Auntie's Workshop

The prompt for today is:  Here's what I came up with. I know that this isn't a new idea, but I'd not tried it before.  This is a 12x12 canvas coated in black acrylic paint.  I printed the sheet music on some parchment colored paper and used Mod-Podge to glue it to the canvas.  Then I painted the holly and cardinal beneath.  This was fun and I may try it again in the future when I can slow down and take my time.

Today's challenge: Colour In Your Life is a fabulous program showcasing artists from all over the world.  Since the original host died in 2022, only a few additional episodes were released.  As of today, the program's website is no longer active.  However, the show's YouTube channel is still up. One episode that I frequently rewatch features Yelena Dyumin.  She is a Russian-born artist living in Sydney, Australia.  She specializes in whimsical surrealism.  Her design process is captivating. As you can see in the video (you watched it, didn't you?), Yelena uses a variety of techniques.  I was intrigued by her use of the squeeze bottles combined with traditional techniques of shading and blending.  I thought I'd give it a try. "Parasol Queen I" O...K.... So, I didn't get exactly what I wanted, but I don't hate it.  I did learn a few things.  First, I don't believe Yelena diluted her paint. In order to get the paint to flow with any kind o...

 "I Hear the Ocean" 8x10 acrylic on canvas   Malachi 3;2 - But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap.   ⌚   One of the lessons I have to relearn repeatedly is to know when to call a project finished.  I have a bad habit of trying to correct every perceived flaw in my work.  Getting into a refining frenzy usually doesn't end well.  I usually wind up making worse mistakes, getting utterly frustrated, and either starting over again or chunking it altogether. Minor changes are a fun part of the process of learning.  These aren't mere corrections, but a nearly OCD-level of repair.  This steals all the fun out of creativity and tempts me to hide all evidence I made the attempt. That is no way to create. ⏰ ------------------------- If you are interested in purchasing any of the art pieces featured, please e-mail me at auntiesworksho...

 "Taste and See" 8x10 Acrylic on Canvas  I Peter 5:5 - (KJV) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. ⌚   After finally getting back to my reading quest , I'm about halfway through a book by Jeff Goins called Real Artists Don't Starve .  I'll go into more detail about it when I write the review, but one of the interesting steps in becoming a thriving artist rather than a starving one is to set yourself up as an apprentice.  The author understands that you can't always have a one-on-one arrangement with someone, but the trick is to be teachable. So, who can I follow in apprenticeship?  Because of books and the internet, I've learned from some of the best painters, crochet artists, and quilters. Is there anyone who will allow me to pick their brain for specific answers?  I thought I migh...

 "Steel Magnolia. v. 2.1" Available as 4x6 greeting card.    Also available as 8x10 painting on rectangular or oval canvas. Isaiah 43:19 - Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. ⌚   The great Mark Twain said, "The only one who likes change is a wet baby."  Boy is he right. The weird part is, this statement holds true for positive changes as well as negative ones.  We get tired of the sameness, but we're so comfortable with it that putting up with it seems easier than making changes.  That, my friends, is a trap. I know, I've been there too many times. This year there have been more changes in my life than I've ever dealt with.  Nearly all of it is positive, and even the negative has worked out to my good (Romans 8:28).  Still, I fight the urge to bolt and run back to comfortable misery. I need to keep chan...

 "Walking on Sunshine." - 8x10 acrylic on canvas    I John 4:19 - We love him, because he first loved us. ⌚   Because I said so. When you're a kid, you hate that answer from you parents.  As an adult, if you deal with children any length of time (whether they're yours or not), you understand, and fully use because as the answer. Why? Because! Just kidding. Because the older head knows what's coming.  Because explaining the answer would be too complicated or cause too much drama.  Because it's better for you not to know why. I'm experiencing some "because" answers from Daddy God.  Some things I said I would never do, the Lord has said to do them.  When, and if I ask why?   His answer is because .  In other words trust me . As I go along and get to the end of some things, the why is revealed, and yes, I'm glad I didn't know.  It's all good, but sometimes there's a mess to go through to get to the...

 "Wings of Freedom" 8x10 acrylic on canvas    Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ⌚   Revise - to reconsider and alter (something) in the light of further evidence. God has done a lot of revising in my life.  His Word always presents the light of further evidence.  Staying in His Word is what helps me distinguish whether what's being taught is truth or a lie. To do a proper revision, there must be a firm standard to go by.  Just as in the study of history should begin with the writings of the person involved (if they are available), shouldn't knowledge about God be firmly rooted in His own inspired Word? See, if I know the Word, then if Brother Doo-Dad or Sister Bucket Mouth presents a version of the Gospel that doesn't line up with the Bible, I can safely toss it.  If...

 "Christmas Candle:  Acrylic on canvas. Will be offered soon as a 4x6 greeting card.  Matthew 5:14 - Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ⌚   Ten weeks ago, I left the sweltering, yet beautiful, land of the Southern Belle and arrived in the arid land of the Rocky Mountains.  I knew that God had a good plan and purpose for this move, but today's sermon has shifted my thinking even further. Based on the book of Nehemiah, Pastor Robert is, without knowing it, preaching the encouragement I need right now.  Understand, the Pastor doesn't know me from Adam's housecat; I'm just a new face among many, and we've never been introduced.  He is preaching on our place in our city as the salt and light of the world Jesus was speaking of in Matthew 5.  In short, the city is not here just for us; we are here for the city. Why is this encouraging?  It takes a lot of time to establish solid friendship...

 "Read and Sip" 16x20 acrylic on canvas. Painted at Paintology 101 II Kings 23:2 - The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.   ⌚   I blog a lot about my love of reading.  Writing book reviews is one of my favorite types of blog posts.  Books are personal and writing about them is like sharing a piece of my heart. I went to view an apartment over the weekend.  Hopefully my application for it will be accepted and I'll be moving soon.  My sister, Clara, and I sat and virtually decorated it over the phone.  The first thing I thought of was where my reading nook would be.  I picture a comfortable chair and ottoman, a nice bright light, a book in my hand, notebook...

 "A Little Birdie Told Me."  8x10 acrylic on canvas. Also available as a 4x6 note card Ephesians 4:15 - (KJV) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Philippians 4:8 - (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ⌚   Have you ever noticed how what we think about ourselves, we project onto other people?  Conversely, what we think about others, we project onto ourselves.  If I don't love myself, I have a very hard time loving someone else.  When I'm rejected by someone, I project that rejection onto myself by what I say and how I treat myself. Speaking loving truth into someone's life should build them up, rather than tear them down.  Sure, ...

 "Running at Sunset" 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas Painted at Paintology 101 , Jacksonville, AL Hebrews 12:1 - (KJV) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us...   ⌚ I'm ticked off this morning. The year started off with my questioning whether I needed to continue my membership in my runners club back home.  I've never been able to break through the elitist attitude of much of the group.  Well, I think I have my answer now. Y'all know about all the changes that have happened in the past few months.  I've moved, job hunted, started a new full-time job, and now am searching for a place to live.  In the midst of all that, I've done my best to get in mileage for their program, but my numbers are not good enough for them. I just got a degrading mes...

 "Crocks of Fall" 11x14 Acrylic on Canvas ⌚ Trust the process. I hate hearing that sometimes, because, quite frankly, sometimes the process can suck.  Not just the processes of life, but also of art  Though I know that art is in the eye of the beholder, I've made projects that even I thought were too ugly for consumption--I wouldn't even give them away.  Life can get really ugly--so ugly you don't want anyone to know about it.  This is the point where trusting the process is necessary.  Most importantly, trusting the Processor is of the utmost importance.  We know that His process will produce something more beautiful, more glorious, than ever. Trust Him. ⏰  -------------------------------- If you are interested in purchasing any of the art pieces featured, please e-mail me at auntiesworkshop@outlook.com

  "Hush Your Mouth."  8x10 acrylic on canvas Also available as a 4x6 greeting card. Psalm 26:7 - (KJV) I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalm 26:7 - (MSG) I scrub my hands with purest soap, then join hands with the others in the great circle, dancing around your altar, Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs, telling God-stories ⌚ Do you remember the old 70's sitcom That's My Mama ?  If Junior, Clifton's best friend, had some juicy news, he'd burst into the house and say, "I got it, I got it, and I've GOT to report it!" Now, granted, Junior usually had some gossip to spew, but don't you think we should have the same level of excitement when it comes time to tell others about the good things God has done in our lives?  I've been in fellowships where the devil got more accolades th...

"Fear the Beak" 8 x 10 Acrylic on canvas Also available as a 4x6 greeting card set with envelopes. Interested in purchasing?  Send an e-mail to auntiesworkshop@outlook.com The inspiration:   Matthew 26:34, 72-75  - Jesus said unto him [Peter], Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice....And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.  73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. ( KJV ) My alma mater's mascot is the Fighting Gamecock.  Picture it, thousands of fans, over 500 marching band members (yes, over 500!), a gaggle of che...

The New Wine :  16 x 20 Acrylic on Canvas. Interested in purchasing?  Send an e-mail to auntiesworkshop@outlook.com  The inspiration:   Matthew 9:17  - Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. (KJV)   I recently heard Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church  teach a message on how to be lead by the Spirit of God.  One of his points was that in order to start hearing from God, one must stop focusing on both the inner and outer voices that would lead one astray.  One of the loudest voices is current culture. Though oxymoronic, current culture is often an "old bottle."  Ecclesiastes 1:9 in the New Living Translation says, "History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new."  Styles and attitudes are based on what was befor...

  Window Garden :  16 x 20 Acrylic on canvas.  Interested in purchasing?  Send an e-mail auntiesworkshop@outlook.com Isaiah 40:8 - The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  (KJV) Each season, God provides beautiful flora and fauna for us to enjoy.  Spring bursts with azalea and dogwood blooms.  Summer is a symphony of color from huge yellow sunflowers to tiny pink dianthus.  Autumn is filled with the changing colors of leaves and pots of mums.  Winter rounds out the year with violas and pansies.  With each season is the reminder that though the beauty of last season is gone, there's more to come. Our walk with God is like that. Each season of struggle against satan's attacks is replete with stunning bouquets of God's grace that make us "more than a conqueror" (Romans 8:37).  Song of Solomon 2:1 calls Jesus the "Rose of Sharon" and "The Lilly of the Valley."  H...

8x10 Acrylic on Canvas $35.00 unframed,  $50.00 framed + shipping (Frame styles vary by availability)   Late summer blooms and butterflies enjoying the reflection of sunshine.  Keep summer in those corners during the cooler months with this piece.   A replica of this painting is being donated to the Jacksonville Senior Citizen's Center as a door prize for their monthly dance. Interested in purchasing? Contact me at auntiesworkshop@outlook.com

11x14 Acrylic on Canvas $50.00 unframed,  $75.00 framed + shipping (Frame styles vary by availability)   As the deer pants for streams of water,  so my soul pants for you, my God.   Psalm 42:1 - New International Version  

8x10 Acrylic on Canvas $35.00 unframed,  $50.00 framed + shipping (Frame styles vary by availability)   Summer vacation is over, the kids head back to school soon, and Mondays always roll around, but you don't want to forget the wonders of the ocean.  This painting will remind you of the peaceful respite from the rat race.     A replica of this painting is being donated to the Jacksonville Senior Citizen's Center as a door prize for their monthly dance.

8x10 Acrylic on Canvas $35.00 unframed,  $50.00 framed + shipping