ANSWER ONE

This painting will also hang in the new living room at Church of the Servant.
It has the answer to the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism imbedded into the painting in pencil. The question is: "What is your only comfort in life and in death?" The answer begins: "That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ..."

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

This piece will hang in the living room at Church of the Servant. There are prayers imbedded in the work in pencil. It's 13" x 36".

ANASTASIS- the large version begins

This will be the bottom of the large Resurrection banner I'm working on for Park Church. Quite a change from the one I posted further down this page! I resurrected some fabric paint that's been hanging around and it was still good! Createx paint rocks! I used some of the stencil and atomized paint techniques I've used on paper.

I have other pieces cut and laid out on the basement floor which I'm using as my 'design wall', I'm excited about where this is going! I have a meeting with the minister and committee leader today- I hope they like this new direction. More postings as soon as they reveal themselves!

FIELDS ON ALDEN NASH ROAD

Not great photos but these are the 24x30" paintings I've been working on. They need to rest while I decide if they're done.

LITTLE LANDSCAPES

I've given myself a 'painting vacation' from the fabric work and I am enjoying it immensely. These are a couple of the little 6x6 paintings I've done recently. These are pieces that I'm keeping for myself. I've sold 3 in the last week at Fire and Water. Also in the pipeline are some larger paintings of a field in Lowell off Alden Nash Road which I'll post as they get finished. I'm supposed to be painting today but I'm fighting bronchitis and it's left me pretty wiped out.

featured artist at Fire and Water

I have the honor of being the featured artist at the Fire and Water ART Showroom (219 West Main in Lowell, Michigan) for November. Come in and see my work this month (and every month) at this fabulous art showroom!

These are a couple of the mixed media pieces I have on display. I work in a wide range of styles and I enjoy the variety. Some may think my work lacks a single focus, but I like the freedom to experiment! I don't want my work to be confined to one genre or media. There are too many wonderful things to play with in the art world these days!

Linda Witte Henke

My friend Linda Witte Henke just gave me some feedback on the banner- excellent comments that reinforce some of my own. I knew the design needed tweaking, I was just relieved to get it done! The large one will be more complex. Since I'm newish at this fiber arts stuff, I'm getting up to speed. If only I knew how to do what I want to do!! but I'm learning. Check out Linda's website: www.lindahenke.com How blessed I am to get feedback from one of the best! Also check www.nelliedurand.blogspot.com! She's been a great encourager. Also, Betsy Carlson, my quilting instructor at Lakeshore Sewing is funny and patient and tolerant of a newbie. Such a wonderful group of fiber artists. Fiber artists may be, as a group, the nicest artists I know!

closeups of mockup for ANASTASIS

finished mockup for ANASTASIS

drawing for Anastasis

sketches

These were some of the many sketches I did.

Anastasis icons

These are two of the traditional icon treatments of the subject of Anastasis or resurrection.

ANASTASIS

Anastasis is a title that has often been used on pictures of the Resurrection of Christ. It means "to stand again". That is the theme for this banner which I've been working on for a few months. This is just the mockup. It's a quarter size, but it helps us see what the shapes and colors look like together. Now I need to show it to people at Park Church to get the go ahead for the large one. Then I have until March 23 (which is Easter in 2008- early this year).

Interestingly Anastasis is also the title of a beautiful tapestry at Park made by church women. It has as it's theme the Phoenix rising. I think it was made after a fire destroyed part of the church.

so close...

I am very close to completing the maquette or mockup for the large banner commission. THEN I can blog some sketches and discuss the process. Lakeshore Sewing and Betsy Carlson have been very helpful in helping me reaccess my sewing skills! Also, going down to Saugatuck a few weeks ago and visiting with Nellie Durand at Good Goods Gallery was a real inspiration (google her and check out her blog!) She was very generous with her time and knowledge.

transformation/redemption

Here is a dresser I found abandoned on the side of the street. It's a Bassett with dovetailed joints and a beautiful walnut veneer. A week of elbow grease, a little bit of $$ and help from my spouse and here we have a dresser suitable for a cottage! Fun to make a change like that! This has consumed my energy for a while. It's nice to have it finished with such satisfactory results. On to other things!

MOVING SPIRIT- work in progress

This garden scene was begging for a coat of paint and I obliged. It's been hanging around since it was painted in 1995. There were things I liked and still like about it, but I like it better now. The result used up yet more of my water soluble oils and offers some interesting possibilities for completion.

Promise, promises

These are photos of material I'm going to use to create a new banner. I've been doing sketches and plans. I'll post some of those soon. I just love all the subtle colors and textures. Now...if I can just get my sewing machine to work! Just another kind of art supply and it holds all the promise and potential for something beautiful...if I can just get my sewing machine to work!
I'm like my daughter when she was 3- I know what I want to do but I'm frustrated by my lack of knowledge...if I can just get my sewing machine to work! Does that sound like a prayer? It is!

Password?

It's been too long between blogs when you forget your own password!

Jetson's Library

This morning I hung 51 pieces of art at the Wyoming (MI) Public Library AKA the Jetson's Library- you see why it's nicknamed that! It's a wild design and there's a huge gallery space as part of it. Dee Versluis, Mary Andersen, Sue Bukrey and my darlin' Fred helped me hang the show.

51 pieces of art- OH MY!

Here's the show. Details below.







The fire extinguiser isn't one of my pieces!

Wyoming postcard