The King in a Manger

On this day the world pretty much comes to a stand still.  One baby's birth brings our focus to the highest and best of thoughts.  I was reminded fresh again today that the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords stripped Himself of the greatest in riches and privilege to come in the most helpless form and to a place of filth.  The purpose was so you and I could be freed from our poverty of soul to gain the riches of relationship with God and high privilege of being called His sons and daughters.  This is what Christmas is all about!

The following are some photos of large murals in chalk I did a few years back depicting more parts about the Christmas story:  

The above drawing was a variation I composed off of a similar painting by Rembrandt.  I updated and personalized it by putting in some contemporary cowboy/shepherds and dogs in the mix of stable animals.  

Merry Christmas to you!!!

What Am I Giving?

What a fun time of the year Christmas is!  Plans are laid, raw materials selected, ideas become reality as saws buzz, sand paper scritches, and paint is applied.  There is a lot of joy that comes from creating and giving!  This little tractor and hay wagon were so much fun to build.  An even greater joy was envisioning the little hands and fingers that will be unloading the hay bales and driving the tractor.  Today my little grandson Caleb should receive this package in the mail for Christmas.  Merry Christmas, Caleb!

Instead of drawing with a pencil this week, you would have found me with a woodburner in my grip.  It has been an enjoyable diversion from my usual art work.  Wood is very different from paper and it's been an interesting support to explore.  Here is an example of what I've been burning:

Michelangelo has been closely supervising my activity until he couldn't keep his eyelids open any longer.  So he's shown here stretched out taking five.

Observing the Advent season greatly helps me to focus on the WHY of Christmas.  I enjoy the daily meditations in Preparing for Jesus by Walter Wangerin, Jr.   This is about my 14th year to read through it. Wangerin excavates all the facts and persons involved in the Christmas story, bringing out some unique perspectives.  Pictured above is a painting of the Nativity scene by one of my favorite animal artists, Dutch painter Rien Poortvliet, in his book Dutch Treat.  

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes that " the celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, who look forward to something greater to come".  I like that.  

To the question in my post title, "What Am I Giving?", I think of Christina Rosetti's poem as a response and challenge for me at Christmas:

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part, –
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

(Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb of God)

(Sheep grazing on hillside above Bethlehem)

These last two photos are of some large murals I created a number of Christmases ago.

 Merry Christmas!

Be brave and courageous!

Christmas in the Air#My Studio

 Michelangelo Taking Five

Bang!  Bzzzz!  More bang!  More bzzzz!  What's going on in my studio?!  Work...fun work! Of all sorts.  From the fragrant spice of a candle to the Internet Christmas channel streaming from Seattle's Classical FM catch a sense of Christmas joy.  Add to that the whir of drills and bzzing of saws.  Mix in neighing from horses emerging on my easel.

  "Oh, what fun it is to".....(you thought I was going to say "to ride in a one horse open sleigh" but, no to that)  ....create and give!  How's that?  That's what is happening around here. My art manikin Michelangelo had to stop and take some time out as he's been busy supervising my work.  First, let's take a look at what is taking place on my easel:

 The horses are shaping up.  Three out of the six are completed.  They are drinking so much that I keep having to stop drawing and head for the water hose for refills!

This week Bambi and Wiggles came back from the framers.  Boy, were they glad to get some hay, treats, and water again.  But these critters are wondering if someone would adopt them for Christmas and send them to a good home where there's plenty of hay, mice, and water?  Total price....$775.  Or think of it as a gift you can give someone that you won't find any where else! 

Next stop...over at my workbench Michelangelo is crawling out from under the pile of lumber. He's been excitedly helping me build a little tractor and hay wagon for my little grandson Caleb.  

Next week we hope to show you the finished product.  Grandkids "give" you permission to play again!  It sure is a joy to create and give!

The wise men are enroute to Bethlehem but stopped by my studio to remind me that their search and quest is to be predominant in my heart and yours this Christmas season.  Here is a look at a mural I did a few years back contrasting the search motives between King Herod and the Wise Men:

Both groups were looking for the Christ child but for different reasons.  I encourage you to take time during this Holiday and reflect on the reason for Christ's coming.  Enter into the joy of the angel choirs, the dumbfounded but ecstatic shepherds, and later the seeking-then- satisfied wise men.  No other day in history has the impact for humanity as this one except for the Resurrection.  

"Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, love Divine..."

---Christina Rossetti.

Wise men still seek Him....be one!

Be brave and courageous!

Tis The Season!

 Listen!  Can you hear the beautiful Christmas music streaming from the Internet here in my studio?  What joy to stand at my easel and work on this horse drawing with such great music in the background!  I experience a stillness and quiet reflection on the meaning of Christ's birth...for my own life and for the world. 

As you can see, the next drawing is on the easel now that "Bambi and Wiggles" are in the wings (er, other stable) waiting for the framer to call for pickup.  

 What are these guys and gals doing?  For your answer, take a look at Isaiah 55:1 and you will get a clue.  In fact, there is one word in that verse that will be the title for this drawing. There is a huge metaphor in this artwork for us to think about.  More on that when this drawing is finished.  Working on this piece has been a challenge.  Somehow it has not gotten off to as good a start as the "Bambi and Wiggles" drawing.  But with prayer for God's help and by just showing up to the easel day by day, chipping away at it, it is beginning to take shape.  Many more miles of trail to ride on this one!  I think often of that verse in Proverbs 21:5..."Little by little the diligent make it happen." 

From where I stand at my easel I can keep my eyes on what is happening in the world of nature.  Lately this little squirrel has been trying to quench his thirst at my frozen birdbath. He gnaws away at the ice with his teeth.  It takes about 10 minutes for him to accomplish his goal.

Recently, I've been "treating" myself to the study of this world famous nature artist Rien Poortvliet.  As you can gather, he isn't Japanese!  Rien was from the Netherlands and drew marvelously about the world of nature, life, and animals.  I love studying his sketches and reading his comments!

Many of you have probably been taking part in some of the glorious music centered around Christmas through concerts at church or school.  I enjoy sketching often while taking in the occasion.  It helps deepen the meaning of the beauty I hear.  Here's a few for you to enjoy:

 Time to get to the easel!  Hope you are experiencing the peace, joy, and love of Christmas!

(This is my older brother Gordon and me enjoying a moment of Christmas circa 1958.)

Be brave and courageous!

HeARTful of Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving from the "wildlife" here in my studio to all of you!  May this be a day of reflection and joy in seeing all the ways that you have been blessed and provided for this year.  I am thankful for you and your appreciation of beauty and art, and for your support and encouragement.  Thank you all!!!

This past year has been a huge leap of faith for me.  I am grateful to my dear sister Robyn, her husband Ed, and my nieces Madeleine and Megan, and nephew Josh for encouraging me in so many ways and making it possible for me to focus on creating art full time.  This is what I have been able to produce since coming to Omaha:

I am grateful for the opportunity to work on art this year.  My skill level has a long way to go.  Sometimes I get frustrated at the slow pace of my learning and ability growth.  But I was reminded again yesterday that I need to be thankful for the abilities that I currently have, and to be glad that I am aware of need for growth.  That can only lead to further learning and improvement which will result in better art to offer the world.

Here's a great artists' poem to highlight a thankful spirit this Thanksgiving season (the word "pied" means multi-colored):

Pied Beauty

Glory be to God for dappled things---

For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;

For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;

Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;

Landscape plotted and pieced---fold, fallow, and plough;

And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;

Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)

With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;

He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:

                                    Praise Him.

                                                                              --- Gerard Manley Hopkins

Be brave and courageous!