5 “P’s” – The Fifth “P” is for Perseverance

Perseverance often means a dogged determination to master the basics.   For we know that as we build that solid foundation, in the field of our endeavor, our greatest opportunity for full artistic expression is given flight.  The very repetitious and mundane practices of our craft coupled with an intellectual thirst to learn more create within us buildingContinue reading “5 “P’s” – The Fifth “P” is for Perseverance”

Values in Color, Values in Life

Some of our days, or seasons of our life, can be like dramatic contrast in a painting.  There are portions of brilliant light juxtaposed by deep dark shadows – the peaks and valleys of life sometimes run close together.  In my work in ministry there were weeks when we would both prepare for a wedding, withContinue reading “Values in Color, Values in Life”

What Does the Composition Convey?

A composition, in many aspects, is the task of placing visual components on a canvas.  This may sound simple but may be, in fact, amazingly complex.  The arrangement of objects can convey diverse ideas and one has to decide what one is attempting to communicate to the viewer.  For example, a simple triangular composition withContinue reading “What Does the Composition Convey?”

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 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”

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”

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”

Happy Creating!

  There is a sense of exhilaration as a painting, in this case a wedding portrait, nears it’s completion.  The many hours spent before the easel has something tangible to show for the effort.  There are jars full of various brushes and daily pallets which if seen all together would have hundreds, if not thousands, hand mixed dabs of paint.  The mixed paint onContinue reading “Happy Creating!”

The Color Commit-tee

They drove up en mass to our stained glass studio.  I smiled because people usually made an appointment as we  left the shop at times to install our stained glass windows in the cities in and around Orange County in Southern California.  I’m glad we were there when they came.  They were a committee ofContinue reading “The Color Commit-tee”