Face
7
First,
I taking part in the 29 Faces in September Challenge At Ayala's. If
you want to see the other 6, just click on the label 29faces
below.
I
brought some gouache yesterday and couldn't wait to try them. I am
not sure whether she is startled or the look is “In
your face, Mate!' At the moment I am just calling her Little
Missy.
Up
the Creek – a story of restoration
I
have finally started on Up the Creek, it has has taken me 10 years to
get going. At long last.... The triptych is the story of those 10
years. I have never painted autobiographical work before, so it is a
bit scary.
It
started with me being involved in a serious car crash in my final
year at art school. Walking was a problem let alone painting. (I was
awarded my diploma as I had a large body of work – pays to be a
workaholic! And I could finish my thesis in hospital) While I was in
rehab I did a drawing called “up the creek”(in NZ slang it means
in a right old mess!) – me in a boat clinging on for dear life
while the boat was being tossed and turned. I would show it here, but
I gave it to the nurses and I think it is still on the wall in their
office (well, it was on my last visit). I have been in and out of
hospital ever since. On one of other visits I did this work in
watercolour pencils.
The
idea has been mulling around in my head for ages. I have been unable
to paint very well because of being unable to lift my arm much higher
than mid chest. That is why I turned to pencils and computer because
I could rest my arm on a desk. Well last year a miracle happened and
my shoulder improved so that now I can lift my arm to shoulder height
and sometimes higher. People have different theories about how it is
healing. My belief is that God healed it. I became a Christian 2 ½
years ago and have been praying regularly for healing. There is a lot
more to heal but I am on the path – one day I will walk without
crutches!
Well,
all this means is that I can paint again! I was slow getting started
because I had got into the rut of believing I couldn't do it. But
thanks to this blog and the wonderful comments people have made with
my Proverbs series I feel that I have the confidence to do it.
So
basically the triptych is about restoration – my path of recovery.
So
here is the drawing for the first painting. This week I tinted the
canvas with Prussian blue and it is large 1 metre by 1 metre! The
canvas has been sitting and waiting for 10 years! I haven't posted it
as a plain blue canvas is boring. At this stage I am not sure whether
to make the boat fill the canvas or to make it smaller to signify how
small we are. Next week I will draw the large boat with chalk on the
dry background to see whether it is right if not I can wipe it out
and do it smaller. I will post as I go on this on PPF days.
Have
a happy PPF day everybody and thanks for visiting.
Scripture
for the triptych
Painting
one - Up the Creek
But
why, why this chronic pain, this ever worsening wound and no healing
in sight? You're nothing, GOD, but a mirage, a lovely oasis in the
distance--and then nothing! Jer 15:18 Msg
Painting
two - The Waterfall
As
for you, I'll come with healing, curing the incurable, Because they
all gave up on you and dismissed you as hopeless-- that
good-for-nothing Zion.' Jer 30:17
Painting
three – Restoration (Still waters)
"But
the river itself, on both banks, will grow fruit trees of all kinds.
Their leaves won't wither, the fruit won't fail. Every month they'll
bear fresh fruit because the river from the Sanctuary flows to them.
Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."
Eze 47:12
