Coral Skies

Yes!! So happy to paint again! Just finished up a small canvas this morning.
Hope to give this one away as a wedding gift :)

Do I follow a certain procedure whenever I paint? Hmm…let me think…

First I gesso the canvas (one horizontal layer and one vertical layer)

After the gesso dries, I do a rough sketch in pencil.

Then I begin blocking in the main sections with diluted acrylics. You can also use watercolour or diluted ink for blocking.

For landscape painting: I start layering on the background colours, then I gradually move to elements of the foreground. This usually means beginning work on the sky.

I mostly work from dark shades to light. But I'm always back returning to accentuate darker shadows, to highlight here and there.

The awesome thing about acrylics is you can just paint over and over the same spot until you're happy.

And then I just wing it hahaha! ;) Nah…

Anyway, it's important to have reference pictures. Where would I be without them?

Tada ~ my palette! A work of art in itself...

Have a lovely day!

1 Corinthians 10:31 "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

I love prayer!

What a gift and absolute joy it is to pray to our Heavenly Father and know that He hears us! 

Over the last week, God has really opened my eyes to the healing power of prayer. In the midst of my anxiety and kind-of heaviness of heart, God used prayer to draw me closer to Him, to teach me to trust Him more and more. Friday I woke up renewed and strengthened - praise God! I rejoice that in my weakness, God is strong. And I'm loving prayer more than ever. :)

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Yesterday I was so encouraged and blessed to be able gather with fellow believers and pray for the persecuted body of Christ in Iraq. Keep on praying in Jesus' Name!

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

A little rumpled up in spirit?

"I am well in body although considerably rumpled up in spirit, thank you, ma'am," said Anne.
~ L.M. Montgomery

Thinking about this quote made me smile today! Ahh, I think I know how you feel, Anne! hahaha

I've been feeling both physically and emotionally drained in the last week. It's time to fight back with prayer and the sWord of God! 

Say it out loud and build yourself up: "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10b
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
"But those who wait on 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

Letting God write your story...

Sometimes God surprises you in ways you least expect.

I am just...mindblown.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Spring Blooms

The first day of spring really felt like the first spring day! Warm white-gold sunshine, sharp shadows on the concrete, a bluer than blue sky ~ I realised how much I missed these things during winter. 
I especially loved the return of bright colours to the day. How amazing is it that God created every single colour in the universe.

September sort of marks the start of the end of the year for me because all the rest of the months end in 'ember', well, except October. But 'ober' is pretty close to 'ember', isn't it? Haha!

Below is a very encouraging passage I read this morning, and a great prayer for myself and my brothers and sisters in Christ! 

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NKJV)

"14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."