separated

I'm in the middle of yet another painting so I figured that I should post this one before I finish the new one..

This painting came in the middle of some very complicated and intriguing circumstances. I was feeling a lot of mixed emotions, to say the least, and was having a hard time removing myself from them. This feeling generally urges me to paint, and so I willingly obeyed. The purpose of this painting, however, is different than others.  It was not created to necessarily portray those intense feelings, but instead to distract and create in me a sense of euphoria and self-confidence. In essence, the painting took me away to another place and time, where I was completely separate from my emotions.  

The painting is actually a lot cooler in person.  There is a lot of texture, constructed by sand, paper towels, and heavy acrylic paint. I used paint brushes, pallets, and knives to move and order the paint where it should go.

I'm a pretty big fan of it, perhaps more from the experience than the actual end result-- but I do think it looks pretty cool.  Somewhat psychedelic, maybe.

Whether or not YOU like it, though, is completely up to you :)

"If you could say it in words, there'd be no reason to paint."
[Edward Hopper]

my hope is in You

The thought behind this painting is hard to explain. 

It is composed of acrylic paints and mixed media, as I often use.  I ripped out a few verses from the Bible that have been speaking to me recently. (I have a Bible that is strictly used for crafts-- I also have one that I use for reading. Don't judge me!)  The verses I chose were mostly from the Psalms: Psalm 37:1-7, Psalm 55:16-17, Psalm 32:7.  I also added Matthew 11:28-30 and Romans 8:37-39.

I created it at a low point, and completing it was very therapeutic for me.  The verses especially reminded me that God is with me, he is on my side, and I can rest in him.  So I guess more than anything, this painting helped me to regain a more hopeful perspective and outlook of my life and current situations. And to remember that God is still in control.

hope you like it.

Psalm 37:1-7

"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.  Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him..."

Psalm 55:16-17

"But I call to God and the LORD saves me.  Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice."

Psalm 32:7

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Romans 8:37-39

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

let go

Letting go is difficult.  It can break your heart, break your spirit, and send you in a whirlwind of new, and sometimes very familiar, emotions.  Letting go is also freeing though.  As you release what you cling to, you are also being released yourself.

Letting go doesn't mean giving up. It is simply giving God control. An act of surrender. Thus allowing him to move freely in you, and allowing you room to breathe and relax.

 I often have little to say about HOW I create what I create.  It's hard to explain I guess.  It just sort of...happens.  This painting began with little direction.  I had no ideas of what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go with it. I chose to focus on a word: "breathe."  I love that word.  So often I the most important thing I can do is remind myself to breathe.  Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. In letting go, I sometimes find myself holding my breath, fighting emotions or bracing myself for what is to come.  Conscious and intentional breathing relaxes me.  It helps me to focus.  It helps me remember that it's okay to let go because God is in control.  And there is so much freedom in knowing and believing that. I don't have to have it all together. I don't have to find a way to make this happen. I don't have to know what the future holds, because Someone is already holding it for me and preparing me for it.  

All I have to do is breathe.

"Relax in the knowledge that the One who controls your life is totally trustworthy." [Jesus Calling, May 5th]

blue

I created this painting last week.  Unfortunately I don't have very much to say about it.  I was feeling sad and lonely at the time and decided to paint despite feeling this way.  This is what I came up with.  Painting for me can be somewhat of a therapy.  It's a pretty cool experience.  Through painting I am able to leave my emotions on the canvas and move forward.  I hope you like it.

new

This painting is based off of Lamentations 3:21-23.  It simply represents God's faithfulness.  The sun rises each morning, and each morning we are given a chance to live and breathe in His mercy.

Breathe it in today.

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23

enough

I love Joe Cocker's song "You are so beautiful." If my life were a movie, that song would be on the soundtrack.  The lyrics are so simple yet so full of promise.  

This piece is meant to encourage and speak of a true sense of beauty and self-worth.  It is titled "Enough" simply to say that you are enough. Who you are is beautiful. Who you are is enough.

You are so beautiful to me

Can't you see

You're everything I've hoped for

You're everything I need

You are so beautiful to me

bubbles of hope

My son, Landon, has had a recent fascination and obsession with bubbles. I love it. Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles. All day long.

I spent the past weekend in Florida with my mom attending a women's conference.  It was awesome to see and feel God move in me as I discovered and remembered his reckless love for me.  This painting is the cry of my heart-- the cry for freedom.  I hope you get a sense of that when you see it, not only because of the words, but because of the bubbles, rising, like bubbles of hope. And because of the butterfly, that screams freedom in its metamorphosis.

This is my metamorphosis.