I started this little harvest mouse before our road trip. What a joy it was, after our trip, to find him patiently waiting for finishing touches! This little fellow reminds me there are so many little things we see or experience every day that we don’t stop and enjoy. Life is too short to rush through without stopping to enjoy God’s many quiet blessings. It is harvest time in America. It is a good time to thank God for His great abundance of provisions!
This is the first watercolor I have been able to do in America. We spent the first few weeks settling into our American home, getting new phones, restocking and reconnecting with friends. My office was easily adjusted for my art work.
This rose was from a photo Mike took in a nearby garden. So to commemorate our return after almost two years, I painted this rose. It turned out deeper pink than my reference, but I’m sure there are many roses in the world this tone.
This lovely Agapanthus flower was the last flower I painted before we began our month-long road trip to visit friends and family. I couldn’t be lazy and paint each of the open flowers the same way. The buds had different shapes and shading. Yet each one was important to the whole blossom.
One of the special treats I had while visiting friends and family was sharing my box of watercolor paintings. I got great joy in seeing their faces light up as they saw their favorite picture. Some of the paintings were liked by many, but most everyone had a favorite. But just because one was liked more than another did not diminish the value of the others.
If we only saw each flower on this stem the same way, we would have no concept of the form of the head of this flower. There would be no way to comprehend the beauty that God was preparing for us to see.
No wonder we are all different and individual and yet brought together in family and church and community. Our individuality enhances the whole.
This giant pale pink Hibiscus flower stirred my heart so much I had to try to capture it in watercolor.
Pale colors are very tricky to paint. Anything with red is even trickier since it is such a strong color. It took just a few drops of color to lots and lots of water. When I mixed it on my white palate, I could barely see any color at all. Then pale layer by pale layer gently applied and the petals took shape.
It was a reminder to me that our Father very gently touches us over and over again to help our lives take shape for His service. Just as He works gently, little at a time on us, we need to have patience as He also works on others slowly and gently. It is worth it all!
I’m fascinated by the beautiful eyes of owls!
I’ve been thinking of eyes and what we see. Right now I’m seeing so much natural beauty here in the valley with the Blue Ridge mountains surrounding us. On our walks around town we see flowers in lovely gardens. The vast open view of the sky is uplifting, too.
We can see with our eyes and we can see with our hearts. I’m asking God to help me see as He sees. I want to see people with His eyes of compassion. I want to see ways I can help and make other’s loads less heavy. I want to see justice and righteousness everywhere it prospers.
May our eyes be open and our hearts eager for all God has planned for us to do. (Eph 2:10)