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5 “P”s – The Third P is for Process

This video shows the process of creating a painted wedding portrait from initial drawing to the finished painting. Process – so much in life is a process, but we live in a culture of the instant! Technologically we have so much available to us at lightning speed that it seems very old-fashioned to submit to theContinue reading “5 “P”s – The Third P is for Process”

5 “P”s – The Second “P” is for Practice

Practice seems at times tedious and like wasted time. We tend to want the finished product without the investment of practice. But every skilled musician, athlete, writer or artist knows that the most expressive freedom – the ability to create our absolute best grows out of that very mundane disciplined activity of practice. Many ofContinue reading “5 “P”s – The Second “P” is for Practice”

5 “P”s – The First “P” is for Patience

Sometimes progressing in our artistic skills and abilities boils down to exercising patience. In an instant technology-rich culture, growing in the character quality of patience doesn’t seem productive. We hear the phrase a lot in leadership circles to not work harder, but to work smarter. While that has value under some circumstances, the stretching of our intellectContinue reading “5 “P”s – The First “P” is for Patience”

Why Art?

Why art? Many would say there are much more practical ways to spend one’s time and energy. There are incredibly talented artists all over the world. Does the world really need one more painting or other creative form of expression? Art is many things, but for me in this season of my life, art hasContinue reading “Why Art?”

How to Enjoy Art Like a Child

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. – Pablo Picasso We are so creative as children, and then we grow up. We become fearful of not measuring up. We get discouraged by the sometimes thoughtless comments of others. We lose our sense of wonder andContinue reading “How to Enjoy Art Like a Child”

Painted Flowers Express Emotions

The giving of flowers express so many emotions. Occasions where we congratulate, celebrate, encourage, convey love, tenderness, sorrow and caring are times we give flowers. God could have created a very practical world in which flowers didn’t exist or they could have been very utilitarian in form and function. Yet the earth is beautified byContinue reading “Painted Flowers Express Emotions”

Observa-tion is the Key to Art

Observation…we discuss it every week in the art classes whether it be drawing or painting. We often ask, “what did you see differently this week because you took the time to really observe something? The study of art gives us an avenue to view our natural world with fresh eyes and take in all the nuanceContinue reading “Observa-tion is the Key to Art”

Face Painting for Samuel

When it comes to painting faces it is usually in the form of a painted portrait. This is about actually painting on faces! On Sunday afternoon, May 19th, at Rohner Park in Fortuna I’ll be doing some face painting for a cause that is dear to my heart because it is about a very specialContinue reading “Face Painting for Samuel”

Family Love Through Generations

Motherhood…I am in the generation that is blessed to have both a mother who is still with us (now 89) and a grown daughter who is a mother of a five-year old. This painting which I did many years ago is of my mother and daughter when she was a just an infant. Artistically, although itContinue reading “Family Love Through Generations”

A Passion for Portraits

There are many things which make for a portrait. As the detail above demonstrates, a portrait need not be the traditional head and shoulders composition but rather can be some element that captures an individual’s unique personality or characteristic “look”. The painting may be a part of the face, a pair of hands, or perhaps simplyContinue reading “A Passion for Portraits”