God's Light...

♥ Cath-

    P.S. After the art show on Saturday I had to time to stop and sit and enjoy looking over the beautiful verdure that is Twenty Valley (from Jordan Museum grounds) in the dazzling late afternoon sun.  

Art in the Village 2012

    Phew!!  Made it through my first ever art show!!  Our wonderful town had an Art in the Village day to celebrate Niagara being selected as the Cultural Capital of Canada 2012.  About twenty local artists were selected to display their work, me being one of them - Yeah!!  Here is what my tent looked like when all set up: 

        I had a wonderful day meeting new people and hearing their comments on my paintings and illustrations.  It was good for me to see my work through other people's eyes for a short time...
Feeling very blessed for the opportunity and encourage you to visit the rest of the Niagara Nights of Art scheduled from now until November 3rd.  You are sure to be inspired!!

    ♥ Cath-

Happy 18th Anniversary!

Our Wedding Day

July 23, 1994

18 years ago - Wow, time flies!!

    I have always loved the Latin phrase "Semper Amemus" which means 'let us love forever' or 'that we may love forever'... Nothing is more inspiring than knowing that you are married to your best friend and the love of your life!  So thankful to God for blessing us, may He bless us with many more years together! 

    

    ♥ Cath-  

   

Love never ends...

"Love is patient and kind;

love does not envy or boast;

it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.

Love never ends."

(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8)

♥ Cath-

P.S. Another addition to my heart-shaped rock photo collection...

found in the path along the Bruce Trail, Jordan, July 7, 2012 

"Do not be anxious about anything..."

It is hard to do but well worth the practice it takes to replace worrying with earnest prayer!

♥ Cath-

P.S. This photo was taken in Campden, ON - I just loved the horizontal bands of colour!



Campfire - Preliminary Sketch

"Campfire"

Preliminary Sketch

(H/HB graphite, sketchbook)

    I was talking with a friend this past week about how much her family looks forward to campfires in the backyard and making S'mores over the open flame... She then said I should make a picture of several woodland animals sitting around a campfire making S'mores...  I could see it all in my mind the moment she mentioned it and so I grabbed my sketchbook when I got home and worked up this sketch.  Like the preliminary sketch of Nicholas in his shop of antiquities light and shadow are very important in creating the proper atmosphere...

    I may be working this one as a painting while displaying my artwork at the Jordan Musuem grounds (3800 Main Street, Jordan) on Saturday, July 28th from 10am - 6pm.  The town of Lincoln has created an 'Art in the Village' day in participation with the "Niagara: Cultural Capital of Canada" program for 2012.  I submitted some artwork and was selected so I will have some of my acrylic work there and many of my watercolours... nothing is for sale - it is a display show only - I am looking forward to seeing you all there!

    ♥ Cath-    

Drawing in the Shade - Take 2

"Drawing in the Shade"

(watercolour, approx. 8x8")

    I sat down to work on the ideas I had after completing the original "Drawing in the Shade" and this is what I accomplished... it's more interesting now with a few more objects of interest... it feels more peaceful.

The bunny is doing what he enjoys in a comfortable spot in the yard....

    Here are a couple details from the painting:

I definitely enjoy this painting more than the original...

Happy, less humid days to paint really help!

♥ Cath-

"Do not lose heart..."

"So we do not lose heart.

Though our outer nature is wasting away,

our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us

an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

as we look not to the things that are seen  but to the things that are unseen.

For the things that are seen are transient,

but the things that are unseen are eternal."

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18) 

♥ Cath-

P.S. This photo was taken a few weeks ago in the beautiful gardens of my dear friends John & Lisa. 



Drawing in the Shade

"Drawing in the Shade" 

(watercolour, 4x4", cropped detail)

    We don't have central-air in our house and this last week has made us all feel slug-like in our thoughts and activities... We have traveled to area malls to enjoy an hour of air-conditioning and tried to stay still for long periods of time so as not to be in a constant state of "sweat".

    Above is a portion of a watercolour doodle I made while still in the mode of thinking cooling thoughts (see also: "Meeting in the Middle") and had the energy to sit at my art table without risk of sweat droplets falling on my painting! :)

    Sitting under a big shade tree where the air is clear and light, the sun is warm but the temperature under the thick foliage is several degrees cooler than in direct sun... Perfect atmosphere for inspiring thoughts!  

   I don't know if I like the complete doodle... actually I know I don't prefer it - yet.  Looking at it now I know I need to put more into it... more options for the bunny to have chosen from... why did he choose to lean up against the knobbly bark of the big tree when there was a beautiful l'il settee full of plump cushions just over there?  These are the kind of after-thoughts I have had... so this is only a doodle and one day soon I will create a more complete story picture showing more details....  Here is the complete drawing so you can see what I mean:

    The hint of a setteee just over by the climbing rose would be better and maybe even a brightly coloured ball over to the left in the middle ground to have given bunny more options showing his choice of sitting in the shade to draw over running around kicking a ball.... Hmmm, I tend to grow and stretch with every doodle and drawing, always questioning, what more could have been done to make this more complete, more interesting....  and these mental musings are enough for me to accomplish in this heat! :)

    As I type these last few words I hear thunder outside - could we have a welcome relief from the humidity and high temperatures?? Mayhaps after the storm we will be blessed with a perfect atmosphere for more inspiring thoughts!!  Thanks be to God!!

    ♥ Cath-