Jun 13

What is Art?

The month of May brought a blessing to both me and my wife in the form of a 4 day stay at the Haddock Center. The Center has an awesome Artist in Residence program, and we can’t express our gratitude enough to Gerald and Diane Haddock for the awesome stay at the Center.

(The thoughts and opinions below are my own, and do not reflect the view of the Haddock Center)

Stanhope Forbes

The tag line for the Haddock Center is “An Approachable Fine Art Museum” and we discovered this to be true. The Museum focuses on artists of the Newlyn School of Cornwall, England, especially Stanhope Alexander Forbes. Stanhope Forbes was a British artist (1857 – 1947) and a founding member of the Newlyn school of painters. The works of Stanhope Forbes hanging at the Haddock Center are truly incredible and I enjoyed exploring every aspect of his originals. I was not familiar with Stanhope Forbes until my visit to the center, but I have to say that after spending several days studying his work at the Center, he is one of my new favorite artists.

My wife and I’s stay was very restful and relaxing, and I also got some painting time in. Since the Center sits high above Eagle Mountain Lake north of Fort Worth, Texas, my wife and I spent the evenings sitting on the docks watching the sun set over the lake. I spent the days painting in the beautiful gardens and well-kept grounds of the Center. Every evening, after the sun set and darkness gently enveloped the lake, I found it quiet refreshing to have the luxury of climbing the many stairs back up from the shoreline to the Center and sitting in front of one of Stanhope Forbes masterpieces and studying the values and colors of his paintings from another century. As well as being in awe of his work,  I was also trying to solve a problem I was having with the painting I had spent the day working on.

The New Mount by Stanhope Forbes
Detail of “The New Mount” by Stanhope Forbes

Also available to visiting artists are many incredible art books, each highlighting some of the finest paintings of the past two centuries. I also stumbled across a small book at the center titled “What is Art” by Leo Tolstoy. I read a few pages in the evenings and found it very interesting to say the least. (Later after arriving back home, I listened to the entire audio book).

Some of Leo Tolstoy’s thoughts on art I found intriguing and fascinating and I agreed with a portion of his views on art. But, did find we differed in some other aspects of our individual world views, which time will not permit to address here. His book did stimulate me to work through and focus my own ideas of what exactly “Art” is.

When I view a painting like “The New Mount” by Stanhope Forbes, once I took in the sheer beauty of the work, it seemed to create a desire in me for something that was just out of my grasp. A world that SHOULD be, but is not. A longing for another place, where there is no destruction, death, where wasp don’t sting and snakes don’t bite and every morning is a perfect spring day. I believe art takes us to such places, awaking in us an unmet desire; beautiful art can stimulate our thoughts for heaven.

C.S. Lewis had a unique gift for breaking down a complex idea into a simple thought. The quote below from Mere Christianity communicates the thought well:

“Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise […] If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

“Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.”

Art, like music and writing, can point to that “other country.”

“…but just as it is written: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” Corinthians 2:9

The Hiding Place, 9 x 12 oil on panel, painting on location at The Haddock Center

Oct 09

The English and Gardens

Autumn Art Walk • Chandor Gardens • October 16, 2021
12 noon til 4 p.m. • Weatherford, Texas
Come by and say hello!

Charcoal renderings of Chandor Gardens…available at the Autumn Art Walk, October 16
Plein air setup at Chandor Gardens

A few weeks ago I was blessed to setup my plein air easel and paint in a beautiful and well designed garden. Stone paths, fountains and koi ponds made the painting experience a peaceful treat. The garden was Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas. This little known gem is tucked away in a neighborhood near downtown Weatherford. I had been there painting another time years ago, but I never paid much attention to the fascinating history of the gardens until this particular visit. More on the history in a bit. 

First, I’d like to mention that I find the fact that the scriptures mention gardens in various ways to be very interesting, and at times comforting. A window into the goodness of God and the beauty He has created. Gardens can be a place of refreshing and rest.

Gardens have been around since the beginning….And God said,

Boundries, oil on panel, available

“Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. “

Genesis 1:11 – 12

The first job of the first man and women was to take care of a Garden.

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.”

Genesis 2:15

When I was painting at Chandor Gardens, I couldn’t help but think of Solomon, the wisest man who lived, who enjoyed creating and cultivating gardens and parks.

“I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; 5  I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6  I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. ” 

Ecclesiastes 2:4-6
Tree Planted by the Waters, 12 x 9 Oil on panel, available
Douglas Chandor and his portrait of Winston Churchill

But back to the history of Chandor Gardens. As another generation says,  “who knew” that the Gardens were built by an English born artist named Douglas Chandor. Chandor married a Weatherford woman named Ina Kuteman Hill and moved to Weatherford and built the gardens around 1936. The artist later added a studio and house on the grounds. Chandor painted portraits of many notable figures of the day including Edward, Duke of Windsor, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Sara Delano Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and Queen Elizabeth II. Another notable figure Douglas Chandor painted was Winston Churchill, who actually came to the Weatherford studio to sit for the portrait. Churchill commissioned the portrait in 1946. You can see additional information and a short video of the Chandor-Churchill sitting HERE.

Winston Churchill has always been an interesting subject for me. Besides being in the Military, a politician and the Prime Minister of England, he was also an Artist, painting over 500 paintings in his lifetime. He played a critical role in saving the world from Hitler, as well as squeezing out some oil colors to create beautiful paintings on canvas.

One of Winston Churchill’s little-known quotes goes like this:

“Just to paint is great fun. The colours are lovely to look at and delicious to squeeze out. Matching them, however crudely, with what you see is fascinating and absolutely absorbing.”

Winston Churchill

Churchill came on the world scene at a critical time in history. I believe he was used by God to alter the course of history. Today we are at another critical point in world history, and especially here in America. We are watching our freedom’s being stripped away every day. There is an alarming disregard for the God who created us and His instruction as found in scriptures. I find that we are lacking courageous leadership both in this country and across the globe. Churchill was one of those courageous voices in a day when there was darkness covering the world.

Portrait of Winston Churchill by English born, Weatherford artist Douglas Chandor

Churchill had a unique insight…not perfect, but unique and one with grains of wisdom. He said:

“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing – after they’ve tried everything else.”

Winston Churchill

Most of what our current administration is doing now is “everything else”. The thought process is what comes from a morally bankrupt population, void of wisdom, and even lacking very basic common sense.

“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”

Winston Churchill

Socialism… the gospel of envy. I think he is dead on here. Coveting is one of the roots of many attitudes and behavior’s that lead to breaking God’s law. When you “Love your neighbor as yourself”, you don’t covet. Coveting what your neighbor has or dwelling on what you don’t have is at the core of socialism.

I am continually amazed at the accuracy and power of God’s word found in the Bible. It is never out-of-date, never needs propped up and never false. It remains true no matter what goes on in our culture and society. Its purpose is to direct us as a light directs and reveals our path in the dark of night.

I came across a few verses in Isaiah that describe our current government here in the once blessed United States:

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

Isaiah 5:20

The Bible says many times that God is calling out to us to turn from our way, which falls short of His glory (sin) and follow Him. The word repentance, which is often considered to be one of those 25 cent “religious” words, means just that – turning around from the direction we are going and going the other direction. Or in this writing, turning from our selfish selves and turning to God, through Christ. It’s the simple Gospel.

Again, in Isaiah it says:

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

Isaiah 55:6, 7

Aug 24

That Changes Everything…

A few months back, I believe it was March, I entered a post called Appalachian Memories, which highlighted some recent works created after a trip back “east of the Mississippi” to Blue Ridge, Georgia and east Tennessee. I made mention in that post that part of the trip was a “celebration of a life well lived”. That life was Donna’s aunt, Clara Lee Hooper.  Clara Lee was one of the beautiful people that shined the “light of Christ” day after day as she lived her life there in the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia. She left a legacy of life. She also left a hole in Donna and I’s life that will never be filled on this earth.

Clara Lee, Charcoal on Yupo

Clara Lee’s family ask if I could do some kind of artwork to honor her. Death comes uninvited and is always unplanned. Good photos of Clara Lee were scarce, and I found it difficult to create a portrait from what we had, but it was all we had. Due to the low-res nature of the images, I thought a charcoal would be the best approach to this. I have been experimenting with charcoal on gessoed Yupo paper, so this is the media I choose. I hope the end result is a likeness that honors her.

During the time I spent working with this charcoal piece, many thoughts ran through my head. The brevity of life has a way of burning off the unnecessary elements of our existence. My thoughts ran continually to the life Clara Lee is now living, in the presence of Christ. What does she see? Are there smells and crazy unseen colors? What’s it like to experience pure, unsullied Joy?

Then my thoughts would turn to my wife and Clara Lee’s children, husband and grandchildren. They are walking a bitter-sweet road of pain and joy. The pain, because as the apostle Paul says in I Corinthians 15:26, death is an enemy. Death rips those we love from our presence, altering life as we have known it. But the sweetness and joy come because Jesus defeated that enemy called death when He died and rose again. Jesus said that for those who die in Him, death is not the end. There is life, even if we die.

At the grave side of the brother of Mary and Martha, Lazarus, when Mary and Martha were grieving the passing of their brother, Jesus made a simple, short statement to Martha – “Your brother will rise again.”

Wow! That changes everything.

It’s like a crack of light in the thick, suffocating darkness. A ray of hope in the gut-wrenching grief that tries to drown out hope. And then Jesus continues, like the second swing of the hammer that is driving a nail deep into the wood:

He tells Martha – “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 11:25-26

It’s not just that Jesus can “bring back to life” the dead, Jesus IS LIFE itself. Jesus has never lied (nor can He), never lost a battle, never seen a body He can’t raise. Jesus is Life.

At the risk of being redundant, that changes everything.

I will end this post with Donna’s words about her aunt Clara Lee:

“It does change everything!

But the here and now is so hard. We weep… but not as those that have no hope.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 

“Everyone needs an Aunt Clara Lee” is something Steve and I said all the time. Every time she did something special, remembered something, or I received a phone call or text totally out of the blue to say she loved us.. She was so full of life, joy and love. She loved her Lord, family and friends with a love that comes from being loved and forgiven by Jesus Christ.

The hole she left will remain until we see her again face to face, when our Lord calls us home. Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be!

The reality is: the next breath is not promised to any of us. Let’s love as Christ loved, forgive as we have been forgiven and be about His business until He calls us home.”

Jun 10

2 Day Workshop – Painting Essentials

Workshop in Abilene, Texas in April, 2021

Art on the Square in Waxahachie is the location for a 2-Day Workshop July 22 and 23, 2021. in Waxahachie, Texas. This workshop is titled “Painting Essentials” and will focus on three foundations of oil painting, and really, creating art in general: Composition, Value and Color. Learning or strengthening these three pillars of visual expression helps reach the workshop goal of creating well composed, harmonious paintings that express your “story”. I will also spend a short amount of time discussing the use of digital photography reference to compose paintings. CLICK HERE for more information or to REGISTER.

Jun 10

Jubilant Spring

Easel setup at Sugar Ridge Ranch, Ellis County

I hope your spring has been a good one. We who live in Texas have had an unusually mild and cool spring, accompanied by much rain. The rain has caused the Texas wildflowers to flourish, adding stunning beauty to the landscape. I recently read Psalm 96, verses 11 and 12:

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Psalm 96:11-12

Jubilant is one of those words that is not used much in our current culture. Jubilant means “feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph.” The Hebrew word that is translated “jubilant” in the above version means “to celebrate, to rejoice, to exult, to be jubilant.”

“Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!…” NLT

“Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein…” KJV

“Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!…” NET

12 x 9 Plein Air oil on panel called Grand View – limited palette, painted during the Annual Waxahachie Plein Air event. This work is available.

In a world that seems to be on the “brink” most every day, it’s good to remember that God gives us simple things for us to find joy in; things we often take for granted.

God is indeed an awesome Creator-God of beauty.

Every spring I try to participate in the Annual Plein Air competition sponsored by the Ellis County Art Association. The Plein Air work shown above was one of 5 pieces (other 4 works shown below) I created during the event and entered in the competition. The rules for this competition requires all work to be painted on the spot, or en plein air in Ellis County during a few weeks in April and May. I was blessed to receive a Second Place Award in the competition for “Hiding Place”, a 12 x 9 oil on panel.

Hiding Place • 12 x 9 plein air oil on panel • This work is available
Mustard & Thistle • 12 x 9 plein air oil on panel• This work is available
Truncated Trunk • 8 x 10 plein air oil on panel• This work is available
Back Alley • 12 x 9 plein air oil on panel• This work is available

Mar 01

Appalachian Memories

Have you ever been to a place that seemed to be enchanted, or spellbinding in its effect on you? I believe I was around 12 years old the first time I saw the misty hills and summits of the Great Smoky Mountains of far east Tennessee. It was early morning and the mysterious hills rose out of the mist, the road vanishing in the mix of mountain, valley, and vapor. It seemed like we were moving into a spellbinding mysterious world.

I was reminded of that first trip to those beloved mountains this January, when Donna and I had to make a “funeral trip” back to the Georgia-North Carolina-Tennessee area; a trip we have made many times.  

A few days after the celebration of a life well lived, Donna and I took a couple of days and visited some of the old places of our youth in the tri-state area of Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. Although most of the 3 days were shrouded by clouds and rain, the mountains remained. Even with all the madness of the current world, little had changed in the blue mountains of past days.

As we drove an old familiar highway leaving North Georgia and crossing over into North Carolina in route to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, we remembered the foolish days when we were not yet twenty, driving this same road to get the cheap North Carolina cigarettes, which I believe were $3 per carton. (wisdom and age have long since informed us that is was a good thing to lay that burning tobacco down 😊)

Appalachian Red, 12 x 9 oil on panel

The old red barn above was on that first leg of our journey, and I remain intrigued and fascinated by the many stories the old place could tell if it could speak for a little bit. I enjoyed working though this little piece from one of the photos we shot and will probably re-visit this subject in the future. This work is called Appalachian Red, and as I mentioned it is somewhere on the Georgia/North Carolina boarder.

We rode through Bryson City and Cherokee North Carolina, then crossed the mountains into Tennessee, finally stopping at Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The next day two we drove in and around the mountains, shooting photos for many future paintings, hopefully. The last day before preparing for the dreaded trip back across the Mississippi, the clouds moved in bringing rain and mist, which seemed rather at home in the silent, enduring land of Appalachia. With a chill in the air, rain constantly reinforcing the water on the roads and everything else, as well as the ever-present drops on the camera lens, Donna and I shot some interesting photos of the “other-worldliness” I alluded to at the beginning of this blog.

Smoky Mountain Rain, 12 x 9 oil on panel – Limited Palette of Cad. Red, Cad. Yellow, Prussian Blue

Smoky Mountain Rain was created from some of those reference shots. Several other works from this photo series are in the que as well.

Finally, the last day before heading back to Dallas, I was able to set up my small easel and paint a couple hours behind the house Donna was raised in. For years I have heard Donna talk about the creek behind the house she used to play in, catching crawdads and snakes; the creek that also was home to leeches that found new, temporary source of protein as they latched onto the little white legs of her and her siblings.

Since the temperature was dropping due to the sun falling low in the winter sky, I chose a simple little scene on the banks of the creek.  

When traveling I carry a limited selection of color. For this painting I squeezed out Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Yellow Light, some white and a bit of Chromatic Black. This is one of the strongest limited palette assortments of color, and great for travel.

I loved the lighting on this particular evening, as the sun lit up the fields with golden light, casting shadows across the banks of the creek. As the sun dropped what seemed faster and faster, the evening could not be held back. The temperature kept dropping and the sun finally began to drop behind a nearby ridge in this beautiful Tennessee landscape.  I gave up after a couple of hours, having roughly captured a section of “The Creek”, as it rested quietly in the fading light.

The Creek, 12 x 9 oil on panel – Limited palette of Ultramarine Blue, Cad. Yellow Light and Alizarin Crimson

The funeral I mentioned above was the home-going of Donna’s beloved Aunt, Clara Lee. After more than 40 days in the hospital, battling the devasting effects of COVID, Clara Lee left this present darkness and traveled into the presence of her savior and redeemer, Jesus Christ. She was a beloved aunt, wife, mother, and friend to many. Indeed, a life well lived, one that finished strong. As we stood on the side of a cold, windy hill in Blue Ridge, Georgia, something in the universe seemed broken, bent and twisted. There was a void in the hearts and lives of those close to her, and it even seemed the Blue Ridge air was not as inviting as it once was. Even as we stared at a casket which held the shell of the body that once housed her person, her spirit, Clara Lee was gone. 

Cemeteries are always an excellent reality check. On a headstone, there is a dash between the date of our birth and the date of our death. We are living that dash right now. Cemeteries also point us to our need for a savior, a redeemer; Someone to rescue us from the law of sin and death.

I am reminded of an awesome conversation between Jesus and Martha, the sister of Lazarus who had died of a sickness. Jesus went to the grave side, the cemetery if you will, and in her time of pain over the death of her brother, she told Jesus that if He had been present, her brother Lazarus would not have died. Jesus told her this in verse 23 of chapter 11-

“Your brother will rise again”

John 11:23

Verses 24 thru 26 continue:

“Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

That is the question a visit to the cemetery forces us to think about: “Do you believe this?”

Forget all the cold, sterile religion and remember what Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies…”

Clara Lee had long ago put her trust in Christ. It is not my words, but the words of Jesus that remind us that even when her body died, she will yet live again.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is indeed “good news” to all who put their trust in His death and resurrection. Trust Him.

“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O  DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

I Corinthians 15:54 thru58

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Until next time, hope you have a great spring, another reminder of new life to come.

Jan 07

Red Rock & COVID

Painting inside Caprock Canyon State Park, Texas

Twenty-Twenty was a crazy year indeed. Right after the calendar flipped over to November, my wife Donna, came down with COVID. She wound up in the hospital for 4 days. After many prayers, our heavenly Father begin to heal her, and she started a slow road to recovery.

We thought part of that recovery should be getting out of the city and the madness of the crowds and drive to where the people are few and the deer and wildlife are abundant. A place “where the buffalo roam”, literally. So, the day after Christmas, we loaded up cameras and paint gear and headed up to the Texas Panhandle to do some painting and photography.  If you have ever been in the panhandle, you know that the further you drive northwest, the population thins with every passing mile… we like that. (smile)

Photo: Donna Miller

Ever since my artist friend, Pete Quaid introduced us to the panhandle, the Quitaque/Caprock Canyon area in particular, we have loved those wide-open spaces. (Caprock Canyon has the official Texas Bison herd.) The beautiful landscape is where the canyons meet the high plains. The wildlife up there is abundant, and you never know when or where you will see one of God’s wild creatures. We saw many, many deer, coyotes, road runners and wild turkey. Donna got some awesome photos, especially of the deer, which were mostly mule deer. The rut seemed to be a little late this year, so the bucks were less skittish and hung around the does, who did not seem to mind the little electronic sound of the camera’s shutter clicking away.

I believe Donna’s favorite shots were of some majestic 10-point bucks we came across. (see image above) It always amazes us how these animals can “float” over fences as if gravity did not exist.

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”

Habakkuk 3:19A
Photo: Donna Miller

Perhaps the most memorable series she shot was of a buck we came across in a field. He seemed to have it in his head to cross the road in front of us and head off across the field on the other side. But, as he sped up to get enough clearance to cross the road in front us, I gave our old vehicle more fuel and kept up with him, blocking his way.  I guess it looked a bit like a race between creature and machine. He ran at full speed, parallel to the dirt road, as our car stayed beside him, “neck in neck”.  Strange thing is this went on for one solid mile. He was stretched out in full stride as Donna what I think are some unusual and unique photos. A couple of the photos the deer seems to “fly” in mid-air.  Then his feet would strike the ground and he would be airborne again, leaving a cloud of dust, which reminded me of an old cartoon we used to see on Saturday morning.

Sandwiched in between our backroad wildlife excursions, I was to be able to set up my easel and paint in Caprock Canyon for a few hours. I have painted at this canyon several times, and it has beat me down every time. For some reason, the red rock landscape of the panhandle has been difficult for me. It seems to be nemesis as I work out a painting “en plein air”. The colors, light, and shadows, always shifting over the couple of hours I was set up painting.

Palette colors, plus white and Chromatic Black

To continue the on-going learning experience, I set out on several years ago, this painting was created using another limited palette. The colors I put out on my palette were Cadmium Yellow Light, Mars Red and Ultramarine Blue, along with white and Gamblin’s Chromatic Black. The Mars Red was almost exactly the same color as the red rocks of Caprock Canyon, and when mixed with a bit of Ultramarine Blue, turned out to be a beautiful greyed color that worked well for the shadow sides of the rocks.

Since the sun does not rest in its “circuit”, after a couple of hours the light and shadow sides of the rocks and hills has shifted quite a bit, and I had to pack it up and call it quits.

“In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also.” Psalm 95:4 – Oil on panel

But, regardless of how the painting turned out, my wife and I always enjoy the quietness of God’s incredible and beautiful creation. And to think that the Creator of this canyon, in all its red and green beauty, cares about us, loves us and redeemed all who put their trust in Christ. To quote a line from one of my favorite movies- ”Inconceivable!”

“Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.  He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”

I Corinthians 15:1-4

May 05

Consider the Ravens…

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.

Charcoal on Yupo synthetic paper with gesso coating

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.

He Feeds the Ravens, 16 x 20 charcoal on gessoed Yupo

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

May 05

Wild Colors of Spring

The past two springs here in Texas (2019 and 2020), several artists have been blessed by the generosity of our friend Jim who has allowed us to set up our plein air easels and paint one of the most inspiring spring landscapes in this part of Texas.

Up Hill From Here, plein air, 4″ x 8″ oil on panel

A little south of the DFW Metroplex, the rolling hills of the property fade into the distance with the color of Indian Paint Brushes and Bluebonnets looking as if they were plugged into an electric light source. Not really one who paints flowers, I was blown away by the beauty of this landscape.

I painted four works during the two days that were spaced about a week apart. Since I work mostly with a limited palette these days, I chose a Quadradic Square palette, using as the mixing primaries Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow Light and Ultramarine Blue. From these I mixed the palette colors of Yellow-Orange, Green, Blue-Violet and Alizarin Crimson was straight from the tube as the red.

Wild View #2, plein air, 8″ x 10″, oil on panel

One of the struggles I have with any painting is the value structure – the way color fades into the distance. The interesting thing about wildflower on a bright sun-lit day is that they seem to be shinning out color. Limiting the palette adds another level of problems to work through, but that is why I go out and paint. I believe no matter what we are involved in we should always be open to learning.

I believe I am more pleased with one of the last works I did during this time, but I know all could be improved. I probably will not paint anything similar in nature until next spring.

Wild Colors of Spring, Plein Air, 12″ x 9: Oil on panel

Consider the Lilies, How they Grow…

When I am in a remarkably beautiful landscape as the one described above, I am in awe of the Creator who made it all. Is it true that the God who creates such beauty must Himself be beautiful in all His glory? I believe so.

The scriptures are quite remarkable. Some have described them as a love letter given to us by God. A God who says and demonstrates that He loves us.

This loving God created the universe with all its majesty. Animals, plants, oceans, mountains…the list is endless of what He has created. And one thing I find very intriguing is how this loving God instructs us to look at what He has created in order to communicate His truth to us.

Wild View, Plein Air, 8″ x 10″, Oil on panel

He told Job when Job was questioning God’s wisdom in the terrible events of his life, God ask Job some questions that required Job to observe God’s creation, as well as know something about the physical creation. One question was this:

“Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? Do you make it leap like a locust, striking terror with its proud snorting?”

Job 39:19-20

Another question a few verses down:

“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars, Stretching his wings toward the south?

Job 39:26

God the father uses His created world to teach us about Himself, and I believe God is pleased when we investigate and enjoy His creation.

Early in the book of Job we see these instructions:

“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. 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?”

Job 12:7-10

It’s clear that we can learn from creation, and in Psalm 19 it says “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1

Jesus, who the Bible says was involved in the creation (Colossians 1:16; John 1:3), says this:

“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

Jesus is pointing us to the real, created, beautiful creation and using it as an object lesson to get us to see that God is in control and that He loves us and that we should have Faith in Him.

I find that remarkable! God the Father is in many ways reaching out to us. Both believers and unbeliever. To the believer He is encouraging us to trust Him in every aspect of life. To the unbeliever He is calling…

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

Romans 5:8-11

May 03

It’s All Black & White

A couple of months I decided to make an excursion into the black and white world of charcoal. I had used vine charcoal in the past to rough out a drawing before I began painting, but had never done a serious drawing. In order to gather some information on the medium, my first stop on this excursion was Google. Gotta love Google. I discovered there were three basic forms of charcoal.

  1. Vine charcoal that I mentioned above which rubs off very easily and it great for rough sketches.
  2. Compressed charcoal, which is powdered charcoal compressed and held together with clay or gum; sticks and charcoal pencils are the final form of compressed charcoal.
  3. Powdered charcoal – applied dry with brush or mixed with thinner for washes.
From left to right: eraser pen, electric eraser, Webril Handi-Pads (for smearing charcoal), eraser, paper stump, very soft charcoal pencil, charcoal pencil, charcoal pencil, charcoal stick

I also “Googled” surfaces that work well for charcoal… this is where the plot thickens. I found a wide variety of “charcoal paper”, watercolor paper, Bristol illustration board and many other papers. But I could find none I really liked. Many had textures and patterns I was not fond of. I ended up buying several papers, Bristol Illustration board and paint panels to experiment with using the various forms of charcoal.

I started with charcoal sticks, charcoal pencils, and some powdered charcoal. After several weeks, I leaned towards the charcoal pencils as my go-to form of charcoal. But before using the pencils,  I used  charcoal powder in thinner washes for backgrounds, then built the drawing with the charcoal pencils, smearing, rubbing, etc. as I added layers of charcoal to build a final drawing. I sharpened the pencils with razor knife and a homemade sanding box that uses a drywall sanding screen that is used for sanding drywall. The dust falls into the box below the screen.

“Sanding box” for sharpening charcoal pencils

The first drawings I did were on Bristol Illustration board ( hot press, 4 ply). Not a bad support for charcoal, but it had a troublesome weakness. When erasing unwanted charcoal in areas such as lines used to rough in the drawing, it removed a coating that is apparently on the illustration board. This causes unwanted and misplaced dark spots in the drawing when smearing and blending the charcoal dust in those areas. This is especially noticeable in areas with soft, lightly blended tones, such as faces in portraits. In the first drawing it took much extra work to salvage the drawing in an attempt to hide the blemishes.  

Next I tried working on paint panels. These were common paint panels made by Ampersand or Jack Richeson to create oil paintings. They have a gesso-like surface that has an orange peel texture. This surface allows for the removal of charcoal very nicely, getting back down to the original white surface where highlights are needed. The “orange-peel” provides some interesting texture in otherwise smooth areas as well. However, the downside is that the surface will not accept the soft, darker charcoal very well. The darker, softest charcoals simply will not apply to this surface as they should.

I created the drawing called “Ice” on this material, but still wanted a better support. Back to the art store.

“Ice”, charcoal on pre-made paint panel, 20 x 16

After looking and reading about the qualities of many additional papers available, I noticed a very, very smooth “paper” which turned out to not actually be paper at all. It is called Yupo. Here is what the Yupo web site says about it:

  “Yupo is the recyclable, waterproof, tree-free Synthetic Paper with attributes and prop0erties that make it the perfect solution for a variety of marketing, design, packaging and labeling needs.”

Another blurb said Yupo was great with a variety of mediums, so I bought a large piece for around $9. I think the size of this large was about 32” x 40”, give or take.

When I got it back in the studio I grabbed some charcoal pencils and proceeded to do a little drawing/shading test… turned out to be the worse surface ever for charcoal. Since Yupo is 100 percent Polypropylene, it’s like trying to draw on plastic. Yupo was a “no-go”. To salvage the $9 sheet of “paper”, I thought I would brush a coat of Gesso on the Yupo, cut it into smaller sheets and use it for color studies in oil.

After being coated with one coat of Gesso, I thought in order to cover all the bases,  I would try one more time with the charcoal on this new surface. What a difference one coat of Gesso made. In my opinion, Yupo synthetic paper with a coat of Gesso is ONE OF THE BEST surfaces for charcoal ever. The gesso gives it just the right amount of tooth to grab the charcoal, and it will erase back to the pure  white gesso surface (especially when using an electric eraser). Another benefit I like is the Gesso leaves brush marks which help provide some interesting texture in the final charcoal drawing. I believe all future charcoal I work on with be on Yupo, with a coat of Gesso.

Detail showing brush strokes in Gesso showing through drawing.

Light and Dark

One of the strengths of charcoal that I like is that is yields itself to high contrast between light and dark. Extreme light where there is no charcoal at all, and extreme dark where the softest, darkest charcoal is used. Extremes. Very much like the world we are presently living in. We have, on the one hand, beauty and pleasure and good things in this life; and on the other hand, we have cancer, pain and death. Extremes. I guess this is one reason I like the medium of charcoal. The extremes of light and dark can be very dramatic. This reminds me of our situation in this world and the life to come.

The older I get, the more I watch friends and loved ones pass from this life. We all have an appointment with death.

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment”

Hebrews 9:27

This is why the Gospel is truly “good news”.  The good news is that Christ came into a dark world to rescue us from the judgement to come.

“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

John 1:4, 5

And then a few verses down it says “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12)

A simple story of Light and dark. Freedom and bondage. Sin and righteousness. Death and life. Extremes.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 says this: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Light of Christ comes into the darkness of this world and if you believe and turn away from sin and self to Him, the Bible says that He saves us. Redeems us. He buys us back from the bondage of sin, of eternal death. He places us in His kingdom. The kingdom of “Light”.

Hope you have a very blessed day!

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Mar 23

Limited Palette, Unlimited God

I have always had this “bent” towards the visual…using pictures and illustrations to tell a story. In the past I have worked illustrating curriculum and stories for publications and companies. Jesus used word pictures to illustrate stories and ideas. One of my favorite illustrative stories Jesus told is in Luke 15, and starts in verse 11 with these words, “A man had two sons….”. It proceeds to give us a glimpse of our corrupt heart, and of Gods grace.

One week ago I was standing before a landscape with my easel set up to paint,  and the image before me seems to illustrate the difficult times that we are in the middle of. My artist friend Pete Quaid and I went out in the dreary, cold morning to paint. We started in Dallas, but could find nothing of interest so we headed up 75 towards McKenney, Texas. The redbuds are in bloom along the highway and when up against the dark cedars, they can be very dramatic. We found an interesting spot just off the road with these two elements… cedars and redbuds and stopped and set up our easels in the cold, misty morning.

Cedars in the Mist, plein air oil on panel, 12 x 9 – Yes, I left out the redbuds.

As I looked at the scene that stared at me waiting for the brush to meet the canvas (panel), I thought of how we were in a time as a nation and individually that we can not see very far ahead… the “road” of our lives seemed to be heading into the unknown, the uncertain; like a car heading down the highway into the mist. The dreary weather revealing nothing of what was to come.

Detail of “Cedars in the Mist

It is easy to forget, in our “warm and fuzzy”, Disneyland culture that God is in control, even in the tough things. His mercy sometimes comes in the form of a wake up call, jarring us out of meaningless slumber and pointing us back to the simple truth that He is God and we are not. As a father wants his children to trust him, God wants us to trust in Him.  “  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:6-7

God is all powerful, all knowing and he loves us with a crazy love.  Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

And God is the only one who can take evil, or sickness or any other broken, twisted thing is this  world and turn it for good. The current threat of the COVID 19 virus is definitely something He will use to point us back to His love and mercy. Because God is good, He will use everything for our good. Even a virus. We have to trust the one who holds tomorrow as well as today.

If you are a believer, if you know Christ as Savior and Redeemer, trust Him during these uncertain times.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

If you don’t know the God who created you, you can know Him through Christ. You will find in Jesus forgiveness and peace in this life, and unimaginable things to come in the life to come.

“ But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”–that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Romans 10:8-10

Another Day is Coming

“It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” 

— C. S. Lewis

It is a loving God who calls us to Himself. It’s a loving God who reminds us that earth is not the “end game”, but that another world is coming. It is a loving God who brings us to the reality of our need for Him. Trust Him.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6,7

For additional resources, check out Eternal Perspective Ministries here:

https://www.epm.org/

The Mechanics…

This painting, Cedars in the Mist, was created using a limited palette. Pretty much everything I paint these days is done with a limited palette. I change up the colors, trying different combinations of primaries and palette options. I am convinced that this is an excellent way to approach oil painting, especially plein air work.

This painting was done starting with a Quadratic Square palette, starting  with Cadmium Yellow Light, Alizarin Crimson and Ultramarine Blue as the three primaries.

Fig. 1 – Quadratic Square palette selecting Yellow-Orange, Green, Red and Blue-Violet as palette colors.

A Quadratic Square palette is simply picking four colors on the color wheel, skipping two colors in between (using a 12 color wheel) See Fig. 1 above. The four colors I choose to be the only colors on my palette, or “limited” to my palette,  were Yellow-Orange (mixed from Cad. Yellow Light and Alizarin Crimson), Alizarin Crimson (straight from tube – the only tube color) Green (Mixed from Cad. Yellow Light and Ultramarine Blue) and Blue-Violet (mixed from Alizarin Crimson and Ultramarine Blue).

The secondary and tertiary colors plus the one  tube color of Alizarin Crimson as the red, end up being the only colors on my palette, hence the “Limited Palette”. I add to these colors White and a Portland Grey Light and Portland Grey Deep. These greys, made by Gamblin are fairly netural and save time from mixing greys with the palette colors, which I do if I have the time. See Fig. 2 below.

Figure 2: Limited palette. 4 colors, plus white and two greys.

One of the major benefits of working with a limited palette is color harmony. The painting is forced to have harmony without the presence of discordant color. Another benefit, especially when working in plein air it the simplicity of the palette. Painting outside in changing lighting and conditions, a limited palette can speed up the process.

Mar 14

Duo Exhibition – Donna & Steve Miller

Show hanging at Uptown Theater, Grand Prairie, Texas thru end of April, 2020

The March 20 Reception scheduled for this show has been cancelled.

My wife, Donna, and I have original Art and Photography for sale at excellent prices. The work consist of Donna’s beautiful Photography and my original oils, pastels and giclee prints. All works are ready to hang and can be purchased at deep savings.

The subject matter of this beautiful exhibit varies from wildlife, to rural scenes, to urban environments. 

I also have a selection of larger, Signed & Numbered Limited Edition Prints on Canvas, also framed and ready to hang. These giclees are of the highest quality and represent the original work with excellent color accuracy.

The show is currently hanging and will hang until end of April.

One last encouraging word….

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

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