Crayons are fun. I recall, as a kid, pulling out my favorite coloring book, Pluto, Disney cartoon character, and pick a page to color. Once I decided on the page I would scoop up my box of coloring crayons and study the colors briefly to pick which color I wanted to start with.
Not much different than how I create my art today. I start backward, however. I pick the colors I want to use, first. Then, I pick up my camera. Once I decide the composition for my frame and the technique I would like to use, I then focus on the main point and click the shutter and make art.
Today’s art piece reminds me of all the Autumn colors in the crayon box. I love that Yahweh can breathe such beauty around us. Today’s image also makes me think of Yahweh’s breath blowing like a paint brush of colors and at the end of His breath, the result is this!
In life, we come across some sketchy characters. Sometimes, too, it’s hard to know the good from the bad, until one’s true character rears itself.
God’s Holy Word tells us this:
In Luke 3:16-17 it says (to his followers) John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but He comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
This parable is a metaphor of life. Basically, it is saying that Jesus will separate the good from the bad and the bad will be destroyed.
Also, there’s another parable that is fitting. God’s Holy Word also says in:
Matthew 9:35 Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”
In Christ’s body, (Christians) we as believers are all considered ministers in the mission field. Every life is like a wheat grain. The body of Christ is called to minister (plant the seed of the Good News of Christ) to everyone. Also, God has called on one’s to reap the harvest (mission field).
On the dreamy side of this art piece; imagine yourself walking through a wheat field. Arms outstretched allowing your hands to sweep across the wheat grass during a beautiful sunset while contemplating life and its joys; as well as its struggles and where you are at this moment!
Where do you find yourself when you gaze in the wheat grains? What will you do about it? Comment your thoughts and let me know. I’m curious.
You know it is going to be one of those days when you get up and immediately upon looking in the mirror you all of a sudden realize, “Whoa! Is that me in the reflection in the mirror?”
You know the kind of day I mean! You’re moody, irritable, and cranky. You’ve already stubbed your toe on the bed post. You spilled coffee on your suit. You had two flat tires before even getting into the car to drive away to work.
At which point, you start to recall all of the sniggering and remarks of your co-workers who give you a hard time.
You begin all the self-hate and self-deprecating self-talk. There are times when you feel bashed and blown about. Much like the flower in today’s image.
Part of my act is meant to shake you up. It looks like I’m being funny, but I’m reminding you of other things. Life is tough, darling. Life is hard. And we better laugh at everything; otherwise, we’re going down the tube. Joan Rivers
We go through seasons of life. Springtime brings new life, happiness, and lots of fun. Summer brings warm smiles and great times. Autumn brings a slowing down and resting. Wintertime brings a time of darkness and hardship.
What do you do with these seasons of life? It’s your choice. Will you let it beat you down? Or, will you use it to help you grow and build your character into a successful person? I choose growth and character building.
Comment your thoughts and let me know. Inquisitive minds want to know!
Life! It goes through changes. In these changes when life transitions, challenges come. In those challenges, life can give in and give up. Or, life can allow these changes to improve and increase its character, much like the autumn colors. The colors give life a vibrancy and beauty that can be enjoyed by everyone who wants to. Colors symbolize lots of emotions. What’s your favorite color and why? Leave me a comment. I’d like to know.
How well do you cope with change? Comment your thoughts, I’d like to know.
This is image 39/52 week challenge, as well as, a weekly challenge from my Arcanum Community. That weekly challenge is texture.
She whispers to me that Autumn is on its way.
She dances and sways in the cool breeze of the day
soaking up the sun and daylight.
For who knows how long she will still be standing.
Her time is near to the end.
Her seeds will blow here and there, landing to lay at
rest until next Spring to bring forth new life.
Autumn is my favorite season of the year. The colors, smells, and feel of the crisp morning air as it briskly whips here and there calls out to me to come and sit a spell and savor the moment.
This is image 37/52 week challenge. It’s created with the lens painting technique.
This art piece is also for sale here. Click through to see other artwork for sale.
Digital Painting done by using the macro lens painting technique.
Interesting story about my love for owls. I’m fascinated and in love with all owl species. There’s over 200 different species. My absolute favorite of them is the Snowy Oil. I don’t get to see them in Southern California.
I recall being drawn to owls since I was a little child. I really like birds in general. I love that commercial with the Tootsie rolls pop when a boy asks “how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie roll center of a Tootsie roll pop?” The boys asks mr cow, mr fox, mr turtle, and then mr owl, because he’s the wisest. Here’s the original 1 minute commercial from 1970. Yes, I am quite familiar with it.
Also, I recall liking Winnie the Pooh and watching the cartoon as a child. I loved the owl. Watch this mini story of Owl’s House:
Here’s a nursery rhyme:
A wise old owl sat in an oak,
The more he heard, the less he spoke;
The less he spoke, the more he heard;
Why aren’t we all like that wise old bird?
Author: Unknown
Owls are typically associated with wisdom in stories and movies.
So, the story. I had collected owl bric-a-brac, wall art, and so on for many years. At one point, I even had special shelving for all my owls that didn’t hang on the wall.
One year when my daughter was in elementary school my grandmother invited us to come for a visit. My daughter and I went on an adventure to visit my grandma. She invited us to stay at her house. Upon walking into her house I was in awe of her love for owls also. Every room had them on every level space that was available. Every wall was covered in owl wall art. When she noticed how shocked and awed I was she started running around grabbing pieces and collecting them on the table. By the time she was finished there was a huge stack of them. She gave them to me. She said that she wanted to make room for new ones. She knew I would love them as much as she had. I came by train. I had no way of carrying that much back with me. My daughter and I marched down to the local corner store and shipped this massive box UPS to my home three states away.
I recently discovered that two of my sisters also are fascinated with owls. I’m not sure if they collect them like I did. One sister sent me an owl necklace for my birthday one year. I have that in my jewelry box. Another sister sent me a mother owl and her owlets nesting figurine for Christmas. It sits on my sofa table.
At this point, I only have a few pieces now. Downsizing has a way of doing that.
If you dig deeper into the history of owls you’ll find they’re associate with mythology.
One of the words used for a group of owls is a “wise”. I imagine that’s how they were dubbed wise old birds.
As the rhyme above asks: “Why aren’t we all like that wise old bird?” Great question.
Today’s image is another conceptual art piece. It’s 35/52 week challenge as well as a photography community challenge.
Recently, some Arcanum masters joined forces and created a community of all their apprentices giving the community a larger group of activity. The masters post a weekly challenge. This week’s challenge was to come up with a creative composite.
I struggle with conceptual art. Typically, it requires compositing elements to create one art piece that tells a story or part of a story.
I look at a lot of images every day to be inspired for all of my art pieces.
Today’s piece was inspired by the fact that I’m a Believer of The Word, God’s Holy Word – The Holy Bible, and, another art piece I saw that had a similar idea conveyed.
I love art challenges. It’s good to be challenged. Without challenges to learn and grow we become stagnant. Accept life’s challenges and grow in character.
“A primary function of art and thought is to liberate the individual from the tyranny of his culture in the environmental sense and to permit him to stand beyond it in an autonomy of perception and judgment.”
– Beverly Sills
Throughout my life I felt imprisoned due to life circumstances. I read this quote and viewed an image that was posted with it. After some thought I decided it was so profound and evocative that it compelled me to create this art piece to share with it.
This image represents, for me, my liberation from others who have been tyrants in my life blocking me and permits me the freedom of thought, perception, and judgement to create and live my live in a big-hearted healthy way without anyone interfering and stopping me.
I challenge you to soul search and find your way, and be liberated in your life’s journey.
