Behold, or the Bold and the Beautiful

So happy to say it has been named "Lion Within" as it has been donated to Southern Interior Rotary Lodge

 in Kelowna funded by the Canadian CancerSociety http://www.cancer.ca/en/support-and-

services/support-services/travel-and-accommodations-bc/?region=bc

Painting of the Lion and a Beautiful woman has many names.

This painting had many inspirations, words and thoughts that came to mind.  I first inspired by the words

 “Behold”  There are many verses that came to mind when I started this painting. “Behold He comes”, 

 “Behold the Lamb”, or a song written by David Crowder and sung by the Newsboys “My God is not dead

 He’s surely alive living on the inside roaring like a Lion”. Or 1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert.

 Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”.

17" x 24"

Prophetic Art, Art for Healing

 

I did a Art4Healing® certification around 2013 which was an intense program at  Art &  Creativity partnership with Brandman University-Chapman University System. It was really eye-opening as it gave me the freedom to go past "white canvas".  Don't you feel like that sometimes - staring at a white canvas can be a bit overpowering, but in this workshop, they prompted us with words and feelings and then we had to paint what we   felt. Strange thing was, mine was very spiritual.  My painting technique changed thereafter. Wave of God This painting was donated to the Pregnancy Centre to be hung in one of their bedrooms.  I hope it makes the person sleeping in that room at peace.   Glory This painting was painted at a church whilst the musicians were playing.  It was scary and humbling, all I could do was paint with blue and use my palette knife. Show Me the Glory Inspired by a moment of spiritual prayer where I longed to see Jesus’s face, this more than just a painting to me. It’s a blend of tranquility and introspection, framed within a dazzlingly colorful natural landscape. My goal was to evoke feelings of peace and reflection in anyone who views it. Creating this artwork was a unique journey. Pouring over every detail, from the vibrant glow of the sunset to the minute intricacies of the wet sand, allowed me to connect deeply with the scene I was painting. Each brushstroke was a step toward bringing this serene moment to life, and I hope it inspires you to find your own moments of peace and reflection. Praying in The Spirit Overcomer - we are all Over comers if we Worship and read the Word. The Pathway - another painting was created whilst worshiping in church, loved creating the texture of the pathway or wooden plank. Oil from Heaven Overflowing I asked God, "why are you taking me through troubled waters" He replied, "Because your enemies can't swim". Unity - I painted this in church up front whilst everyone was worshipping.  I felt were all in unity praying for breakthroughs. Overflow God Pursues You Under His Wings -  “Under His Protection”, was inspired after listening to Lauren Daigle’s song “Under Your Wings” from the Album “Look Up Child”. But the verses from Psalm 91 are truly inspiring and uplifting for anyone’s self-help journey. Eagle that Soars but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31 Inspired by the uplifting verse Isaiah 40:31, this artwork embodies a message of renewed vigor and divine resilience. Every element, from the eagle’s poised strength to the tranquil, awe-inspiring landscape, reflects a profound narrative of hope and endurance.

Standing in the Gap

My journey with each of my paintings is a struggle, it does not come naturally.  I do not have the end result already completed in my head.  I have an idea of a image, a word, then I search for the particular image combining maybe 2 or 3 images.  Not like I have lions,elephants in my back yard.  As I work with acrylic trying colours, using different textures, I see where it takes me, sometimes surprises me and then I do not want to change that particular area, like it is almost done.  And then there are some areas, no matter how hard I try, I cannot make it work, the colours are wrong the go muddy and the pictures loose it vitality, its meaning.  Pretty much like life. There are some areas, no matter how hard you try you struggle with it, and only through divine intervention, through repentance and relying only on grace are you able to work passed it.  Acrylic is so workable, you are able to rub the paint off with water, or use white or grey and start again. This painted I gave to my pastor to hang in his office.

This painting is called "Standing in the Gap".  

This painting  is about the increase of poaching on  elephants and rhinos.  Just saw on facebook that someone posted 11 elephants slaughtered.

We must stand in the gap for these elephants and rhinos but our Saviour Jesus Christ  the Lion of Judah stood in the gap on the cross for all of us so that we may have eternity with the Father.

I painted over another painting so used its frame

My progress

Whilst painting this  I was watching my favourite animal channel and watched a awesome program about Elephants in Knysna (Elephant Knysna Park)  and the interaction with these tame animals.   They have created a free-range controlled environment, which means that the elephants get to walk and browse in the fields as they would do in the wild, however they do need handlers and guides with them constantly as they are living amongst and interacting with humans every day. Your experience of the elephants is therefore as natural as possible -  never ask elephants to perform tricks or behave in a manner that is not natural to them.   Here is an newsletter that better explains their methods.  http://www.knysnaelephantpark.co.za/newsletters.html

 Another program I watched was the Cheetah Outreach in the Cape.  I am so "chowing at the bit" to paint some cheetahs. http://www.cheetah.co.za/  They have a awesome motto "see it, sense it, save it", almost what we artist try and do.