Oh, the Places You'll Go

A new mixed media portrait for sale in my ETSY shop.

Welcome to the Easter Parade!

Enjoy some art I have created around the themes of Spring and Christ's Resurrection!
Happy Easter!

To view more of the Easter Parade go to Miss Sandy's

Join in an Easter Parade!

Stop by tomorrow for the Easter parade! If you would like to participate, go to www.quillcottage.blogspot.com

See you at the parade!
Lennea

Quote for today!

Thank you Paulette Insallfor sharing this quote with me!

Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better. ~André Gide

I'm going to get out my paints today and get out of the way!

My Redeemer Lives

I know that my Redeemer Lives! What a joyous verse! This painting is for sale HERE!

My Mona Lisa

I've been playing in my sketchbook while watching tv with the family at night. I've only recently discovered I can actually draw a bit. I never used to think I had an artistic bone in my body. I had the most horrible art teacher in jr. high. She would give us assignments, but never actually TEACH us ANYTHING! I didn't learn anything about color, composition, shading, drawing, painting - NOTHING! Because of that, I thought you either had the talent for art or didn't. It never occured to me that art could be LEARNED, PRACTICED and PROGRESSED! Sure, talent and desire are a part of art, but like everything else in life, I believe being good at anything is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration ( I think Albert Einstein said that). So, I've been sketching and painting and studying, taking classes and just having FUN! I may never be a great artist, but I enjoy the process and the end result and it's so satisfying to create.

BTW, did you know that Leonardo daVinci only has about 15 surviving works? I was reading about him last night and found out that he was not a prolific artist at all- he often ruined pieces by experimenting with different techniques and was supposedly a great procrastinator! This is encouraging in a way- it gives me the courage to experiment, make mistakes, produce AWFUL art and still consider myself to be an artist after all.

Have a BLESSED and CREATIVE DAY!

Faith in Things Unseen

Inspiration: Every Spring I eagerly look forward to the first sign of my tulips bursting forth out of the dirt. Every year it seems like a miracle. Underneath the dirt and snow, unseen for most of the year, the tulip bulb shoots forth a tender green tip every Spring. I have experienced this enough that I have faith that the tulip bulbs buried in my garden will produce a beautiful delicate flower every Spring! It's been said that this is what Faith is...the belief in things unseen.

This is a mixed media painting on 8x10" gallery wrapped canvas. The back of the canvas is backed in heavy framing paper and has a hole in the frame for hanging. Signed by me.

Materials used: high quality acrylic paint, graphite, artist papers, layers of glazes, inks, gesso.

For sale HERE!

He Loves Me

Here's my latest whimsical painting. I have listed it for sale here and here.

New mixed media portraits

Still playing with backgrounds and portraits. I'll list both of these in my Etsy shop soon.

Organic Backgrounds

Week 3 of Organic Backgrounds with Paulette Insall. I've finished the first one and will finish the second one over the next two weeks. These backgrounds have been soooo much fun! If you get the chance to take a class with Paulette - do it!

Never Forgotten

I have contributed art to a wonderful new publication by ZNE. Titled " Never Forgotten: Art Celebrating Mothers and Honoring Loss" this book will speak to anyone who has lost someone they love. The artwork is beautiful and heartfelt. To order your copy today go HERE.

I'll Send You Bluebirds in the Spring

I've been wanting to do a piece with lyrics from one of my current favorite songs. The words on this piece read " I'll send you bluebirds in the Spring to give your heart a song to sing". I've been experimenting with different portrait styles. This one is quite whimsical and a bit more primitive looking than some of my others.
For sale HERE!

New Weight Loss Photo

Ten pounds gone!!!! Woo Hoo! As you can tell by my photo above, I've lost inches all over ( although, unfortunately, most of them in my chest). I'm still doing the Body For Life plan. It takes some discipline, but this is definitely a plan I can stick with. The workouts are reasonable and I'm never hungry. I'll update my photo when the next 10 come off!

Organic Backgrounds with Paulette Insall week 2

The second week of Organic Backgrounds with Paulette Insall. She showed us techniques for adding more color and texture. The process is so free flowing and fun and we'll be adding even more texture next week! Scroll down to compare week 1 to week 2.

Organic Backgrounds with Paulette Insall

I'm taking "Organic Backgrounds" with the Fabulous Paulette Insall, online. This is my homework for week 1. We'll be adding to the backgrounds over the next several weeks. I'm using some new paints that I've never worked with before and am having so much fun. I can't wait to see what we'll learn next and will post my progress every week.

Shop Updates at Creative Call Studios

Check out the Shoppe Updates!

The shoppes at Creative Call Studios have been updated with FABULOUS new art and crafts!

Check out our latest Shoppe The Little Things. Her pretty creations are simply delightful!

This month's FEATURED ARTIST is Sally Smith of Lydia's Lineage.

Jesus "Everything" Skit

The drama focuses on the spiritual warfare being fought for our souls.

At the beginning of the skit, the young woman indulges in the pure joy and innocence of finding her first love in Jesus, as He shows her all the wonderful things He has done and has in store for her.

But this blissful moment becomes tarnished by seemingly harmless distractions, which turn into temptations and ultimately into deadly sins.

The fallen spiritual forces at work begin their relentless attack on the young woman, who takes her eyes off Jesus and sets them on the world.

She finds herself overcome by all the vices made to look so attractive in life: sexual impurity, greed for money, drinking, bulimia, and cutting.

The lies that she has been told about her worthlessness and inability to measure up lead her into depression, attempted suicide, and ultimately into a desperation that spurs her to once again seek her first love.

Only after the woman hits rock bottom does she remember the true source of her joy -- a relationship with Christ.

But she's not alone as she battles to regain the abundant life Jesus has given her. Unable to fend off the enemy's spiritual attack on her own, she puts her eyes back on Jesus, who is waiting for her call for help.

Eager to step in and fight the battle for His bride, Jesus fends off and defeats the demonic attackers who are after her very soul and life.

We are reminded that Christ already won the battle for our souls on the cross, and that we have victory over our sins through our hope and redemption in Jesus.

It affirms I John 4:4: "You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

I always love a good quote

"We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely they want with all their hearts to know the source of it." ~Madeleine L'Engle

Praise you in the Storm

Sealed for Eternity!

VERSE: Ephesians 1:14



[You were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of His glory.



THOUGHT:



God is true to His word. He keeps His promises. But, that was not enough for Him. He gave us a down payment, a deposit, so we could be sure of our inheritance and look forward to the full realization of our salvation. He gave us the Holy Spirit. When God buys us out of slavery to our mortal bodies and redeems us into our eternal home with bodies that will not grow old or decay, we won't need the deposit; we will have the full inheritance. But until then, until we go to Him, isn't it amazing that He makes his home within us!



PRAYER:



Transcendent and yet ever-near God, thank You for not making me wait to experience Your presence. Thank You for giving me "a foretaste of glory divine." Thank You for sending Your blessed and promised Spirit to live in me and remind me where my home truly is. Until the day I see you face-to-face, I want to honour Your presence in my mortal body by living a life that is pure, holy and a blessing to others. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.