Rejoice!

I have been working on this painting for a long time. I guess I am one of those artists that works on many paintings once. Sometimes I have look at it for awhile to see how I want to finish it. I work a little here and there.

Now, I had a hard time deciding what to name it. Oh my, well, usally I get a name for right away but this time I just couldn't think what I wanted to call it. Naming a painting is kind of like naming a child. As an artist you put so much into you work that it really does feel like your baby. They are special because you put something of yourself into each one.

Anyways back to the name. Well, I could call it something with flowers or garden in it but I have lots of those. I decided to think about how it made me feel and what it was saying to me; what I was trying to say through it. "Rejoice!" That's it!

Rejoice means to be glad; take delight; to rejoice in another's happiness; to make joyful; gladden: a song to rejoice the heart.

And THAT is what I want people to feel when they see this painting!

Summer Beauty

Summer is so beautiful this year because of the rain we've had. As I drove to my friends house through the country side I was just amazed at the beauty of the green fields intermingled with the bright yellow ones of canola meeting the brilliant blue sky on the horizon. The grand clouds billowing up were breathe-taking.

We sat around the table visiting and sipping tea. She showed me pictures she had taken of the sky the night before. Hasn't the sky been amazing this summer? We are in awe.

I painted some summer flowers she had placed in a little vase. The first one is called "Joyce's Flowers." The second is called "Boutique of Flowers" because each one of us is like a flower and when we all come together with our various gifts and personalities we form a beautiful boutique. We are better when we are together.

Joyful Moments

Joyful Moments

A new born baby’s smile, An unexpected giggle from a child, A beautiful morning sky, A touch from the one I love, A really good cup of coffee, A random act of kindness, A smile from a stranger, A joke from the sales clerk, A kind word, A bird’s song, A letter from a friend, A card with a grateful note, A soft still voice, A hug from God, A new perspective, A change of scenery, A chance to worship Him, A Special Day with my God!

Apparently this painting is now in the Philippines. I hope they are enjoying Joyful Moments today!

Prairie Skies

I am just enthralled with the Prairie Skies this summer. I don't know when I have seen them more breathe-takingly beautiful and unusual. I have really enjoyed painting them too because it seems that I have been painting them in my mind for years as we drive along.

Enjoying the Prairies

I love the prairies with it enormous skies and expansive plains. Every day the upper atmosphere holds a new picturesque canvas of clouds billowing upward as if to touch the heavens; ever changing it's emotions as if monitored by an tell-tale meter or an endless hue of brilliant blue as the sun radiates her brilliance. We have a local saying here, "If you don't like the weather then just wait 10 minutes and it will change."

On the western horizon swooping down over the great Rocky Mountains roll the Chinook winds carrying the gathered warmth of the Pacific ocean giving the canvas skies an arc that stretches from corner to corner like an upside down smile.

AIRdirondak Chair Project

AIRdirondak Chair Project

Well, I am finally finished my chair. I am just putting a couple of coats of varnish on it and it will be ready to be on display at the....

4th Annual Empty Bowls for the Hungry Arts Festival.

A celebration of the arts that include handmade pottery bowls, live music & arts.

There will be clowns, face painting, fish pond etc for the kids. It's a fun family event in the park for all ages.

AIRdirondak Chair Project

Well, I am at it again. I thought I would give it a white picket fence look with garden theme.

AIRdirondak Chair Project

Well, I am finally starting to work on my AIRdirondak Chair project.

It is Airdrie's first AIRdirondak project. This project was created to stimulate interest in the arts in Airdrie and to begin a fundraising program for a future Arts Centre.

The chairs will be on display at the Empty Bowls Festival in Nose Creek Park on
June 12, 2010.

The Chairs will then go to 12 locations in Airdrie until September 30.
Auction date for the chairs to be determined (early October).

Musical Theme

I have never been musical; oh, I tried to take music lessons, sang in a few choirs as a kid etc...etc... but everyone knows in my family that is not my gift. But I do enjoying worshiping God the Father through Jesus Christ and I am closest to Him when I worship with my art accompanied by others providing the music. Whether I am on my own or with friends I just love some good worship music to take me to that place of Creating with God. After all He is The Great Creator!!
The first 2 paintings here were done at a ladies prayer group. The second one was done of one of the gals. God was truly blessed that day as she poured her heart out to Him on the grand and I got to capture it. It is a picture of how God views us when we give ourselves to Him.
The 3rd painting was done over a period of time in my own studio as I worshipped the Lord. I was pondering also, my heritage and thinking of what has been passed down to us from generations past. Were there musical individuals and could that be why some of my children have these gifts of musical abilities? It was done as a prayer also that these talents would be manifested in my children and their children.