"Just for Arden", oil

We joke with my sister that special things in life were created just for her. This sunset at Clearwater Beach in Florida was one of those things. It was an overcast day, but there was still a wonderful moment to capture as Arden splashes along the beach during the setting of the sun. The purples and blues were so strong I had to make it a painting! Just for Arden.

A Father's Covering, oil, 20 x 16

There is alot of symbolism in this painting. Scripture tells us that the father is the covering over his household, just as God is the covering over His children. As the father in this painting lifts and carries his child upon his strong shoulders, he walks underneath the tree covering, representing his covering by God as he covers his child. He walks toward the covering and against the path of the world. The only way God can cover his children is if we don't follow the ways of the world, but the ways of God. There's no safer place to be.

November Tree, oil on panel, 8 x 10 inches

Today we painted at Big Springs in Newville. It was breezy and cool but I found a protected nook by the stream and captured this last vestage of Autumn with the orange leaves hanging on before winter. It was great to be out painting again. Amongst all us painters was a fly fisherman casting in the stream. Once this little painting dries, it will be available for purchase at the Art & Soul Gallery in Lemoyne, PA. Call 717-761-1270 if you're interested.

Hay Bales

I love hay bales! I captured these beauties freshly baled along my road. Perspective is always my inspiration and the line of trees, driveway and receding haybales were just the right recipe.

It's always a sad day when the farmer comes and takes them away. I am blessed to enjoy seeing them out my window for a brief time. The cows are in for a bountiful feast!

Cherry Blossoms, oil, 24x30

This is my horse, Jayde, grazing on the fresh Spring grass during the short two-week blossoming of the cherry trees. I was drawn to the perspective of the tree and fence lines and sunlit colors of the horse, the pink and white blossoms, and the spring grasses. What a pallette!

Kreative Blogger Award

Thank you to Claire Beadon Carnell for including me as a new blogger for this award. If it wasn't for Claire I wouldn't know how to do this blog, so I return this award back to you as thanks. Please check out Claire's blog and her other favorite bloggers.

I pass this award along to seven other artists whose blogs I enjoy.

Before I send you off to their wonderful sites, here are 7 things about me you might like to know:

1. I love and serve my savior, Jesus Christ, because, Praise God!, He took my sins away!
2. Along with a love of art, I love to write!
3. I love my cutest four nephews as if they were my own kids!
4. I enjoy quiet, peace and praying.
5. I honor the elder generations for their wisdom and experience.
6. My family and church are my best friends.
7. I have the best dog in the whole world!

NOW, those seven great bloggers...

Debbie Becks-Cooper - for her beautiful texture work

Mary Beth Brath - for starting her blog yesterday

Edward Burton - for taking us to the museum

Diane Morgan - and her lovely watercolors

Pat Koscienski - for those great landscape abstracts

Jennifer Lawson - for great storytelling

Diana Marshall - and her challenging subject matter

List 7 things about you and pass it along to 7 Kreative Bloggers. Go visit these artist's supreme blogs!

Cupcake, 5x7

This is my first painting from the Different Strokes From Different Folks Blog Challenge, where artists paint their own interpretations of the same photograph. I chose to focus on a single cupcake and it's shadow. The curves of the icing, the tonal changes in the shadows and the reflection of the yellow cake on the grey tabletop. Cupcakes make a beautiful work of art.