The Ache of Joy

The Discovery

5" x 7"

Watercolor

We all have those special moments in our lives like coming upon a deer in the woods by surprise, watching a thrilling sunset over the ocean, listening to a beautiful symphony performance, standing on top of a very high mountain, watching extreme tidal changes, holding your newborn children for the first time, finishing a marathon, receiving your diploma at college commencement, enjoying the adventure of a 50 mile bike ride, watching breathlessly as an eagle dives nearby into a cascading river, hearing the thundering of hooves as a herd of horses gallops by, or the piercing scream of a mountain lion in the night from the safety of your mountain cabin. Sometimes the beauty and joy of the moment can be felt like an ache in the heart.  The moment is so poignant and fleeting.  You can't hold onto it.  You try to grasp it but it slips elusively through your hands.  

The Path

5" x 7"

Watercolor

Simone Weil said that beauty and affliction are the only two things that can pierce our hearts.  Something can be experienced as so beautiful that it hurts.  C. S. Lewis called it JOY.  He wrote:  "It is difficult to find words strong enough for the sensation that came over me...Milton's enormous bliss of 'Eden' comes somewhere near it."  He goes on to define it as an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction."   Lewis suggests that all our lesser joys in life are but precursors or pointers to the source of all joy and delights which is God Himself.  Joy is something that we can't live without.  Many people search for it in all kinds of ways, often to their harm.  But only One can satisfy deeply and forever!  And He invites us to drink deeply from His river of delights!  Imagine that!!

Here's a moment of beauty for you to enjoy with one of my favorite contemporary composers, Yuhki Kuramoto at the piano playing "Lake Louise" with accompanying violinist: 

Here's whats currently on my easel:

(pastel)

Be brave and courageous!

Sunlight Sonata

Sunlight Sonata

14" x 24"

Pastel

Since we've experienced a very rainy, cloudy, and cool spring, here's a little sunshine to brighten your day.  These three little turtles were just begging to be in a piece of art as they basked in the sunlight.  Enjoy looking at them on the logs while listening to this beautiful composition by Paul Roy titled "Sunlight Sonata":

Here's some other art work that I've been creating here in the studio recently:

 "Eye Exam"

4" x 4"

Watercolor

"Eagle Eye"

4" x 4"

Watercolor

I've done these little studies on aquaboard, an archival hardboard panel with an acid-free textured clay surface that absorbs watercolors like a fine paper.  These panels can be sealed and framed without glass, keeping colors and textures true to life.  I have sprayed the finished artwork with UV spray varnish and then coated them with 3 coats of Liquitex Satin Varnish.  Really like the resulting beautiful surface.  You do not need to put them behind glass.  Just frame them like an oil painting, if you desire framing.  

Be brave and courageous!

Scared to Death!

Don't Mess With Me

10" x 8"

Watercolor

This Sunday marks the 21st birthday of my youngest son, Jacob Wesley Patterson.  At that point all four of my children are legitimate adults in all ways legal.  That threshold will be crossed.  I chose to do this painting for Jacob in honor of his special day.  Happy Birthday, Jacob!  This was what he was like as a young little squirt.  Now he is much taller than me.

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During breakfast yesterday I was reading about the Masked Shrew. No, it's not a major action hero character from a Marvel production. This little animal inhabits Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States.  It is quite small....averaging just under 4 inches with it's tail being almost half of that, and topping the scales at a humongous 18/100ths of an OUNCE.  This little creature looks mouse-like, but sports a long snout profusely decked with whiskers.

What caught my attention about this little shrew was that it has a fear ISSUE!!  It can literally be scared to death!  My National Audubon Pocket Guide to Mammals declares that "it lives its life at a very fast pace, and when startled, its heart rate may rise to more than 1,000 beats a minute."  Wow!!!  That's burning some calories right there! The Audubon Guide also stated that a single clap of thunder can cause the shrew to panic and die....scared to death. Amazing!

Fear not only scares Masked Shrews out of their skin, but it greatly affects us human mammals, as well.  We know too well the fight or flight instinct wired into our systems.  We have all experienced events like the land of sweaty palms before giving a speech or the gnawing unrest while waiting for medical test results.

Fear is a formidable foe.  Let's take a closer look at what it does in our lives.  First, fear pretends.  It is a phantom, not a real fact.  So therefore it is false.  It sets up scenarios in our minds that are not actual but seeks to convince us that this bad outcome is going to happen.

Fear pursues.  It can be relentless in its onslaught of our peace.  It comes after us, chasing us down the alleys of our minds, showing up and taunting us every time we seek to focus on realities.  

Fear paralyzes.  It can make you seize up, unable to feel, to move.  It makes you feel immobilized, unable to take steps to deal with a situation or accomplish a goal.  

Fear pauses.  Not only does fear attempt to keep you motionless, but it also brings to a standstill all the momentum and good action necessary for overcoming obstacles.  It puts a hold on creative projects and keeps risk-taking at bay.  It puts a damper on joy and freedom to investigate possibilities.

Fear projects.  On the wide-screen of your mind, fear heightens and escalates out of proportion possible outcomes.  Uncertainties can loom over us like a hideous monster with arms reaching out to take us down and devour us.

Fear plunders.  Like a thief, it robs of us of our peace and joy.  It steals precious time to think great thoughts and holds us hostage, sucking out energy and resolve.  It takes from us, leaving us depleted and empty-handed.  It steals what might have been undertaken for good and leaves a wasteland instead.

Fear possesses.  It seeks to dominate our will and our thoughts.  It wants to chain us by obsession with what is feared.  Fear wants to be our total focus.  It desires control.

How do we conquer fear and go on towards thriving in our lives?  May I suggest an answer of substance that you can rest your weight on?  I believe that faith is much stronger than fear.  Let's see what that looks like played out against fear.

Faith guards.  Life is uncertain, but we don't have to succumb to it.  Faith surrounds our hearts and our minds, rejecting what isn't true, turning falsehood away at the door.  Paul wrote in Philippians 4:10 that we are not to worry about anything, but to pray instead.  And that God's peace as a result would mount a guard like the cavalry soldiers on horses over our hearts and minds.  

Faith guides.  Faith looks at what is unseen and responds based on what is eternally true. We can proceed to navigate the uncertainties in our lives because we can follow the Good Shepherd Jesus and like David wrote in the famous Psalm 23...we can trust that He knows where the green pastures, quiet waters, and paths of rightness are.  And He promises to be with us in the dark shadow valleys of our lives.  

Faith goads.  It stimulates us to action, encouraging us be in forward motion with our lives. We are to carry on with what is good and not get discouraged.

Faith gives.  We can trust that the necessary resources will be there for what faith is calling us to do.  We gain an inner strength to push ahead and do the next right thing.

Faith graces.  Our lives will demonstrate an elegance or beauty in the actions we take when we respond to what faith is calling us to do.  Life is lived on a higher plane of seeking not only our own interests, but what will benefit others and enhance all of life.  

Faith grows.  Instead of the stagnation that worry brings, we experience growth through overcoming fear, enlarging our perspectives, and expanding in response to what faith calls us to do.  

Faith glorifies.  Instead of looking inward to our own limited resources in dealing with fear, faith enables us to thrive and walk in strength and peace. Because we know that the One in whom we trust is true and will never abandon us.  He is God with us and for us.  He will fight our battles for us.  And our quiet confident belief that this is so highlights the awesome God that is all this and more for us.  

Here's a quick look at what's on my easel this week...it's a work in pastel:  

Be brave and courageous!

Mothers and Flamenco

African Violets

Watercolor

This weekend focuses on honoring the mothers in our lives.  As I think back over the influence my mother had in my life, one particular area I really appreciate is a door she opened in my life.  That door was the introduction of classical music to me.  As a young college student, my mom had savored performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City, as well as playing flute in her college orchestra.  By the time I came into the picture, she was far removed from the culture of New York City and we were living in the Badlands of South Dakota.  But she brought with her some record albums that became my gateway to the classical music world.  I remember listening to Handel's "Water Music" and the "Royal Fireworks" while looking out the living room window to the "other-worldly" landscape of buttes, pinnacles, and spires of the Badlands.

Ranch and Indian country was a long way from the concert halls of New York, but my heart was enraptured with the sound of violin, harpsichord, trumpet, and cello for the rest of my life.

Because of that doorway my mom opened for me as a young 4 year old, I have enjoyed many live performances from the likes of the Colorado Symphony, the Omaha Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony, the Bellingham Symphony, violinist Joshua Bell, pianist Van Cliburn, the Liepzig String Quartet, the Harlem String Quartet, and many others.  

So once again this week I was in the audience with my sketchbook, immensely enjoying a concert by American Flamenco guitarist Ronald Radford.  He was world class and gave a very engaging performance at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.  He kindly autographed my sketch of him.  

The flamenco guitar style derives from Spain and is energetic in a wide variety of ways. Here's an example of Ronald Radford's playing:

Wrapping this up, if you are a mom or any one who has influence over children, never underestimate the power of influence as you are being watched and followed by little eyes through the days and weeks.  I am deeply grateful for the door my mom opened to me in the enjoyment of music as a child.  My life has been so enriched by it!

Be brave and courageous!