Remember last Thursday I told you I was going to take a break from
cleaning and go meet with my art group? Well, I'm glad I went because we
had so much fun!
Above from left to right is Jaron, Michelle, Lani, Terri, Janene and me!
Paulette (top) came too... just a little late for the group photo.
Michelle hosted us at her fabulous studio and
taught us a new painting technique of layering pattern upon pattern
upon pattern... can you see it? It really makes someone like me move out
beyond my comfort zone of wanting to color inside the lines. But since I love
pattern I found it to be so much fun... especially not having to be perfect!
The next step was to block out your image... so that the pattern showed only
where you wanted it to. I didn't realize at the time I was blocking in my bird
how the pattern I had painted so willy nilly would be perfect for her wings...
see... I told you it was fun! Even though I didn't have a plan for those three
circles at the top, they were just too cool to cover up so they stayed.
This is the stage I had to stop at when I left Michelle's.
So this is it finished...
I couldn't help myself... my heart was having such a good time I kept
painting at home into the night and then the next day and a little more the
next day until... she totally made me smile!
I love the vibrant colors and all the patterns intertwining...
I love that it's not perfect and yet perfectly beautiful...
It made me think of how much I try to have a perfectly manicured yard and yet
just beyond the yard is the woods in all it's glory... filled with winsome
wildflowers and whatsoever weeds, rambling bramble bushes and tall
majestic evergreens. patterns upon patterns upon patterns. planted oh so
willy nilly by the hand of nature. with God's clever creative touch. So not
perfect and yet so perfectly beautiful!
Thank You Lord for using the experiences of our lives as opportunities to teach
us and enlarge our vision. Thank You for the opportunities You give us
to express our creativity... the creativity we inherited from You, Father.
Thank You for the beauty of Your handiwork...
both in nature and in how You've created us... because even though we're
so far from perfect, we are perfectly beautiful in Your eyes.
May we reflect the beauty of Your love in our lives today... amen.
