I did something for the first time Sunday. The artists guild I belong to had a demonstration tent at Art on the Square, which it does every year, and I was one of two in the Sunday afternoon shift. Demonstrating there just involves painting and talking to people about the artists guild. That's how I found out about it years ago. Anyway, it went well.
It’s December 1st and I’m painting flowers because when I was looking around my studio for something to draw, the silk flowers popped out at me. I sketched with a thin marker while not looking at my paper, though I did glance down quite often. Then the color was put in with watercolor. I think I like it. I like the size, too, which is smaller for me, only 4" x 5".
Reading Second Corinthians, I was struck with the following verses about being an aroma. Searching for a perfume bottle wasn’t as hard as painting one, especially since I put it on a mirror (to make it even harder, evidently!). Painting it realistically was unrealistic. I made the reflection a different color to help show the mirror. Then I decided to use just the cool colors, except for the gold top. It was an interesting exercise in my painting journey.
In 2 Corinthians 2:14, God manifests through us an aroma around us. It is from Him, but those around us may detect an odor rather than something sweet, 2 Corinthians 2:15-16. But what they sense is either death or life, depending on whether they are saved or perishing. We just need to be what God has created us to be.
That day happened to be our wedding anniversary so I decided to paint some flowers we have that are in our wedding colors. It wasn’t finished that day, but it is now.
Why Christmas in November? Because the art guild I am a member of decorates a tree at Our Lady of the Snows Shrine and the ornaments are due at the beginning of November. The theme we have been assigned this year is Feliz Navidad. Hence, the maracas.
I started with the outside pair in the usual paper mache way with a balloon and a straw. Then I found a set of maracas at the local thrift shop and decided to paper mache them as well. They are the big ones with the figures. The smallest one is a wooden one that my husband fashioned with his lathe.
I can celebrate Christmas in November because I am thankful for the Savior that God sent two thousand(ish) years ago. And, adding on to a saying I saw on a Christmas card years ago, Wise men still seek Him, all year long.
Small painting, short thought.
Many times I have trouble deciding what to paint. This painting happened because I put a stroke on the canvas, then decided what it would be. Sometimes you need to just begin, and see what happens.
This can go for other things in life, too. You've got to begin to see how it ends.