Destroying a Painting

What started with a desire to recreate a favourite sunset photo on canvas, ended with a foreboding message…or several, depending on how you look at it.

I photographed a phenomenal sunset from a moving vehicle with two friends after a retreat in Minneapolis. The cloud and light formation reminded me of an angel, and I named my photo Angel Sky.

On Sunday afternoon I decided to make an attempt at transferring the image in the photo to canvas. Foolish me…how can I possibly re-create something perfect that the Chief Artist Himself created first?

After viewing my “finished” version of Angel Sky, I realized that my attempt was pleasant, but weak in the depth department. So I took the canvas, and with a bit of trepidation, made some additional modifications…

The painting took on a whole new disturbing demeanor. One aspect of which is: while I spend an inordinate amount of time enjoying sunrises and sunsets (sometimes at the last second avoiding running my car off the road), not every spectacular celestial display is noticed and appreciated by everyone else in our busy world. 

Our earth is also running out of resources, as a result of centuries of greed, neglect and apathy (of which I am as guilty as anyone else). Not only are we gradually destroying our planet, we are not paying attention to the messages on the signposts and the loving Creator who wants only to be in relationship with us.

“Whilst we are cruising through the aisles of plenty,
Our hoardings screen us from the man of sorrows,
Our soundtracks drown his murmur: ‘I am thirsty’."

(Quote from Malcolm Guite’s: Christ the King Sonnet)

What can one do? One small step: This year, our families have agreed to forego the usual gift-giving, and my husband and I will make an extra effort to donate to worthy causes around the world instead. By the way, the new name of the painting is Harbinger.

As I meditate and pray further on the message of this painting that I have in effect destroyed, I will be looking forward to preparing for the Christmas season for a new, happy reason. While I have lost my dear Mother this year, I have gained a new granddaughter...:)

God bless you all this Christmastide. 

A Painting Story...

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I had been away at a refreshing weekend in Minneapolis for a conference called "Women of Faith". My husband called me on Saturday night to let me know that my pregnant daughter, Cherie, was in the hospital, and had been induced. I spent Sunday on the long drive home with my companions Jen Werner and Courtney Perez. We almost lost our way a couple of times, making wrong turn-offs - distracted with conversation and storytelling. Both girls were growing excited, in anticipation of finding out if my daughter had had her baby while we were traveling.

The sunset that evening was spectacular - so I took many photos from the moving car, and Jen even stopped the car for a few minutes to snap a few more.

At one point, Jen said that the sunset looked like a "crescendo", and I told her that if I painted it, I would give it that name in her honour.

Here it is, Jen!!

The weekend ended with a crescendo - Cherie had her baby girl on Monday, Oct.22nd - one day past her Grandad's birthday. 

On the same day as I painted Crescendo, I also finished a mother and child portrait called Safe Here in Your Arms. The title comes from a song I was listening to as I finished the painting: "In Your Arms" by Neworldson.