Painting

Lately I've been experimenting with using acrylics as a water medium and then adding pastels over the top. I like spontaneous looking paintings, like Stephen Quiller, who is one of my all time favorite artists. I feel like my painting voice is coming back and that makes me happy. 

When Renoir was an older man he was afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis. During the last years of his life the pain was so bad he was confined to his home and he painted on in great pain. Matisse was much younger than he was but they were good friends and Matisse often visited him. Once when he was watching Renoir paint on in pain he asked him how why he continues when it was obviously so painful to him. Renoir replied "The pain passes, but the beauty remains."

Isn't that how we should be when difficult times come to us? To be patient as the Lord refines and shapes us, but ever with the hope that when the pain passes, the beauty will remain. I find that very hopeful to think on.

kerri

I was put in three treasuries!

Bricks and Stones

Let's get out of here!

Portlandia

Shay

I made a springtime treasury!

Springtime in Pink and Green

Water color pencils

Today I tried something new!  Water color pencils.

I've decided that I love then and want to practice.  :)

This last one isn't water colors, it's just colored pencils but it was fun to draw.  :)

Shay

Painting

Lately I've been playing around with water color landscape abstractions, combined with colored pencil. 

10"x14"

5.5"x8.5"

4"x6"

They are calming to do. After getting the boys' schoolwork done (I homeschool) and dinner going the older kids and I have been clearing off the dining room table and watching The Cosby Show on instant on Netflix and working on various pieces. Am I the only one who feels very nostalgic about the Cosby Show? They were so nice and normal when my own family life was so crazy. I watched it every Thursday night as a kid. I get such a kick out of looking at the clothes and stuff. My daughter commented on how we were so into crazy , bulky sweaters. To True! To aquire a new cozy sweater was pure bliss in the 80's. And we did like things bulky, at least on top. And the colors are so bright and primary and solid looking. Maybe that's why I went for tie-dye-too many clearly defined edges! Anyway, it's funny to watch them again. I think we are on like season 6. In I think 4 days. Kind of bad, huh. 

Kerri

Some of Forrest's Recent Drawings

Elisa sold this picture at an art auction benefiting a missions trip to Poland. Her first sale. Kind of cool. :)