Hi All,

Tonight I am working on the very final touches of "Ruth". Its bitter sweet. I don't want it to end. This painting has been on my easel each morning,for the past three months, waiting for me to to add a color note here and there. I would rise with my morning coffee in hand, and eagerly set to work. Paintings become like friends to me. I confide in them and often work out life's issues in my head while trying to solve pictorial issues. As I retire for the evening, usually the painting is the last thing I look at as I survey the day's progress.

The painting becomes a confidant when an artist lives alone. There are no lover's approval or advise on what is good or needs fixing. Its just the artist and the work...nothing to influence except for the inspiration that comes from that secret place inside the artist's heart.

Many times in my life, I could measure time and events in the painting that I was working on. With that, looking at the paintings, the joys, victories and defeats, the heartache and the beauty of those times are inside the painting.

How many summers do we have? How many tender caresses will we experience? Does anyone know? How many paintings will I have the honor from God to create and release into the world? In a few days "Ruth" will be out there...on to the next chapter on the easel.

God Bless,

Timothy

Painting Folds

Hi All,
Today I started my Tuesday morning at the easel; I have been painting the folds on the blue drapery that Ruth is wearing. After painting the eyes, the shine of the skin, the background and the shadows, one would think that the folds are not as important. All the elements of the painting are just as important even though they might not have the spotlight. I see many artists paint the spot light elements and just run out of gas with the supporting cast. How many paintings or drawings do you see the figure painted with such detail and the background is weak and wishy washy?
I look at a painting much like that of a movie. The star of the movie is important but only as good as those around them. Some of my favorite actors or actresses have been "character actors". Without them, the movie would never work.
So, I spend the next few days working out the folds of the drapery with the seriousness of an eye or lips. Without this supporting character, the star would not shine as bright.
Take Care,
Tim

Knowledge is Awareness

Hi All,

I am very hopeful that your weekend was a wonderful one spent with family, loved ones and friends. This weekend I am working on my "Ruth " painting. I must have spent over 15 hours on her this weekend. In this stage its all about the beautification of the edges, the details and the color harmonies. It reminds me about our lives, our seasons in our lives, to be specific. In this painting, there have been many stages, or seasons.  In the first stage it was just an idea on a 4x6 inch sketchbook. Then the model posed and the drawing was on the board. It looked great. Then the under painting in black and white, and it looked great. At that point it was all rainbows, everything was going smoothly. All was smooth until the next stage.The color layers made everything look blotchy. Things did not look so hot! I stepped back and frustration, fear and panic creeped in.

Did something similar happen to you or is happening in your life? Your courtship, the early years in marriage were amazing and then the difficulty and challenges set in? Perhaps a job that started amazingly strong. Everybody loved you, you got raise after raise but now there are big changes at the office? Was there a panic? Did you stop and pray about it? Our first instinct is always to run and hide and maybe start over.

Did I start a new painting? Did I say to myself, it looks bad and I don't see how I can make this better? Like life, I stopped, relaxed and hung in there. I did pray of course because without God nothing is possible but with God all things are possible.


Psalm 23:3
"he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake."


Stick with the paintings in your lives. Please do not back down or run. Stand firm is what God told Gideon:


Judges 6:11-13
The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”


We are mighty warriors of God and we will not back down because, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. So I am spending my time making the painting of Ruth become more beautiful each day. When its framed and in the gallery, nobody but me and God will know of the days and nights that I anguished over its future. :)
Here is a seen from a Rocky movie that is inspiring to me:

God Bless You Guys,
Tim

Quote of the Day!

If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

~Michael Jordan

Happy Easter

Hi Everyone,

This quote from Barak Obama,came to mind this morning.

“Hope is not blind optimism. It’s not ignoring the enormity of the tasks ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path.

It’s not sitting on the sidelines or shirking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it and to work for it and to fight for it.“

What does courage mean to you? When were times when you seemingly had no more courage and it inexplicably came from nowhere?

I love the Bible verse in Joshua 1:7-9

 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

This verse has been extremely pivotal over the past year or so. Each morning was an intense struggle. In this struggle to keep up a "survival mode", I learned many things about God, myself, and my responsibilities.

God has principles that are guidelines and guide posts to life and the journey through it. These principles are found in His Word. I am finding out how to stand up under tough circumstances and have alot less pity parties (although there are times I would love one). We are not perfect and none of us are righteous. With this being said, not one of us are better than another.

I know that circumstances can be difficult and I pray for all or your trials to be conquered victoriously, but we owe it to ourselves to show up each day. Everyday lets make sure we are connected to the vine.
John 15:5
 ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.


We can not do it alone. Knowing this is not as hard as we think as long as we know where to get help. 
Today I am working on my painting entitled , "Ruth" she is about 80% completed. The Bible personality of Ruth has long been an inspiration to me. She is the model of a strong, loyal, faithful woman that always gives more than she was asked as she took care of Naomi. Ruth was someone that trusted in God just as Joshua did. God richly rewarded her as He did Joshua. Although Ruth was a foreigner in the land of Israel, she became the great grand mother of King David (which is in the lineage of Jesus).
I hope that you all have a wonderful Easter.
Take Care,
Timothy

January and the Chill of Snowy White Boards

How are you all today? Yesterday I went to the art store and did what I should have done a very long time ago. I purchased much needed gesso and prepared the boards for this month's paintings, both for fine art and for selling. 

In February, I am starting my next major painting (God Willing). I am excited about it and I want to just have fun more than anything. I have been perfecting the under painting process. When I started the under paintings years back I was faced with the dilemma of having the under paintings looking rough and coarse.; However with the advent of new techniques and tools, the under painting has become one of the most refined stages in my work. That has been the motto for me since I was a kid; whatever it is I am having trouble with, make it a strength through hard work and perseverance.

I am finishing a couple of commissioned portraits this month. They have been instrumental in getting me back into shape artistically. Speaking of shape, I have been going to the gym since late September and the process of getting into shape is spilling over into my work. Maybe I should look for pastels with heavy weights attached? :)

God Bless.

Tim

Monday and trying to grab a few hours in the studio for art's sake

Hi All,

Today was Monday. My 9-5 was alright. It gives me lots of time to think about the direction of my life and my career. I am a visual person so the sights of the gray skies and the women dressed n earth colors are still in my mind from my walk. Each day, on my lunch break, I walk and pray, listening to the NIV version of the Bible on my iPad. Its my quiet time with God. Its a lunch date I never want to break.

Seeking God's will for my life is my biggest question each afternoon. Something God will whisper parts of His plan for me, in that still small voice. If you think I am crazy, then try and spend time with God, meditating on His Word. You will find out as well.

I am a painter and my hands are like a thoroughbred horse stuck in the stable. My hands are made to create and when they are not...they cramp up. I cramp up spiritually. I am not special. We all have our spiritual gifts that are bestowed upon us , undeservedly. Some of us can cook the most exquisite meals while others may have the gift of music; still others are talented film makers. Maybe these gifts are God's way of helping us get through the storms of life? Before I go to bed this evening, I am going to do something that feeds the gift that God has given. I hope you do as well.

Here is a beautiful song by one of today's most talented song writers, Matraca Berg.