Shelter - Print
Mixed Media Painting - Print (unframed)
8* x 10” with white border on Poster Paper with Foam backing in Cellophane Sleeve
What I love about this painting is that, through it, God taught me about my subject. I started a painting on 'Forgiveness'. It began with a canvas painted in black acrylic that I decided to dribble white paint over — the idea being that God's Grace covers the stain of sin and where grace abounds, sin is no longer visible.
The contrast of white on black was engaging, but it needed colour. To me, forgiveness has layers: you forgive the deed, then forgive God for allowing it, forgive yourself for your anger, and continue forgiving each time a memory is triggered. I applied colour randomly, but as it merged with the damp white paint, it became unsatisfactory. I scraped off some paint, creating nice lines like a waterfall, but these too soon merged. Despite adding more paint and scraping again, I was still unhappy. Then I remembered the scripture about being sprinkled clean:
"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ezekiel 36:25-27
So I sprinkled it with water. Bad move. Nothing was working and it was time to leave, so I borrowed someone's hairdryer and dried off my canvas so I could get it in the car. Paint went every which way.
My son Ben dropped in and I asked him what it looked like to him. "A city with a polluted sunset", he said. A friend said it looked like "Coventry burning" because he'd just seen a TV program on the incendiary bombs they dropped there during the war. Clearly, I hadn’t hit the mark.. I asked God what was wrong and felt Him say that I was painting "in the flesh", that is, from my own strength and perspective, rather than by His Spirit. I could almost see the "flesh" in the stringy paint strands spread like visceral casings across the canvas. God added, “Yes, forgiveness has layers, but the colours need to be in My order.”.
So what's God's order of colour? Ah, the rainbow! (red always on top, Indigo always on the bottom). I now had direction. Should I continue with this painting or start fresh? Since forgiveness offers a second chance, I decided on a new canvas.. With a black base and a white waterfall over it, things were looking promising. I had enough acrylic white paint for tinting but only oil-based tints. Could they mix? After some Googling, I discovered I needed an emulsifier. Household options were limited—egg yolk (which would spoil) or dishwashing liquid? I chose the latter, and voila! Applying the colours layer by layer was fun, and I loved the result. The emulsified paint created charming little islands of colour everywhere.
When Ben dropped in I told him I'd finished a new painting and just for fun I said "See if God will tell you what it's about". He closed his eyes and a few seconds later opened them, surprised. "What?", I asked. He said, "Normally I get a picture but this time I've got a word". I was expecting Ben to say "Forgiveness" but he came out with "Shelter". Curious, we went to have a look at it together.
Standing back, it felt as if I was inside an illuminated cave, with colourful stalactites hanging down and darkness outside. God confirmed the insight: “When you're inside My forgiveness, you are sheltered, but if you step outside, you're back in darkness.” Wow! I love how God continues to teach me through my artwork.
Mixed Media Painting - Print (unframed)
8* x 10” with white border on Poster Paper with Foam backing in Cellophane Sleeve
What I love about this painting is that, through it, God taught me about my subject. I started a painting on 'Forgiveness'. It began with a canvas painted in black acrylic that I decided to dribble white paint over — the idea being that God's Grace covers the stain of sin and where grace abounds, sin is no longer visible.
The contrast of white on black was engaging, but it needed colour. To me, forgiveness has layers: you forgive the deed, then forgive God for allowing it, forgive yourself for your anger, and continue forgiving each time a memory is triggered. I applied colour randomly, but as it merged with the damp white paint, it became unsatisfactory. I scraped off some paint, creating nice lines like a waterfall, but these too soon merged. Despite adding more paint and scraping again, I was still unhappy. Then I remembered the scripture about being sprinkled clean:
"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ezekiel 36:25-27
So I sprinkled it with water. Bad move. Nothing was working and it was time to leave, so I borrowed someone's hairdryer and dried off my canvas so I could get it in the car. Paint went every which way.
My son Ben dropped in and I asked him what it looked like to him. "A city with a polluted sunset", he said. A friend said it looked like "Coventry burning" because he'd just seen a TV program on the incendiary bombs they dropped there during the war. Clearly, I hadn’t hit the mark.. I asked God what was wrong and felt Him say that I was painting "in the flesh", that is, from my own strength and perspective, rather than by His Spirit. I could almost see the "flesh" in the stringy paint strands spread like visceral casings across the canvas. God added, “Yes, forgiveness has layers, but the colours need to be in My order.”.
So what's God's order of colour? Ah, the rainbow! (red always on top, Indigo always on the bottom). I now had direction. Should I continue with this painting or start fresh? Since forgiveness offers a second chance, I decided on a new canvas.. With a black base and a white waterfall over it, things were looking promising. I had enough acrylic white paint for tinting but only oil-based tints. Could they mix? After some Googling, I discovered I needed an emulsifier. Household options were limited—egg yolk (which would spoil) or dishwashing liquid? I chose the latter, and voila! Applying the colours layer by layer was fun, and I loved the result. The emulsified paint created charming little islands of colour everywhere.
When Ben dropped in I told him I'd finished a new painting and just for fun I said "See if God will tell you what it's about". He closed his eyes and a few seconds later opened them, surprised. "What?", I asked. He said, "Normally I get a picture but this time I've got a word". I was expecting Ben to say "Forgiveness" but he came out with "Shelter". Curious, we went to have a look at it together.
Standing back, it felt as if I was inside an illuminated cave, with colourful stalactites hanging down and darkness outside. God confirmed the insight: “When you're inside My forgiveness, you are sheltered, but if you step outside, you're back in darkness.” Wow! I love how God continues to teach me through my artwork.
Mixed Media Painting - Print (unframed)
8* x 10” with white border on Poster Paper with Foam backing in Cellophane Sleeve
What I love about this painting is that, through it, God taught me about my subject. I started a painting on 'Forgiveness'. It began with a canvas painted in black acrylic that I decided to dribble white paint over — the idea being that God's Grace covers the stain of sin and where grace abounds, sin is no longer visible.
The contrast of white on black was engaging, but it needed colour. To me, forgiveness has layers: you forgive the deed, then forgive God for allowing it, forgive yourself for your anger, and continue forgiving each time a memory is triggered. I applied colour randomly, but as it merged with the damp white paint, it became unsatisfactory. I scraped off some paint, creating nice lines like a waterfall, but these too soon merged. Despite adding more paint and scraping again, I was still unhappy. Then I remembered the scripture about being sprinkled clean:
"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ezekiel 36:25-27
So I sprinkled it with water. Bad move. Nothing was working and it was time to leave, so I borrowed someone's hairdryer and dried off my canvas so I could get it in the car. Paint went every which way.
My son Ben dropped in and I asked him what it looked like to him. "A city with a polluted sunset", he said. A friend said it looked like "Coventry burning" because he'd just seen a TV program on the incendiary bombs they dropped there during the war. Clearly, I hadn’t hit the mark.. I asked God what was wrong and felt Him say that I was painting "in the flesh", that is, from my own strength and perspective, rather than by His Spirit. I could almost see the "flesh" in the stringy paint strands spread like visceral casings across the canvas. God added, “Yes, forgiveness has layers, but the colours need to be in My order.”.
So what's God's order of colour? Ah, the rainbow! (red always on top, Indigo always on the bottom). I now had direction. Should I continue with this painting or start fresh? Since forgiveness offers a second chance, I decided on a new canvas.. With a black base and a white waterfall over it, things were looking promising. I had enough acrylic white paint for tinting but only oil-based tints. Could they mix? After some Googling, I discovered I needed an emulsifier. Household options were limited—egg yolk (which would spoil) or dishwashing liquid? I chose the latter, and voila! Applying the colours layer by layer was fun, and I loved the result. The emulsified paint created charming little islands of colour everywhere.
When Ben dropped in I told him I'd finished a new painting and just for fun I said "See if God will tell you what it's about". He closed his eyes and a few seconds later opened them, surprised. "What?", I asked. He said, "Normally I get a picture but this time I've got a word". I was expecting Ben to say "Forgiveness" but he came out with "Shelter". Curious, we went to have a look at it together.
Standing back, it felt as if I was inside an illuminated cave, with colourful stalactites hanging down and darkness outside. God confirmed the insight: “When you're inside My forgiveness, you are sheltered, but if you step outside, you're back in darkness.” Wow! I love how God continues to teach me through my artwork.