The man to whom God gave an incredible amount of wisdom once said:
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” Ecclesiastes 9:10
There are many vocations that are “hands-on”. Building, cultivating to name a couple. And Art is another one of those “hands-on” endeavors. When I read the words “Whatever your hands find to do…” I think of the paint brush and perhaps a stick of pastel. I think about those words often… it’s a call to diligence, to industry and it also is a bit sobering. It’s interesting how our “hands” find different things to do in this life. We have gifts and abilities and hopefully can turn those into industry, and “do them with all our might.”
In the arena of visual arts, Fine Art in particular, it can be hard to measure the progress, especially in times of economic challenge. So, to help me focus, I enter a few shows and competitions every year. I will admit that I really dislike most of these shows; they can be “abusive” (grin) and fickle. But, in the long haul they may provide a window into what needs to improve, which may lead to a coarse correction. This year I entered several shows, and will enter a couple more soon. Two of the competitions I recently entered were the 13th Annual Paint Historic Waxahachie Plein Air Competition in Waxahachie, Texas, and the Richardson Civic Art Society’s 52nd Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition. I was blessed to win first place in the Plein Air event, with a piece titled the Blue Door, selected by Juror John Cook.
Blue Door is 12 x 9, Oil on panel, painted on location in Waxahachie, Texas
“Weathered”, (below) a pastel piece on Ampersand Pastel Board, won 1st in Pastels at the Richardson Civic Art Society’s 52nd Annual Juried Art Exhibition and Sale, an honor that I am very grateful for. Even though the very same works may fail to even get in the next show, it is refreshing to receive an award for the “Work of my hands”.
Weathered, 24 x 18 Soft Pastel on Ampersand Pastel Board
