This is a quick, on location, watercolor sketch of the church I described in yesterday's post. It does not do justice to how lovely the setting really was. Just being in the vicinity of this Holy place was inspiring. You could feel the presence of others who had been there before. Worshipping. Praying. As Henri Nouwen wrote in his book, Discernment, "...the very chapel where I prayed had been prepared by the faithful ones who had prayed there before me." Wandering down the stone paths that encircled this little chapel and being overcome by His Presence all around was this day's Glimpse of His Glory. And as I strolled I was reminded of and sang to myself a song my children sang in elementary school, "I sing a song of the Saints of God, Patient and Brave and True. Who toiled and fought and lived and died For the Lord they loved and knew. And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green: They were all of them saints of God--and I mean, God helping, to be one too...They lived not only in ages past, There are hundreds and thousands still, The world is bright with joyous saints Who love to do Jesus' will. You can meet them in school, or lanes, or at sea, In church, or on trains, or in shops, or at tea, For the saints of God are just folk like me, And I mean to be one too." (Lesbia Scott, 1929). "Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name." Psalm 30:4
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On a recent trip to the Great Smoky Mountains we passed a beautiful little stone church. While my husband was occupied in a meeting I longed to use the opportunity to fill a painting void and ventured out to investigate the little church "up close and personal". As I wondered around the exterior I found myself in a prayer garden behind the church with stone paths, mature rose bushes and benches to pause and take it all in. I felt His presence all around me in this place. as if the prayers of many had sunk into the very foundation. I discovered a set of stone steps that led up to a little patio area from the rectory next door. The sunlight was peaking through tree branches and leaves dotting the stones of various shades of gray and brown and I knew immediately what I would attempt to paint plein air that morning. (Plein air is what painting on location outdoors is called). A church member was there and asked, "Out of all the places you could choose to paint in the Great Smoky Mountains, I'm surprised you would pick this as your subject?" I explained that it was there that I had spotted a Glimpse of His Glory! “And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones.” Deuteronomy 27:5 When beginning to draw something, it always works best to begin with basic forms and in a way working from the inside out. During a private drawing lesson with a student who has been practicing for several months, I was made aware of Glimpses of His Glory as I recalled Psalm 139:13-15 while working on a rendering of a tea cup and saucer, "For You formed my inward parts: You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth..." We worked from the inner measurements outward, creating the actual contours of the cup and saucer on the "frame" of the basic forms. As we wrestled with attempting to recreate these mad-made objects I was once again awed by the creation of THE Creator and have no words.
My favorite palette knife(respectfully referred to as, "Timex") that I have used for the past 30 years(and I can't believe its been that long!), broke during Tuesday's painting class while mixing a color. I was stunned to see it in two pieces. This trusted friend was just the right shape and size for mashing the hues together on the surface of the palette and it fit my hand comfortably. It has helped me capture Glimpses of His Glory all along my journey. The initial thought of having to use a different one was not exciting for me. It can be replaced but will be missed, for I have looked for others just like it for some time without success. Luckily, the class takes place at Art Creations art supply store, so a suitable replacement was not far away, and I found one similar to my old friend so that I could continue painting. I'm sure it will not take long to adjust to the feel of the new one, but Praises of Gratitude in respect for the longevity of "Timex". "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. I fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:6-7 We wrestled with a slice of cherry pie in painting class this week! Most weeks we attempt to complete our paintings the day we start them, but we bit off more than we could chew in one day for this composition, so it was continued & completed during this Tuesday's class. My first attempt was, as my son used to say in middle school, "an EPIC failure"! The color mixtures were not correct, the composition was boring, the canvas surface was too overloaded with gesso covering up another undesirable creation, it was just a "bad brush bristle" day for this artist. On the bright side(no pun intended, bright is what a flat artist's paint brush is called), the joy of acrylic paint is that you can just paint over what you do not like without a lot of waiting time, and try again. You get a do-over. Isn't that a Glimpse of His Glory. We get a do-over, everyday, for me sometimes every hour and minute. A free of charge chance to try again. That IS as easy as pie. "...we're a free people--free of penalties and punishments chalked up by our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!..." Ephesians 1:7(The Message) P.S. One of the regulars has a wonderful sense of humor, and brought to class a made from scratch cherry pie for all of us to enjoy as we painted. She said that, "at least if her painting of pie did not turn out, she knew her baked pie did". And it was FABULOUS! Both her painting and the one she baked. I was given what was left to bring home to share with my family. I cannot tell a lie, I hid the last piece so that I could enjoy it with coffee this morning. We can choose to begin each day one of two ways, on a sweet note or on a sour one. It is a choice. No matter what this day may have in store, choosing gratitude & joy will always be more productive than the alternative. If the day seems sour as lemons, look for the zest, even if you have to scrape it off. A glimpse of His Glory is not far away. "This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 Bright magenta is not the color one would expect to see painted where the sky should be. Sometimes to get the desired color in a landscape sky, the artist applies a "ground" color that will enhance the paint later laid on top of that foundation. When an artist attempts to capture a glimpse of His Glory, the depths of The Creator's pigments, hues, values, & tones are beyond description and an unbelievable Joy to try to reproduce. "...You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of Your hands;..." Hebrews 1:10 |
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