The Dove 8/20/12

"Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.  And I say, 'Oh, that I had wings like a dove!  I would fly away and be at rest." Psalm 55:5-6

"He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.  And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf.  So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth." Genesis 8:10-11

Heart of Flesh 7/25/12

"And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them.  

I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,  

that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them.  

And they shall be my people, and I will be their God."  

Ezekiel 11:19-20

These Things I Remember 7/23/12

So it's been a long time since I've made a piece of artwork.  I think about it almost everyday.  Part of the reason was I recently gone on a 3 week trip to China.  The trip involved some sweet time with a good friend of mine who lives in Henan, some sight-seeing, adventure, and interactions with people, culture, and history.  The trip also challenged me in ways that I'm still figuring out.

As you can imagine, I took a ton of photos.  This piece was inspired by one of my photographs.  I've also been thinking about trying other mediums lately, so I decided to give watercolor a chance.  I can't remember the last time I used watercolor.  Probably High School.  So I don't claim that this is an exemplary watercolor, but I enjoyed doing something different.  I think I may do more after this.

Here's the photo:

And here's my painting/drawing:

"My soul thirsts for God, 

for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?  

My tears have been my food day and night, 

while they say to me all the day long, 

'Where is your God?' 

These things I remember, 

as I pour out my soul: 

how I would go with the throng 

and lead them in procession to the house of God 

with glad shouts and songs of praise, 

a multitude keeping festival." 

Psalm 42:2-4 ESV

Made Alive 6/6/12

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.  This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."  Colossians 2:13-14

Water 5/15/12

I've become part of an arts group that has started up through my church and this month, we were challenged to interact with a symbol.  I had a hard time with this at first, but a symbol that I've always been drawn to that shows up a lot in scripture is water.  So here's my interpretation:

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:2

“They will neither hunger not thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun bet down on them.  He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.” Isaiah 49:10

"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" John 4:13-14

"let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22

Outwardly Wasting Away 5/5/12

Sometimes I think I put a lot of pressure on myself to make art that has meaning and significance.  Then when I'm feeling uninspired, I will not make anything even though I probably would benefit from the time spent being creative.  Perhaps in these times, it's good to remember that there is beauty in simplicity and that just making something is better than nothing at all.  This week was like that.

"So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

4/27/12

"I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched.  My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God... But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.  At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness."  Psalm 69:3, 13

What I'm working on 4/18/12

"Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.  You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you.  Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure." Psalm 39:4-5

Other Creative Ventures 4/5/12

It seems like I haven't had time recently to draw and I feel the effects of this.  I am worn and need rest... time to focus on God and worship him.  However, I've been reminded recently that there are many ways to be creative and I have found time to spend on some of my other interests.   Through...

Photography:

Crafts:

 Cooking:

 And even decor for children's Birthday parties :):

I am thankful for all the ways that I am able to be creative.

Psalm 23 3/17/12

All put together.

I Shall Dwell in the House of the Lord 3/14/12

The last in my Psalm 23 series: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6
It feels good to draw again.  Now to find a way to display the four drawings together...

No Time 3/4/12

I feel I need the restoration of time spent absorbed in drawing, but alas, I do not have that time.

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

A Work in Progress 2/29/12

This will be the last in my Psalm 23 series when it's done.

Table Before Me 2/15/12

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies..." Psalm 23:5

A Change in Perspective 2/5/12

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:1-4

A Work in Progress 2/4/12

Looking for a change in perspective.

My Cup Overflows 1/26/12

"You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing." Psalm 23:5b (The Message)

The Creation Groans 1/14/12

Finished.

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.  We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we are saved."  Romans 8:20-24

The Creation Groans (unfinished) 1/12/12

I was unsatisfied with the lack of time spent on my previous drawing, so I decided to start another one this week.  However, I didn't have enough time to finish it.  Sometimes I wish I could spend the whole day drawing.

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.  We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we are saved."  Romans 8:20-24

1/11/12

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.  But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'" Jeremiah 6:16

New Year's Resolution

With the beginning of a new year, I hope to continue the resolution I made when I started this blog: to make a piece of artwork about once a week.  Lately, I've been spending some more time with photography and discovered that it'd been almost a month since my last drawing.  Although I'm enjoying photography, I missed the basic form of creative expression in drawing and the attention it forces me to give to details.  Drawing causes me to appreciate the beauty in creation and often I find myself moved by the end result.  It is my way of processing scripture and my relationship with Christ.  I hope that others enjoy the drawings too, but even if they don't, I know it's important that I keep creating.


"What do drawings mean to me?  I really don't know.  The activity absorbs me.  I forget everything else in a way that I don't think happens with any other activity..." --John Berger, author of Ways of Seeing

Comfort, Comfort

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for her sins." Isaiah 40:1-2

"'I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.'" John 15:5