BeautifulHistoria
Every picture has a story
Orchids for a friend
This picture is the under painting (something new I learned) and the painting after this is how it turned out.
I talk about it a little on the blog dated 9/27/2016
My color wheel homework. Refer to my blog post "make do or do without" published 9/26/2016
This was by far the hardest painting I have ever endeavored to paint, not because of any technique or object in the painting - but because of the emotion it gave me every time I picked up the brush, or even thought about picking up the brush. I hated the feelings it gave me, feelings such as: hate, anger, sadness, being terrified, hopeless and scared. I hope never to have to paint another picture like this as long as I live - but if it helps bring the truth to the world, and maybe an awareness that it still needs help, I might consider it a good cause.
This picture depicts many of my own fears and emotions - a fear that I cannot do this on my own, a fear that everything really isn’t all right, a fear that friends are too afraid to reach out and help, even though help is needed. It speaks of emotions that say “I am only a child - They say I am the future, but how can I have a future when I cannot even understand or pass through the present day without fear for both my family’s and my own safety.” Are we not all children? Children may not be able to put words to what they feel, they may not be able to explain that they know something is wrong, they may not be able to communicate that. Because of abusive events they will not grow like other children - but even if they can’t say it - we can see it. The (ASIS) study proved that if a child goes through traumatic events such as the one depicted in this picture - they are more likely to die sooner than other people.
These reasons are why I worked at a domestic violence shelter. These reasons are what drew me to the organization. I wanted to help. I volunteered for 3 years off and on and was then offered a job. This painting was a parting gift when it was time for me to move on to the next part of my life. Thanks, CAPSA, for teaching me some hard things, and good things too.
"We are all children in his
This one is one of my favorite of all of my paintings. It could be because I used my own little girl and husband as models for this picture, but it could also be because this is the first Christ picture I've ever painted. I've always wanted to paint pictures of Christ, and now I can say I have done at least one. I've heard that art is a part of the artist's soul, and to tell the truth I believed that even before I heard it said. This picture has a huge part of my soul embedded into every stroke of paint. I believe that God loves all of his children and that we are all his children. I tried to portray the love that Jesus has for each of us in his face, as well as the look of awe and love we (if not now, then one day we will) have for him. Imagine, if you will, to meet Christ; how would you feel? I would feel like the child I am. I would feel an abundance of love for what he did for me and what he gave me. I would feel excited and I would feel lucky. I would feel an amazing number of things, but mostly I would feel happy that he would care enough to see me and love me back.
In this picture I tried to portray all of those emotions into the faces of both Jesus and the baby. Though the baby is my own daughter - she represents each and every one of us as individuals.
A little fun part in painting this picture: My husband was my model for Jesus, he doesn't have long hair or a beard. I was taking a bit of a risk in adding those things without having previously drawn it out first. I started on the long hair first and as I finished that part and took a step back I laughed as I realized he looked like the prince beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast cartoon. I was really praying that the beard and mustache would help him to look more like Jesus. I'm so glad it did!
This picture is by far the one that means the most to me. In this picture is myself, my grandma and grandpa on my wedding day. I started this picture as a thank you to them for coming to celebrate my wedding with me so far away from where they lived. My grandpa was not in good health at the time and my grandma worried what the trip would do to him. He was the one who said "let's go". My grandma has told me she loves how happy my grandpa is in this picture. I guess it was a good day for more than just me. Well, as I said earlier - I started this picture to say thank you to my grandparents, but that's not what it ended up as. You see - I finished this picture the day before my grandpa's funeral. I gave it to my grandma that day and it was there at the services. I can honestly say I felt the hand of God throughout painting this picture. He helped me to get it done when it was (I wasn't going to have it done for half a year later) and he helped me (along with my paint teachers help) to do it so well - I have never done a portrait so well before. This is to you grandpa and grandma - for loving me so much!
"Moonrise on the Mountain"
I remember as a little kid sitting upstairs in my grandma's house. She had a black and white painting hanging on the wall that I would often sit and stare at. I don't remember much - only that it was black and white and I'm pretty sure it was done with a knife. There was some sort of mountain in it. The paint was thick on the canvas and it all looked so intricate to me. I loved looking at the painting, wondering how it was done. This painting is nothing like that painting - but it was done with a knife, and it was also inspired by that painting I remembered sitting and starring at so long ago. The mountain in this piece was done with a knife and also have very thick paint on the canvas.
"River of Gold"
This painting started from a photograph taken in Alabama where we once visited my aunt. She had a beautiful house that looked out on a lake. Maybe one day I will do an actual rendition of that particular lake, but for now I decided to do a river of Gold. I was particularly excited to try out some gold paint I had just bought, and thought an evening at dusk would be a perfect opportunity. I love how the sunshine is sharing a moment with the leaves on the trees. The grass and weeds also contribute to the mood in how they are playing in the wind as if in song. If I were to picture the perfect place to set down a blanket for an evening picnic I believe I could choose this place. I can already hear the crickets chirping and the fireflies dancing to create a great mood for meditation and food.
SOLD
"Vacation"
This painting's story can be found on youtube.
please feel free to watch :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_ItFEBBGNg
"Autumn Peace"
This is the first painting I finished in my paint class. After I graduated with my bachelors in psychology I wanted to reward myself for the last four years of hard work. I had always wanted to take a painting class, I heard of one taught by a lovely grandma. It was hard learning to be patient with myself. If I learned anything on this painting, it was "BE PATIENT". I picked this picture because I thought "oh, that will be an easy picture to start on" and maybe it was, but it sure didn't feel like it. I felt like it took forever to do this one. I worked on this picture every Friday for three hours for 8 months. I loved this picture because of the fall colors and the bridge over water. It looks so serene to me - causing one to really take a step back and remember that sometimes it's worth it to take a breath and take in all the colors around you. Which is exactly what I was not feeling by the end of this painting - but sometimes I'm glad emotions aren't always painted into the picture.
I love playing in the water, I always have. I also love sunsets. I wanted to do a painting that was split into three - and so this painting was born into my thoughts. This one took me a year to complete, not because it was so hard, but because that year was full of so many other things that it was seldom the time I had to sit down and paint.
"Fairy Tale Love"
It was a cold white winter, the canyon winds were blowing through the town. My old creaky house letting the cold air in - so I turned up the heat enough to warm my frozen toes. I looked out the window onto the mountains and thought of love. For my love was far away from me during winter break. I glared at the cold snow mocking me. Even though what I saw left my toes, fingers, and nose frozen my heart felt quiet differently. I began to paint.
I started with the snow capped mountains, and then moved onto what I felt. I felt like summer time, I swore I could smell flowers - and mostly (even though my love was away) I felt his arms near and could hear his voice speaking to me. I knew my love would be back soon - and when he came back even the frozen winter could no longer mock me.
This painting is exactly like it looks: a love story. Though Inspired by my own fairly tale the painting can speak true to any heart and the most true of all fairy tales: your own.
The rain in the bottom left corner signifies that hard times can still come - but without the rain the flowers will not bloom. Just as it is in each individual life - without the hard times we cannot grow as people. It's the tough times that give us the character we cherish and call our own. It's the hard times that help us to treasure the good times.
The mountains were painted on on thickly and really bring a great contrast to the piece. The grass is bright to show how my heart glowed, and the flowers to signify the beauty of love. This is a long canvas, gallery wrapped.
I love happy stories. This picture is of one of my happier memories: my parents in Yellowstone. Is there anything else to say? They are still together, happy, struggling, love each other and are the best parents in the world.
I especially put a lot of thought and time into the background - each piece was painted with a fine brush and many strokes of paint and color. This was my first piece in trying to paint a face to actually look like someone I knew. previous to this I painted strictly what was in my head. It takes a lot of work to paint people, and even more to actually make it look like someone I know.
"Vision"
This one started as a doodle in class. I love to learn, and found that I tend to actually remember what a teacher is saying when my hands are busy, that translates to drawing (at least until I hit college where notes were much more valuable to my grades). She has no iris's signifying the gift of sight into the future and to see things for their true self. As I was painting her I imagined her as the spirit over the elements and future.
Years went by and I had her hanging up in my dorm room. I was dating a certain boy and we started talking about our future together. Fantasizing that one the off chance we got married - what would our kids look like? I said "she'll look like that" and pointed to this picture. Wild, a little crazy, in control of the elements, a free spirit.. and yet strangely serene and calm about life. Of course her hair is going to look awesome (just like her mothers ).
Well, that certain boyfriend did indeed turn into a fiance', and then husband. we now have a little girl with blue eyes - we have yet to see how the hair turns out. By painting a picture of a girl who has the gift of sight into the future - the future we imagined is already beginning to come to pass.
Who knows - maybe this picture is not only a symbol of good things to come,but has the power to help it come to pass? I can't really make such claims to things - but I do love this portrait for what it symbolizes.
"Satan trembles when he sees even he weakest saint on his knees."
I once heard that we are going to make it to heaven one day and look at Satan and say, "Really!? That's all the power you had?" We must remember that God gave each of us power and even the weakest of us doing the smallest of the right thing makes Satan tremble and scared. You have power and you have even more power when you're talking to him who gave it to you.
"Your future is as bright as your faith."
My husband worries about the future all the time, but I never do because he has amazing faith. Faith is belief as well as the work to make it happen. Trees have to have amazing roots to be able to hold themselves up against the winds and storms - We also need to strengthen our roots to hold us up when we have doubts about how tall we can grow. I talk about my husband because he doesn't see his own faith - just like we can't see the roots of a tree... maybe we can see a portion of it as it enters the ground, but we cannot see how far or deep they reach. Remember when considering your own future and faith that neither can be seen, but it is still there and probably stronger than you realize.
"Silent Night"
Ever heard of the scripture that says "be still and know that I am God"? That is one of my favorite scriptures. Maybe this holiday season, try taking a night with the family - turn off all devices, and even some of the lights. It may calm the mood and invite a richer atmosphere for family time. You may be surprised what you come up with to do, even if it's to just have a silent night.
"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."
This sometimes is easier said than believed. I believe that what this quote is really saying is "have faith." Sometimes it's difficult to remember that God takes care of his children and knows what's best for us. Often we become scared and don't want to do what God tell us. But we have to remember that change is inevitable and we will change either way - the choice is whether we change for the better by following God or changed for the worse by avoiding him. It's scary to rely on anyone else, let alone trust them. God, however, can always be trusted and when we follow him we can be assured he will also save us through Grace.
"Because he first loved us."
I believe that says it all.
Mary and Joseph are holding he who loved us first and gave his life to show it. Jesus is the heart that Mary and Joseph are holding. We are all unworthy creatures, and if it were up to justice, none of us would make it to a better place (in this life or he next). Jesus convinced justice that mercy has a place too.
This painting was inspired by indecision. I was a senior in high school and trying to decide what I wanted to go to study at university. The decision at the time was between music or psychology. As you can see I felt that music can have a powerful effect on the mind - it can take you places. In high school, I played the violin as my main instrument, hence the violin in the picture. If you look at the window, there's a winter scene on the other side - but because of the powerful effect of music - the musician in the picture has been taken away from the harsh and cold reality into a much more serene and peaceful place - not to mention a little more warm. I especially like this piece because it speaks true to how I often feel about life and about music. I feel like the world is what you make of it, but it takes work and practice. A musician's job (much like an artists job) is never done - there is always more to learn, more to practice and more to become.
As I re-visit this piece completed so many years ago It still speaks to me today. In trying to start up my own business and sell my paintings, I have been faced with many harsh realities. My family and friends say I'm a dreamer and I need to see reality for what it is. I tell them I can see reality, but I choose to dream. If I look at reality too hard it's much easier to become discouraged and think my art isn't actually worth anything to anyone else. and while that may be true, I also can't let it rest that if I never try I will never know. I am fully braced for reality - but that won't stop me from trying to fly and trying to make my world what I know it can be: beautiful.
I have always loved watching Bob Ross. Lets face it - he makes painting look easy and he explains what he's doing very well. He has an easy going personality and of course there's always the jokes about giving tree's a friend. Why do I start out with Bob Ross? Because this is the first painting I ever used one of his techniques on. Can you guess which part of the painting? probably - but I'll tell you anyway; It was the reflection in the water. I can't claim that I've ever done a better reflection since either.
This painting is one of my first ever painting. I can't say "never" but chances are I won't ever post my very first - lets just say along with paint on the canvas there are also hairs from the paint brush forever taking a home among the colors. Happily I can say I learned a few things about painting since my very first attempt - among the many things I learned is that I needed to use turpentine to clean my brush (not water) with oil paints.. I can gladly report this painting doesn't have hair embedded into the art.
This painting I remember specifically working a very long time on the rocks that the waterfall cascades down. I tried to remember all those years ago the lessons from elementary and Jr. high classes about shading. I was very proud of those rocks. And then I covered up most of them by letting the water fall over them. After all, what's a waterfall without water?