2011 Highlights

Showing posts with label painting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label painting. Show all posts

Thursday, November 13, 2008

"Shall Give Thee Experience"

What do you think?


So, a month ago was the deadline for the art competition hosted by the Church's history museum.  I was working on a painting to enter and barely finished in time to be an official entry (I always seem to be working up to the last minute on things).  As of yet I haven't heard anything back, but that's not so important to me.  Mostly I painted to portray a feeling and a lesson I am learning through life, and especially now.  The picture is of towering Giant Sequoia trees with the evidences of fire below.  However, at bottom center is a tiny sapling beginning to grow.  For anyone unfamiliar with Redwood trees, they are serotinous which means their seeds open only under intense heat.  Generally this means fire.  This is a handy survival technique because once the fire has destroyed the surrounding competition it leaves plenty of room and fertile soil for the new trees to grow.  I love the symbolism here because our lives are the same way.  Sometimes Heavenly Father teaches us and prepares us to grow through very difficult, very fiery experiences.  But through it all, His merciful hand is always extended and sees us through.  And because of Him we grow to become more than we ever imagined.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Iguacu Falls


It's finally finished!  Or in better words, I am finished with my painting for the present.  Eric reminded me of a quote that says an artist never really finishes a work of art but instead just finds a good stopping point.  I really feel it is true with this painting.  I have been working on it for some time but had a long break while I worked in Utah.  Since moving home I have tried to put hours into finishing it, and it shows great improvement from when I started.  Still, there is always something to pick apart.  I can't stop finding things I want to change!  In fact, I think I have repainted the sky at least three times.  I could keep going, but it is time to stop.  I am officially ready to move on to other projects.  Do I think it is perfect?  No.  In fact, I may in the future decide to be ambitious and paint over those trouble spots that keep getting to me.  But for now I'm calling it good.  Hopefully I will learn more about the process of turning art into prints, and this painting will be one of my firsts.  Wish me luck!

Our Fairy Tale

Our Fairy Tale
Happily Ever After Begins Now

How It All Began...

He was a popular swing dancer; she spent her time doing art. Little did they know that a chance meeting in a college racquetball class was only the first of many times their paths would cross. As circumstance would have it, they were only good friends at the beginning. He went his way and she went hers, pushing toward some landmark in the distance, some dream of the future. There was trial and error, success and disappointment, learning and growth. When the dust finally settled they were amazed to find their sights had led them to the same spot. Who can say why the long road or how it all happened? Who can tell if any of the “what ifs” could compare with the present? Or even the future? No one but an all-seeing architect who created the plans long ago. What lies in store for two so heaven-matched? Nothing short of long-awaited hopes coming true and far surpassing expectation.


AMANDA AND ERIC FOREVER!