Spring seems to have come a bit early here in North Texas. Temperatures have been hitting the mid to upper 80’s, and we are still in March. Trees putting out leaves and the grasses are waking up from their long winter’s nap. It seems that summer will be rolling in soon, but I hope not too soon.
On one fine day in March my wife and I went to Glen Rose to visit friends at the Creation Evidence Museum. If you are not familiar with the area, Glen Rose area is known for its dinosaur tracks. These massive animals once walked this area, leaving both bones and tracks in the Texas Limestone. The Creation Evidence Museum is very close to the Dinosaur Valley State Park. The area has a lot going on and is a great place to visit, especially in the spring.
I have been working on a project with the Museum’s director and sometimes an in-person visit is in order, and it’s always great to see old friends there. If you have never been to the Museum, spring is a great time to check it out and enjoy the unique displays there. The Museum has many great exhibits, including dinosaur tracks, fossils, historic collection of Bibles and manuscripts and many other artifacts unique to biblical history as well as history of the Universe. They also have a working lab that gives daily tours and lectures about biblical Creation and the interesting things being discovered in science. When I visit the museum, I am always reminded of Job 12:8, 9 and 10 :
“Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind? “
Just down the road from the Museum is the Dinosaur Valley State Park. One of the parks main features are the Dinosaur tracks found in the bed of the Paluxy River which dissects the park. (Note: you can see many more clearer tracks up the road at the previously mentioned Creation Evidence Museum) There are also many walking trails to enjoy at the State Park, as well as both RV camping and tent camping.
This particular fine spring day we went to the State Park and I set up my easel down on the banks of the Paluxy River. I found a spot that I found very interesting. I setup my easel and worked out a composition featuring rocks and water, with one large rock the center of interest. What’s not to love about rocks and water? The colors of the scene were still muted by the passing winter days, so my palette was rather limited. Olive Green seemed to be the “color of the day” as it worked well as a base for the water and submerged rocks. A bit of sketching with vine charcoal and the race with the always moving sun was on.
As I worked on the painting, one couldn’t help but notice the “ambience” of the river. People living life up and down the river bank. There were the old, remembering the days of their youth. Kids and dogs running and wading in the clear cold water. Fathers instructing their boys about the finer points of rock skipping. The constant voices and laughing was accented by the periodic splashing; Some intentional, usually carried out by some kid heaving a large rock into the water to watch the “trauma” of the splash. But then there was the occasional unexpected splash caused by someone falling into the river. It all reminded me of the long gone days, probably over 20 years ago, when my wife and I would bring our grandchildren to this same river on warm summer days to wade its waters and walk the trails, always anticipating the adventure that lay before us.
I probably painted a couple of hours, trying to grab the essence of the moment. I noticed as I painted that the crowd thinned out over the two hour period, leaving only a couple of folks present as I packed up my gear to head home. The result of the outing was this little 9 x 12 oil on panel called: “Paluxy River, Early Spring.” This painting will be available in a couple of weeks at the “Paint the Town Art Festival” in Marble Falls, Texas. (click link for more information)
I always enjoy going out into the awesome creation God as made for us to enjoy. Much of God’s word to us is full of illustrations taken directly from what God has made. I was reminded of one of these visuals while painting on the banks of the Paluxy River. The God of the Bible describes Himself as the Rock; and when taking the entire message of scripture into account, we know that this Rock refers to Christ. Here are a few examples:
Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
Psalm 18:2
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Then they remembered that God was their rock,
Psalm 78:35
And the Most High God their Redeemer.
He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
Psalm 89:26
My God, and the rock of my salvation.’
