Another Artwork Executed

    It is done- my St. Therese painting that I have been so excited about. It was accomplished rather briskly for me, seeing as it is larger than 16 by 20 inches, and I hardly ever paint something even that sizable.

"No One Bothering to Catch It"

     I thought of this painting one night when I was rereading for at least the 15th time a section of The Story of a Soul. I was from chapter five, the chapter about the Christmas that changed everything:

I enjoyed painting this dress!

"As I closed my Missal after Mass one Sunday, a picture of the Crucifixion slipped out a little way, and I could just see one of the wounds in Our Lord's hands, with blood flowing from it. A strange new thrill passed over me. It pierced my heart with sorrow to see His Precious Blood falling, with not one bothering to catch it, and I made up my mind, there and then, to stay in spirit at the foot of the Cross, to gather up the dew of heavenly life and give it to others."
                         -St. Therese <3


It is also roughly based on the idea St. Therese would speak of, about letting fall a shower of roses from heaven. Thus the reason for the blood falling as roses (at least, that was what I was going for.)

Yes. These were a PAIN-lovely as roses are.

     This idea is also in this post from a few months ago, with the blood turning into roses. I almost said "transfigured" into roses, but I don't believe that would be accurate: some might think blood to roses is a change for the better, this is Christ's blood- it is far more beautiful than a garden of roses.
    That was one of those things you don't plan on posting, but just think of sporadically as you are writing. In fact, I hadn't thought of that before, not even when painting these two paintings. Interesting.
   I am going to share a St. Therese quote that I do NOT like. It is something that I find hard, and that I'd rather not be reminded of. I have to fight little, annoying, and slightly vicious thoughts when I read it or here it:

 "If I did not simply suffer from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient; but I look only at the present moment, forget the past, and I take good care not to forestall the future. When we yield to discouragement or despair it is usually because we give too much thought to the past and to the future. "-St. Therese of Lisieux

Painting in Progress Pt. 2

   I decided to go ahead and post a quick preview of my painting before I leave for work. 

I decided to do this because I think that unfinished work has a charm of its own- and this painting in particular at this point has that. Although, I won't show you the whole thing, so, perhaps the charm is a bit diminished here (or maybe it was all in my head in the first place).

         I have to run to work now- I hope I can finish this soon! Although, I may be sorry when it is done as I do not have another painting in my head yet.... Hmm... I will have to think on it.

Here is a quote by our Pope from a speech that I understand he just presented in Madrid, Spain:

"Dear friends, may no adversity paralyze you. Be afraid neither of the world, nor of the future, nor of your weakness. The Lord has allowed you to live in this moment of history so that, by your faith, his name will continue to resound throughout the world."
~Pope Benedict XVI, homily for World Youth Day, August 2011

Painting in Progress

You remember that painting from the last post- the one I got so excited about? Well, I am working on it. See? I have been busy! (but that's hardly any excuse for not sketching something to draw.) I've been painting and watching Serenity and going to the theater twice to see The Deathly Hallow Part 2. AND working out AND reading AND actually cooking (a bit) for my lunches at work! For me, that's a lot. I have lots of energy lately and I am rather enjoying it.

 

Here is a preview of my painting. It's a black and white underpainting. It's also an experiment- I am trying out a new brush that has an odd asymmetrical shape that I thought might work well for petals. I was right, but it's tricky. It's a hit and miss every stroke, which is frustrating, but over all I think it's turning out ok. Eventually the roses will be red.

    This painting will have lots of roses... and roses are hard. Why do I do this to myself?

 Oh! And guys, FALL is coming! I am so happy about that! I've had enough of southern 110 degree days. I want to go outside without melting. 

   I bought a lovely hardcover used (but in excellent shape) copy of the complete works of Flannery O'Connor. A few quotes in her honor would be lovely:

‎"Don't expect faith to clear things up for you. It is trust--not certainty." -Flannery O'Connor

"The artist uses his reason to discover an answering reason in everything he sees." -Flannery O’Connor

May 14th, 2011: Yes I Have Been Busy! Ish.

   This painting is a commission I did for a friend, to be a graduation gift for another friend. So really, I was doing it for two friends- only, one got the painting, and the other did not. I will see what I can do for the paintingless friend in the future. ;)
   This painting is part of a style I seem to be developing: sketchy, impressionistic I suppose, and more contrasting. I like it. It's fun. I also actually really truly like this painting; which is odd, because I hardly ever like my work. It was rather painful to give up.

Hmm... how about another St. Therese quote I reread last night- I think it is rather perfect:

My joy I find in pain and loss,
I love the thorns that guard the rose;
With joy I kiss each heavy cross,
And smile with every tear that flows.
-St. Therese

April 12th, 2011: An Emo Day....

So today was tough, I'm not gonna lie. And I have been reflecting on many things, such as suffering, patience, anxiety for what's to happen, etc. I did this little sketch as more of a time to sit and reflect and think, and not so much for display at all. I even considered not posting it. But I decided I would. Maybe someone else out there had an emo day and would like to see a fellow sufferer. What the drops are I haven't decided. Maybe they are rain. Maybe they are blood ( having to do with the"sharing in Christ's death" perhaps) But there you have it: a quick sketch that I did for myself at the end of a less than perfect day.

"Broken things are precious. We eat broken bread because we share in the death of Our Lord and his broken life. Broken flowers give perfume. Broken inscence is used in adoration. A broken ship saved Paul and many other pssengers on their way to Rome. Sometimes the only way the good Lord can get into some hearts is to break them." - Fulton Sheen.

     

  I know I have already shared this quote, but it is what my drawing is based on, and so I reposted it. I have also been bumming around to Mumford and Sons.... and here is a quote from their song After the Storm that I rather like:

“And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.

And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.

Get over your hill and see what you find there,

With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.”

I want to draw something based off this sometime, but hopefully I will be more chipper next time, and will maybe draw another umbrella attacking a kid, a cuddly soft thing, or a dragon, or something. God bless. 

                 
P.S. It just occurred to me that part of this blog is orange... I don't even like orange... so I have NO idea how I let that happen. Although I have to admit, the blog ain't bad lookin......

March 18th, 2011: Flowers are EVERYWHERE.... more or less

So... I was sick all night, the plans for my day were out the window, and I moped around the house sick all day. So I drew some flowers, and an obnoxiously happy little painting.
     The first is a t-shirt design I did to help out the Little Flowers, a household I joined while at Franciscan University. The second is the obnoxious one. Take that depression and icky feelings! Take the flowers and sunshine and yellows and pinks!! (I  don't really care for too much yellows and pinks, just so you know, so them IS fighting words for me)

So that is my happy picture with the pinks and yellows. It did make me feel better. Even if it IS pink.....

March 1st: Attaching the Foot to the Invention, and The Rose Elf

I have been reading Andersen's fairy tales lately, and this sketch is from a story called The Rose Elf, which I find tragic, disturbing, and absolutely charming and lovely. I do not want to tell you the story here because I want you to find and discover it for yourself. It is only a few pages long, but so packed with details and suggestions. I LOVE Andersen's work so far! I think that this sketch would look good redone as a pen and ink drawing.... I may just do that, after I tweak the composition a bit.

"And the queen bee hummed in the air and sang of the blossom's revenge and of the rose elf, and of how behind the smallest petal there lives one who can tell and can avenge a wrong." 

Drawing number two is from Structure of Man: Drawing the Human Figure From Your Mind. Look! I am attaching the foot to the Invention! Yes! That means we get to move onto the arms and hands soon! 

Art quote:

"I feel there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." -Vincent Van Gogh....  That right there is why I think that "art for art's sake" does not stand on it's own, more or less. "Only love creates," -St. Maximillian Kolbe.