 to the glory of God the Father.”  —Philippians 2:6-11

This year’s art conceptualizes the beautiful mystery of God blending with creation. It is an abstract mixing of power and humility, order and chaos, light and dark. For me, “The Word Made Flesh” could also be described as “God Poured Out.” In Jesus, the grace of God poured into creation like a waterfall of sacrificial love. This Advent season let the mystery pour over you. Allow grace to mix with your life. May the unpredictable Word overflow in you heart.