Dutch Art Gallery "Where Texas Gets Its Color"

It has been an amazing and busy month.

I have been so excited to be able to have

7 watercolors at the Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas,

My sister, Soozy went with me to the artist's reception.

She is so beautiful and so much fun to be with.

 I was a little hesitant to use my camera around all the art.

Didn't want someone to think I was stealing

their ideas. I just took this one of "Pico De Gallo".

 I met many wonderful and gifted artists.

It was such a blessing to get to visit with other artists

about their medium, their inspriation, 

how they got to where they are today,

and their hopes and dreams for the future.

I did not hear any negative comments 

but I did hear lots and lots of encouragment

among the Artists of Texas members.

 Here is Soozy admiring more of the

wonderful works of art.

Thanks to Pam Massar at the Gallery for all the

hard work and promotion for this event!

Thanks for stopping by!

Guadalupe River in the Fall - Watercolor

I just finished this. Landscapes are a bit of

a stretch for me, but I keep trying.

I love all the rocks and the beautiful, orange cypress

tree. I can almost hear the water rippling.

Praising With Paint Workshop

Last weekend I went to Odessa and conducted a

"Praising With Paint" Workshop. The ladies that

participated seemed to have a good time.

 It was a 2 hour event and they used an 8"x10" canvas

panel and acrylics. There was one who had never painted

before and one had a Master's Degree in art,

but there was no sense of competition. 

Our love for Jesus was the common thread.

 My friend, Davina came along for the ride. As they

listened to music and listened to the Lord, she also

listened and wrote as they painted. She didn't see

what they were painting. It was amazing how what

they painted and what she wrote blended. She read

what she wrote in her journal and it really ministered to them.

God is so good!

Yolanda was the hostess for the workshop.

Thank you, Yolanda!

I provided them with a sketch of a dove and a horse

head. They could use those or create whatever was

in their heart.

 Here is a collage of their work.

But remember you are

His work of art!

Ephesians 2:10 "You are His workmanship, created

in Christ Jesus to do good works..."

With All My Art Fine Art Gallery And Studio

Here are before and after photos.

The blisters are almost healed! The wonderful vintage tin ceiling tiles

are revealed and painted brown.

Jim and Soozy came to help and installed

the ceiling fan. What a blessing!

The carpet and tile have been removed.

I had a huge bruise on my hip from leaning into

the machine that peeled the tile up.

Even with the bruise is was so much faster

and easier than chipping it out by hand.

Been there-done that!

Finished concrete! I love it!

Finally moving in.

Move in started only a week after retirement

but we have been working on

the building for a month.

The art is in place. I am still adding pieces.

I have a little work space and a little coffee area.
I put out the "OPEN" sign today.
We had a few customers (Whoo Hoo!)
and even sold a few pieces. Hallelujah!!!
I have a couple of mural commissions that I
will start when the rain is over.

I need to tell you what happened last night.
I was online doing research for an art project.
Something happened with my browser
so I copied the info I had typed into the search bar.
I opened up a new browser window,
pasted the search words, and hit enter.
What came up blew me away.
"Behold, I will do a new thing;
now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I
will even make a way in the wilderness;
and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19
The whole page was search results for that scripture.
Line after line of that scripture repeated
over and over and over.
It was not what I was searching for,
not even close to what I had typed in,
but it was exactly what I needed to see and hear!
I just began to laugh.
Thank you, Lord, for that message!!!

Giant Leap!

Tomorrow is my last day at work.

After 10 years as a purchaser at our local prison,

I am taking early retirement.

We found at little shop just a half block off the square.

It's on the busiest, main street-location, location.

Doesn't look too bad here.But, looks can be deceiving!!!

I will change the sign and the broken front door

is now fixed. It smelled really bad.

Old and closed up, musty, moldy...not now.

The ceiling tile looked like patchwork
and the light fixtures resembled vintage ice trays.
The landlord told us we could do whatever
we wanted to. The ceiling tile and lights are gone,
revealing an embossed tin ceiling underneath
The old carpet and tile is also gone.

I will post more pictures of the progress later.
Be sure and stop back by.

The Mural is Completed

The room is finished.

What great fun it was to paint it! It brought back such wonderful memories.

When my sons were young we listened to the story

on an LP that was played on a child's record player.

We just about wore the grooves out.

Then we graduated to VHS when

Stephen came along and now DVD!

I love the story of good triumphing of evil.

As I painted the scenes I prayed for the children
who would stay in this room (which I am told may
evently have green shag carpet, hamocks, and a tent!!!
That would be too cool!). I prayed that the Lord would
protect their hearts and minds and deliver them from
the traps that the enemy sets for them. I could see
in the snake's eyes how he wants to entice and
lure our children away that he might
squeeze the very life out of them.

And the tiger was up to no good and wanted
to destroy the lad! He was a liar just like the
enemy of our soul. The panther was always
gently leading, guiding, and trying to protect the boy.
After a lot of monkeying around, a great battle
ensued between the tiger and the bear.
The bear fought valiantly and was willing to
lay down own his life to save the boy.
Greater love has no man than that heshould
lay down his life for another. How sad when we
thought that the bear was dead BUT NO!
He was ALIVE.
Now, I am not saying that this was a
gospel story but I love when my Lord
speaks to me thru the simpliest things.
The Love of Jesus is without a doubt
the bare necessity of life!!!

New Mural - WIP - A "Work In Progress"

My friend, Richard commissioned me to

paint a "Jungle" room for his grandkids.

This is great fun. I have loved the characters

of this story for a long time. There will be characters on each wall.

One of his grandsons came into the room while

I was painting. He loved it but had never seen

the movie so didn't know Baloo or Mowgli.

It is such a blessing to be allowed to work

on this kind of project.

I had been working for 2 days and transforming

the room. As I was leaving yesterday, I had a thought

I knew that the neighbors or those

just passing by had no idea about the

changes that were happening inside.

It is like that with us, too.
God does amazing changes on us.
So much of it is on the inside-changing
our heart, our attitudes, our beliefs...
Most of the time it is not real obvious to
the "neighbors" or those just passing by.
He takes such joy in working in and being
a part of our lives. We are a "work in progress".
"We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
Thanks for stopping by!