A couple of years ago my wife and I were blessed to be able to go to a friend’s wedding in Ouray, Colorado. It was one of the most beautiful places we have seen. Ouray is nestled in the Rockies, actually surrounded by the mountains. Beautiful and quiet.
Although I didn’t have time to set up and paint in Ouray, we did take a lot of photos to work from later. I still have many of these images on the back burner hoping for a time to create some artwork incorporating them as reference.
One of the photos was of a raven we came across while hiking on some of the trails around Ouray. Always finding ravens very interesting, I kept the image in mind until I could finally use in a piece of art. Recently, I began experimenting with charcoal. I decided to render the raven in charcoal on a newly discovered synthetic paper called Yupo. Yupo, made for a wide variety of inks, paint etc., is not good for charcoal. But if you give it a coat of gesso, everything changes. Rather than being worthless for charcoal, it becomes one of my favorite supports for charcoal and I love the way it handles the charcoal.
Using three General Charcoal pencils that vary in hardness, from hard to medium to soft; the harder the compressed charcoal the lighter the shade. The softer, the darker the apparence. The difference is subtle, but does make a difference in the over all value range of the final drawing. Powdered charcoal was also used, as well as erasers and cotton pads. The final work is 16” x 20” and called “He Feeds the Ravens”.
He Feeds the Ravens…
At the time of this writing, we are in the MADDNESS of the COVID-19 virus, society in a panic, businesses forced to shut down; basically, as you know, the God who created the universe was showing us that we are not in control of anything. In fact, control is an illusion.
During the COVID-19 “lockdown”, God continues to provide for us. In fact, I think I have gained a few pounds, so food was obviously not an issue. My wife and I were amazed and blessed by God’s provision.
I remember the words of Jesus when He was talking about “consider the lilies…”
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!”
Luke 12:27-28
Also, in a verse that lets us know God is in total control of everything, Jesus talk about the sparrows:
“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
Matthew 10:29
But, as I was working on this charcoal piece of a raven, I noticed a verse I had never really noticed before. This verse actually tells us to look at ravens and gain a lesson about the heart of God.
“Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?”
Luke 12:24-26
In other words He is saying “Chill out. Stop worring about what you can’t change and trust Me.” This is one of the solid themes through all the scriptures. God is calling us to Trust Him! Trust Him with our heart, our soul our life!
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”
Psalm 56:3
“On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
Psalm 62:7-8
