He will Finish What He Began

Hello Friends,

Our family has been going through some trying times in the last year or so. A friend sent me an article with a very encouraging prophetic message. I clipped out the title and sidebar to use in an art journal page.

If you are unfamiliar with the prophetic, perhaps I can demystify it for you.

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice." (John 10:27) Any Christian can hear God's voice for herself. Any Christian can hear God's voice for other individuals. Sometimes a Christian can hear God's voice for a people group. The Christians we refer to as prophets hear God's voice for individuals and people groups on a regular basis. It is their main function in the Body of Christ. The article my friend sent me is from someone who is recognized by others as a prophet.

Unfortunately, many Christians do not recognize God's voice so they think he does not speak to them. That is because they are expecting to hear an audible voice and that is not usually how God speaks to us. He has a different way of speaking and even a 'language' that is unique to you.

Are you fascinated with skies, flowers, birds or animals? Listen with your heart, not your ears. What is God saying to you as you tend that beloved rose or groom your horse? Can you hear his whispers of love breaking through?

Do you love to buy or create gifts (or food) to give to loved ones? How is he creating with you? Is he telling you that he delights to give good gifts to you, just as you love to bless others with gifts?

What if you are not a Christian? What if you don't even believe in God? Will he still speak to you? YES. The person who seeks him with her whole heart, even if doubting but really wanting to know the truth, will find him. (Jeremiah 29:13) Guaranteed.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I do appreciate your visit.

Blessing hugs,
Teresa

Mixed Media Boxboard

Hello Friends,

One of the things I enjoy doing is recycling boxboard into art. Another thing I love doing is giving away these little art pieces to strangers as random acts of kindness. Both of these pieces have met that lovely fate.

I created these in April of 2017. This first one has some elements of collage, which I snipped from a magazine.

For my next piece, I got a jump-start with a Jane Davenport face stencil. I thinned out my flesh tone to reveal the splashes of colour beneath. Then I added a fabric flower to her hair. I waited for someone very special to come along to my demo table in order to give this one away.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you are having a wonderful day.

Blessing hugs,
Teresa

A Bushel and a Peck

Hello Friends,

I did this watercolor painting with collage in April of 2017 for a dear friend who had lost her father. He used to sing to her, "I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck."

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Blessing hugs,
Teresa

Mixed Media Pieces

Hello Friends,

I made these mixed media pieces from recycled boxboard some months ago, but am only getting around to posting them now.

Most of my pieces went as Christmas gifts or into a local shop, on consignment, but this next one I kept for myself. I couldn't bear to part with the bird-shaped bead I created.

This is the back.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Blessing hugs,
Teresa

Encaustic Collage

Hello Friends,

What is encaustic, you may ask, and rightly so. Though the art of painting with wax is millennia old, not many people nowadays have heard of it.

This bookmark encaustic piece was created in response to a challenge to make something black and white. After a few coats of white gesso, I added white and black encaustic paint with my encaustic (low temp) iron. Then I brushed on a few coats of encaustic medium before starting to add my collage elements: a Tickell Expressions sentiment, two white feathers and some metallic flakes. encaustic must be fused (heat gun) one layer at a time, cooling between. I finished the piece off with some fancy yarn and handmade beads. I pre-made them from pages of a well-worn New Testament bible. One of these days I will get a better setup for taking pictures. The metallic flakes do not show up at all.

If you are new here, you probably don't have this sentiment, so I will include it for your use.

Thanks for visiting.

Blessing hugs,
Teresa

Encouragement Card

Hello Friends,

I have taken a few watercolor lessons over the last few months. While I really appreciate all the You Tube tutorials available and online courses, they can't be compared to the value of having a talented teacher right there to help you get passed your mistakes and learn the basics.

One of our class exercises was to divide up our papers and paint nine different kinds of trees. I thought the little trees would make nice cards. I used this one on a scripture encouragement card.

It is always nice to have a few encouragement cards in my file, for whenever a friend or family member is going through a rough time.

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate the visit and look forward to reading your comments.

Blessing hugs,
Teresa

The God Who Sees Me

Hello friends,

Last Saturday I was given the extreme privilege of painting on stage with the worship team, during the worship part of our church's first monthly ladies' meeting. I prayed over and prepared my canvas ahead of time, but I didn't know what I was going to paint. Here is the completed painting in acrylics. I call it, "The God Who Sees Me".

The initial background, around the edges of the canvas only, suggested a forest, so I began putting in some fuzzy trees and defining one on the left. My mind's eye had seen a yellow/white orb when I was first asked to paint for the meeting, so I put a yellow/white circle in the center near the top. Some random brush strokes suggested the woman at the base of the tree.

I left the woman faceless. Her skin and hair are mid-tones. She can represent any woman. I did not paint clothes, but neither did I want a graphically naked body. I wanted only the suggestion of nakedness as in vulnerability, transparency and authenticity. We come to Christ real and sometimes raw, and he lovingly receives us. The woman is pregnant because God has impregnated his church with wonderful plans and purposes.

I added three bleeding knotholes in the tree the following day (Sunday) to represent the nail wounds of Christ.

When the painting was finished, I discovered this wonderful surprise - the image of a mother holding an infant as she gazes lovingly into its face. These were random brush strokes, so discovering this image was like a kiss from heaven.

I would love to hear how this painting speaks to you. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Blessing hugs,
Teresa