The Real Joy of Painting

Back in 2011, the hubs bought me some paints and canvas for Christmas.  I played around with it and started to remember how much I really enjoyed painting.  Now, mind you it had been almost 20 years since I had painted. My first few paintings showed how rusty I really was, but I kept at it.

One of the very first ones.

I seemed to have gravitated to the abstract first because it really didn't need a subject.  It could go all over the place, and no one would care.

Ad far as realism goes, it was going to be a stretch or so I thought.   I turned my attention to seascapes.  I have to say that I have always been fascinated by the sea and moving water.  Maybe because of all my dad's stories of being at see in the Navy.  But, I didn't know if I could paint them.  I spend about an hour mixing the perfect blue to make sky and then another hour or so trying to mix the perfect blue for the water.  Turns out it's easier to mix it on the canvas than on a palette or jar.

Destin Surf

"Seascape 2"

The painting to the left was painted from a photograph I took while in Destin, Florida.  I think I amazed my own self with how well it turned out.  The painting to the right was my second seascape EVER.  The first one was donated to my church for a Cake Walk sort of thing.

Repaint of "Seascape 1"

"Purple Mountain Majesty"

I just love the relaxation that painting brings. Whether it's water or mountain scenes or silly abstract trees.  I love doing it.  Painting brings in peace and rest for me.  I love the smell of the paint.  I love the fact that I can get totally messy with it if I wanted to.  It doesn't have to be perfect, just fun.  The more I paint the more enjoyable it becomes.

You don't have to explain art to anyone.  You see, art speaks a language all its own.  People are moved by what they see or don't see.  Art reaches people that our words cannot.  Art can tear down walls of resistance and build bridges to the hearts of all who look upon it.  It transcends race, gender, creed, orientation, and even religion.

With that being said, there is an aspect of my art that has been manifesting since I began painting, Prophetic Painting.  I love using art to worship God and to evangelize. Yes my paintings have taken on a religious theme from time to time to reach someone who may be hurting or need to be encouraged.  Prophetic art reaches the unreachable and touches the untouchable.  It breaks down the barriers that the church walls have built around all of us.  The message can be different to each person who sees it.  They feel something, sense something. 

"Coming Home"

"Eyes of the Lord"

"Fountain of God"

"Light of Heaven"

"Pure Heart"

"Redeemed"

"Trump of the Lord"