Seeking Sanctuary

© Seeking Sanctuary - 6"x6" oil on linen 

Every year we try to make a trip in the Hocking Hills of Ohio which is about an hour from where we live. I've noticed this beautiful little church off to the side of the road each year but never really thought about painting it until this year. The older I get the more I seek sanctuary from the everyday grind, especially in a presidential election year. And, as simple as it sounds, what better place to find peace than in an actual sanctuary. 

At first I wondered if this particular church was even in use anymore because it looked so overgrown. Almost like the earth had decided it should be reclaimed. But, then I saw that the steps were clear though the bushes and grass were not trimmed. Maybe the earth is not reclaiming it, just protecting it from something we may not know is coming. The fall colors have enveloped it like a quilt and make it the perfect place to seek the peace that passes all understanding.

This type of fall scene makes me feel grateful for living in the midwest even if I do know what's coming next!

Emerging from Despair

©Emerging from Despair - 9"x12" oil on wood pane

SOLD

Just offering up this painting which I did a little while ago but due to certain circumstances in our family and the fact that Easter just passed, I would like to share as the symbol of hope of things beyond what we see.

Many churches display this type of lily as a symbol of purity, innocence and hope on the altar at Easter. The Lily has become sort of a symbol of the essence of the spirit of Easter. I read recently that these majestic flowers are often referred to as the "white-robed apostles of hope" because lilies were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ's agony. Legend says that the white lilies sprung up where drops of Christ's sweat fell to the ground in his final hours of sorrow and deep distress. (http://www.appleseeds.org/easter-lily.htm) They have become the symbol of hope for Christians. 

One week ago I received a call from my sister that her middle son had passed away. Scott was only 35 but was in the midst of a battle with withdrawal from prescription medication. He was determined that this was not the life he wanted to live anymore. Scott was not a burden to any public health system. He worked as a kidney dialysis technician and functioned on a daily basis but carried the weight everyday of his addiction to pain killers, Benzodiazepines and sleep aids. His family helped as much as they could to bring him comfort but in trying to manage his withdrawal, Scott passed of an accidental overdose. If any of you have ever dealt with Benzodiazepine withdrawal you know that it must be done cautiously because there are severe side affects. Scott passed in the night and as a family we are determined to get the message out to others that you are not alone and we will only be able to take control of this epidemic if we work together. Here is a link to Scott's obituary which took all the strength his family had in their struggle to put the truth out there.   http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/cantonrep/obituary.aspx?pid=179426744

So back to the reason for the Lily painting. Scott was a devout Christian and shared his faith whenever he could. He lived a life of faith. He believed in the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. So, being a "good and faithful servant" Scott entered into the kingdom of our Lord on March 23, 2016 sometime in the night. Nobody was in the room with Scott that night but we all know that, as the 23rd Psalm tells us, he did not fear the next stage of his journey. 

This lily is painted specifically in the stark contrast of the white symbol of hope emerging from the dark, fiery despair. A true symbol of purity emerging from a place we would think impossible to survive.  

Spillway

copyright A.K.SIMON - Spillway 8"x 8" oil on gessobord - SOLD

I got to the studio class late and helped a fellow artist with some Facebook issues then finally got around to painting. I knew there would not be enough time to paint everything that was in the set up so I judiciously selected items and rendered them as quickly as possible.. Long story short, a friend I was painting with said I want to buy this painting to keep you from painting any more on it. I don't know if I'm flattered or sad that she knows that I tend to overpaint when I think too much. I did paint a little more on it trying to keep the freshness (hope she doesn't notice).

My approach in this piece was to adjust my thoughts from painting on a flat surface to thinking more of sculpting the pieces and coaxing them out of the surface. Seems weird I know but in doing this mind shift the pieces seemed to develop more quickly. And, it doesn't hurt that I love the blue bowl with the oranges. It also helped to develop the story line in my head that I wanted these items to look like the bowl tipped and I wanted the pieces to seem like they were still in motion. 

Summer Snow

©summer snow - 6"x6" oil on gessobord 

SOLD

In September I started 30 paintings in 30 days and decided the theme would be white flowers. I painted several that I did not get around to posting. This is one of them that I posted last month on Daily Paintworks.

I often walk in the morning and admire the roses along the way. This one is meant to represent the rose basking in the full sun while others around it are in various states of life. It turned out just the way I imagined.

Long Live the Trillium

© Long Live the Trillium - 6"x6" oil - $95 (includes shipping) 

SOLD 

Day 6 of 30 in 30 days series of white flowers:

The trillium is a flower near and dear to all Ohioans because it is our state wild flower. I have even done a commission piece of a trillium. In this piece I tried to keep the surroundings as "bottom of the woodland floor" as possible. These flowers are very susceptible if trampled by deer and won't appear again if they are stepped on repeatedly. They are so stark and lovely against all the other colors of the woodland ground cover.

Here are ten things to know about Trillium:

http://www.prairienursery.com/nativeplantherald/2015/02/ten-things-to-know-about-trilliums/

Nymph of the Pond

©Nymph of the Pond - 6"x6" oil on gessobord - $85 (includes shipping)

Day #4 of 30 paintings in 30 days

I have some pictures of waterlilies but none up this close. I found this reference on a site called pixabay. They offer royalty free use of photos and payment is in the form of a "donation for a cup of coffee." So, if you need some photo references without infringing on copyrights this might be an answer for you.

Since I'm running through these paintings daily I'm really just "piling the paint on" and not worrying about glazing a few days later. I have to say though that I am still a fan of glazing because there is really something to be said for the depth of color one gets in that process. Alla Prima is fun and instantly gratifying but I too love the discipline and patience of glazing.

Facts about the water lily:

Nymphaea odorata

Nymphaea odorata Aiton

American white water lily, Fragrant white water lily, Fragrant water lily, White water lily, Sweet-scented white water lily, Sweet-scented water lily

Nymphaeaceae (Water-Lily Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: NYOD

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (I), PR (N), CAN (N)

A floating aquatic plant with large, fragrant, white or pink flowers and flat, round, floating leaves. The leaves have long stems and are bright green above and reddish or purplish underneath, almost round. They are narrowly and deeply cut almost to the center, where the stem is attached. They are up to 10 inches across, floating on the surface of the water or just beneath. There is 1 flower to a stem, white, fragrant, 2–6 inches across, and floating on the water. Flowers open in the early morning and close about noon. There are 4 sepals and many rows of white petals, often more than 25, which are 3/4–4 inches long, thick, and pointed at the tip. There are more than 70 stamens. The outer ones are large and petal-like; they become smaller toward the center.

For more Info, visit: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=NYOD

Calla Lily in the Spotlight

©Calla Lily in the Spotlight - 6"x6" on gessobord 

SOLD

Day #3 in 30 paintings in 30 days.

Calla Lilys are so graceful and if they could be personified I would say they are the "Grace Kelly" of flowers. Such graceful line, perfect posture and if you turn them upside down they even kind of look like her wedding gown (look it up if you haven't seen it). Maybe that's why brides love them in their bouquets.

These are as dramatic as I could possible make them! This one would probably look nice really big.

Some Interesting Facts about Calla lilies

• The Calla lily is a perennial bulb.
• Though called a lily, Calla lilies are not really lilies.
• Calla is a flowering genus of twenty-eight species originating in Africa and growing mostly in marshy areas.
• Calla lilies are grown from bulbous roots with finger-like growths. These are known as tubers.
• The blooming time of Calla lilies is late spring.
• The word Calla comes from the Greek term for beautiful.
• The Calla lily roots are poisonous.

Growing Calla lilies

• Plant Calla Lilies deeply for their good size.
• Plant them at 4 inches deep, spacing each bulb 12 inches apart.
• Start bulbs indoors in late winter and transplant them in the spring when the danger of frost has passed.
• Apply a bulb fertilizer every month during the active growing season.
• Most Calla Lilies need a rest period after flowering.
• Let the leaves die back and let plants rest for 2 to 3 months.
• Then again resume watering to encourage new growth.

For more information visit:

http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/exoticflowers/calla-lily