A Shepherd

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This graphite portrait is of a local shepherd. We meet from time to time in our breakfast shop. One day we met in our town park. He had one of his dogs with him. She calmly waited while we talked. From time to time, she’s perk up her ears and rise to her feet. He would just motion with his hand and she’d lie down again. Then he showed us what she could do when he would blow a special whistle. She rose and run in a circle to the left. With another toot, she ran to the left. With a different one she ran as fast as she could straight ahead or back to his feet. At his feet, she was constantly ready for a look from his eyes or twitch of his hand. How perfectly she was trained for her work and her life.

I want God to train me to be that ready for His wish or His need for my action.

A Red Ripe Tomato

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I set a fresh tomato on my desk while I followed Anna Mason’s tutorial. When I thought it couldn’t really be that dark at the bottom, I’d look at my fresh tomato and it was that dark! I have to keep learning a basic lesson, “Draw or paint what you see, not what you think it should be!”

We can just glance around us and see beauty or we can really look and see the intricate patterns and details that make everything around us so extraordinary. So stop today and really see something you consider ordinary and be amazed as you see the extraordinary in it.

Pumpkin

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This pumpkin was part of my refresher course in watercolor basics with Anna Mason. This was another exercise with mostly one color. So much can be accomplished by keeping highlights light, creases dark and tonal variations to create form.

This pumpkin looks so round and firm. It’s shape is immediately recognizable. Yet this is just tinted water brushed on paper. It is truly two dimensional, but it looks three dimensional.

I wonder if this is not a metaphor for how this life really is. We are only aware of the two dimensions of time and space. When our life is looked at from the perspective of heaven the fullness is visible. The highlights and creases and variations show it full and complete. “Ah, Father, please help me see at least some of what I’m experiencing here from your perspective!”

Red Poppy

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I am taking a refresher course on watercolor basics with Anna Mason. This Red Poppy was one of the exercises. I loved how shiny and bold this poppy came out. This was an exercise in creating form and practicing brush strokes that give form with mostly one color. I was pleased with how well this turned out.

Bluebird

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I love this sweet little Eastern Bluebird. Though they are not very vocal, they are part of the Thrush family of song birds. They mate for life, but will take a new mate, if one dies. They live all over eastern Canada and US. They don’t migrate, though they will go to lower elevations or farther south during very cold weather to find food.

This little bird helps keep the bug population under control. But their pretty colors that are their claim to fame. This what attracted me to paint this lovely little bird.

This is a little bird, not worth a lot of money, but provided for by God. If He cares for them, He surely cares for you. Rest today, knowing your Heavenly Father loves and cares for you!