kid's art

Robert Genn wrote about children's art in the Friday letter of Painter's Keys. That got me looking through my archives collected during many years of teaching and parenting. I included these two in a response to his letter. There were many to choose from!

Above is a family portrait drawn by my daughter Lizz in 1987. That's me holding the dog leash! Am I important or what?!

The one on the left is "Nicole with ice cream hair and bird feet" drawn by my grandson Nate in 2001.

I love kid's art!

PORTRAIT OF FRED'S MOM

Fred's mom has had some medical challenges in the last few months and we have been quite busy in visiting and assisting. Her difficulties are ongoing and in the last few weeks, my mom's health has faltered, too. Blogging has taken a pretty low priority as has art, but I thought I'd share this sketch I did of his mom as she was watching 'I Love Lucy" in the hospital. She is such a sweet lady. It's hard to watch her health diminish.

Marrianne Williamson quote

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

All shall be well

Today is the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war. I'm filled with incredible sadness at the death and destruction that have resulted on bopth sides from what I think is a misguided foreign policy.

I wonder about this world, but I leave it in God's hands. I am reading the writings of Julian of Norwich, who was a Christian mystic born in 1342. One of her phrases is: "All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well." It's beyond my human understanding of how that will be in this troubled world, but I have faith that God can make it so. The book I'm reading isdevotional readings that are paraphrases of her writings by David Hazard called I Promise you a Crown.

CROSSROADS #14

CROSSROADS #13

St. Theodore of Studios, Priest and Abbot, 826 A.D. "How precious is the gift of the cross, how splendid to contemplate! In the cross there is no mingling of good and evil, as in the tree of paradise; it is wholly beautiful to behold and good to taste. The fruit of this tree is not death but life, not darkness but light. This tree does not cast us out of paradise, but opens a way for our return."

"This is the tree upon which the Lord…healed the wounds of sin…"

"A tree once caused our death, but now a tree brings life."

CROSSROADS #12

CROSSROADS #9

CROSSROADS #6

CROSSROADS #3

This is a continuation of my Lenten posts, the first in a series of radial meditations on the cross.

Eyekons art opening

These two pieces have been produced as giclees and notecards. Eyekons does beautiful printing.

It was a snowy day, so the opening was a little 'intimate' but it was fun and some very special people came.





Photo taken by my friend Steve, a REAL photographer, who I forced into using my cheesy digital. Thanks, Steve!

EYEKONS opening tonight

Ions gallery invites you to:

Voyages & Journeys

Artist Reception: Friday, March 2, 5-10pm FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The Voyage of Saint Brendan - James Fissel A visual portrayal of the 6th Century Celtic tale of St. Brendan's quest for the mystical "Island of Promise."

"Tributes For Kings" The Stations of The Cross - Kevin Rolly See this powerful Lenten series. Showing thru March 24

Enigma Variations - Virginia Wieringa Innovative explorations into a creative array of liturgical themes.

www.eyekons.com

original art giclee prints greeting cards

The Stations thru March 24 Exhibit thru April 14

210 East Fulton Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Tues-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm 616-235-2929

SALVATION COLLAGE #7

This is the last of the series (so far). I didn't think it was finished, but the more I look at it, the more finished it seems.

TOSEBO postcards

I've spent some time working on postcards for our beloved Camp Tosebo. I ordered them through Vistaprint.com I've done some art postcards with them and been very pleased with the results. I can't wait to see these- I also can't wait to go back up to Camp Tosebo when winter fades. It's a retreat for all seasons, but I try to avoid winter as much as possible!

SALVATION COLLAGE #6

the weather today

I guess this photo fits the Lenten theme of recent posts AND lets you know what the weather is in Michigan today. Everything is coated with a thick icing of wet goopy snow. It makes getting around yucky to but I must admit it is beautiful. While driving past this old cemetery, the scenery drew me in to stop and enjoy the view.

SALVATION COLLAGE #5

version one

This is a work in progress








version two (so far)

SALVATION COLLAGE #4

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead.. his eyes are closed. Albert Einstein

SALVATION COLLAGE #3

This piece has some repeated elements of the first two, but on this one crowds of people have turned up. The 'congregation' and 'saints who’ve gone before' and 'onlookers' are witnesses to the story of redemption through the death and resurrection of Christ.

Orchard Hills Lenten show

Orchard Hill Reformed Church is at 1465 Three Mile Rd NW in Grand Rapids. My friend Jim Fissel made this marvelous poster. I have 38 pieces displayed in their large, beautiful narthex.

When Jim Fissel asked if I’d like to have a Lenten show at Orchard Hill, I was inspired to revisit the essence of the first Salvation Collage for a series of work centered on the cross and the open tomb. This new style of mixed media involves stencils and pencils and paint and pastels and layers of tissue and some block printing.