Choosing to Follow Christ

This is a little watercolor I did for a young man who graduated this week. It was a graduation gift from his parents. I did one before of his brother that he liked, but I hope he likes this one too. I decided to not paint people that small again - it's too hard.

Before, After and Now

I used to call Jared pumpkinhead. Now it has a whole new meaning. He's always so beautiful to me.

Painting again!

I just started working on a watercolor that I'll doing next. It feels good to be working on something again. Although I'm always extremely busy, something is really missing when I'm not painting. I can tell these few weeks off have set me back and feel nervous to paint again like I'm starting all over.

Well, we'll see how it goes. Wish me luck.

Home again

Jared is the toughest baby I know. His skull surgery went well and I was way beyond grateful - so relieved! He was in the hospital for 5 days. Three of those days he wasn't able to see because his eyes were swollen shut. I was so amazed at his attitude. All he wanted was to feel me or his Dad close. I explained to him that his eyes would get better, but I don't know if he understood me. Even while he was blind he laughed occasionally and was so good natured. He's amazing.

It was difficult to see him in pain, but I was so thankful that he was ok that I wasn't going to complain about anything. Now he is home and not feeling so paranoid. He has a zigzag scar across his head from one ear to another. Had to laugh yesterday when a 7 year old neighbor boy asked what happened. Josh said he had surgery. He replied, "That's too bad. Did they take his head off?"

The swellings gone down and he looks so cute. I'm so thankful for that little guy in my life. He brings me so much joy and laughter. My Mom was talking about little children yesterday and she said how she wishes she could be as sweet and pure as these little children. That would really be heaven.

Happy belated Mother's Day to all you mothers out there. Here's a quote I found that I love. President David O. McKay said, "Mother is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first that stamps itself on the ... young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world."

Innocence

Today was such a wonderful day. I got to spend some time this afternoon visiting the Springville Art Museum with a great friend. I was in awe at the talent of the artists in the Spring Salon. There were about 200 accepted out of over 1000. Mine wasn't one of them. I couldn't believe downstairs in the room with all the rejected art was a giant landscape that was one of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen. I felt so bad that everyone wasn't going to get the chance to see it. A woman working down there said there were so many incredible pieces and phenomenal talent and she felt that way about all of them. I would really love to volunteer there each spring so I could get a chance to see them all.

I entered the show like a kid in a candy shop. I was so excited to see all the beautiful artwork. We were shocked that a very uninspiring (ugly really) painting was chosen while that beautiful landscape sat downstairs unappreciated. But it was evident why the rest of them were chosen.

My favorite painting was titled "The Summer Cottage" A figurative/landscape oil painting by Trent Austin Gudmunsen that I fell in love with and had to revisit several times. It was a painting of a woman walking out in a field with her little boy on her hip. It was so beautiful it made me want to cry - or it made me want to cry because I wish I could paint like that.

Well, this week I made a decision to stop trying to finish one painting a week. I will continue to paint and write a post of what I've done every week, but I will finish a painting when I like it and feel it's done. The purpose of my goal to begin with was to get me painting and I am. It was to help me overcome my fear of painting and it has, but now, I want to do better and feel better about what I'm doing. The unfinished picture of Christ keeps staring at me, as it sits above my fireplace, and I want to work on it some more.

One night as I was going to bed after painting and feeling good about it I checked in on my son who was sleeping and I thought to myself, "Sure your painting looks good, but what did you do to help him prepare for his future today?" I felt determined to change that. Now I will do what I can and let you know how it's going.

Next Friday I won't be able to post anything because I'll be in the hospital with my son. He has his skull surgery. I am so dreading it, but so ready for it to be done.

This weeks painting is of my daughters friend. She has the most gorgeous big black eyes you've ever seen. I had to paint her.

Reproduction of James Taylor Harwood

Here is my reproduction of Men in a Field by James Taylor Harwood as shown on my last post. It is a birthday present for my sister who is also a country girl at heart. She is such an awesome sister. I'm so thankful to have her as my sister.

James Taylor Harwood

I've been trying to reproduce a painting by James Taylor Harwood. I love the light in this painting. It's amazing!