New Paintings

This spring, I have been working on some new 16x20" paintings.  Here are a few photos for you to enjoy.  You can view all my available paintings at Dutchland Galleries at their new updated website at this link:    Mary's Paintings

"Evening Meadow" - Now Available at Dutchland Galleries

"Life in the Country" - Now Available at Dutchland Galleries

"From Farm to Market" - A Fund Raiser Painting for

Good Samaritan Shelter (Sold)

"Amish Afternoon" (Sold)

"Noah's Barn" (Sold)

Framed 5x7" Star Barn

6x6" Star Barn

                                                           

The Power of Follow Through

This week I faced a bit of a challenge with one of my paintings.  I started painting a barn shaped birdhouse in a meadow, but part way through I realized that the bird house was a bit too big for the setting.  I was frustrated and wanted a do-over.  I just didn't like it!  I could have pitched the canvas, or put it into my storage closet, so I would forget about it for a couple of years.  Yes, I actually did have one that I put in the closet for a few years (see *).  But instead of resorting to those measures,  I decided to go to bed and sleep on it and revisit it the next day.

In the morning, I tried to see the painting with new eyes and reviewed all the possibilities.  Then I took a bold move and painted over the barn bird house with my forgiving acrylics and started working it into a larger life-size barn.  At that point it was too late to go back.  I was committed to making something out of this!  What it would turn out to be, I did not know.  I just let the Spirit and my paint brush take over.  As I worked, I still didn't like it, but the peanut gallery (my family) said that they liked it.  I grumbled to myself, but kept on working.  Then it happened.  It morphed into something that I actually liked, even though I didn't feel that way until I reached the very end and it was finished.

Evening Glow

Life is like that sometimes.  We may have the best intensions when starting something, but when we are in the midst of it, in a moment of frustration, we feel like quitting or giving up.  Did you ever start a project and for some reason or another, when you hit a brick wall, you just put it aside?  I can think of a few of my own, or several to be honest.  I once had an idea for a painting that I wanted to use as a fund raiser for a sweet little girl, but I hesitated for two weeks until I started it.  Did I finished it?  Find out below**.

Teachers of Thomas Edison said he was "too stupid to learn anything." He was considered "non-productive" and for this reason he was fired from his first two jobs.  He made 1000 unsuccessful  attempts at creating the light bulb until he got it right.  His secret?  He didn't give up!   He followed through.   Good thing, because we may still be in the dark!

As I have been reflecting about the cross and Easter coming up,  I thought about someone else who didn't give up.  Jesus could have taken one look at the cross, and walked away.  But instead, He died for me, for all of us, to take on our sin and make a way to reunite us to a Holy Heavenly Father.  If he didn't follow through we would have no chance of redemption and the ability to receive his free gift of salvation.


*Here is the painting I had in the back of the closet--I did get it out one day and finished it and I'm glad I did, because it sold right away.

                                                                    *Firefly Evening

** I ended up doing the fundraiser painting for the sweet little girl.  You can read about her story and what happened with the prints here.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/painting-of-snowman-recalls-hannah-garman/article_33102444-74ee-5a47-9163-f34e1e2e7ddc.html?mode=story

**Hannah's Wish

We may not be able to invent something that will light the world, or do a single act that can save the world, but we don't know what impact we could have if we would only follow through with something that could have the potential to light up someone's world or save someone's life.  What are you putting off that you need to follow through with?

Hope on the Horizon

I refinished an old antique wooden frame to compliment the painting. 

 Color is light tan with golden highlights and small brown flecks that match the barn roof.  

Below is a more accurate photo of the color of the frame.

I just finished is my latest painting titled, "Hope on the Horizon."This piece will be up for auction at Help The Fight's annual benefit dinner on Saturday, September 13.  For more information on the benefit auction, I have provided a link to their organization.   If you are unable to attend and would like more information on this painting or to place an absentee bid, please contact me at starlitestudios.art@gmail.com.

 http://www.helpthefight.org

The Story Behind the Painting:

For this piece, I wanted to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone.    As I began, I realized that it was going to take longer than most of my paintings and I faced several challenges along the way.  When a viewer sees a painting, they only see the finished piece and not all the work and surrounding circumstances that goes into a painting.  However, for an artist, each painting brings to mind memories of the process of that work of art.

 When I start a painting, I have a vision in my head and my job is to figure out how to get that vision from my head to the canvas.  That's not always an easy process.  While working on this one in particular, I faced several challenges.   One of the things that goes into my paintings is a lot of prayer.  Why?  I never had the luxury of art school and being self-taught requires me to do a lot of extra reading and studying to learn what I need to know.  It also means that I must depend on the one who gave me my talent, to help me navigate through the details.

During this painting, I worked through several late night sessions ending after 1:30 AM,  some sleepless nights, several days of constant dizziness, and other obstacles.  There was a moment in the process that I almost gave up and wanted to quit, but I didn't.  I knew from experience, that if I kept at it and broke it down into bite-sized pieces, with the Lord's help, I could accomplish my vision.

I think the greatest lesson I learned through the process of this painting is endurance.  In life, we face many obstacles, challenges and risks.  Over 20 years ago, I encountered an obstacle in my life.  I was diagnosed with chronic vertigo.  After 9 doctors and many tests, I was left with no answers and no cure. I questioned God about it often.  At times I felt alone.  I wondered what good He could possibly bring from this.  This invisible illness turned my life upside-down.  I left a good paying job with benefits and started on a risky journey of following my early childhood dream of being an artist.  Now, I am beginning to see why God allowed this in my life.  He was always there beside me, working behind the scenes, building endurance in me.

As I painted the last shingles on the house in my painting, I had such a feeling of hope and that "hope was on the horizon." Hope that my vision was becoming a reality.  I realized that hope does not come until we have struggled and endured the test.  This morning I came across these verses.  They were just what I needed to hear.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."  Romans 5:3-5

For me, I am learning that I must depend on the Lord, who has a plan for my life and to take life in bite-sized pieces to build endurance.  That endurance is what will lead to HOPE.

Art for LAMS Auction

This year I have been invited to submit a piece of artwork for the Lititz Area Mennonite School Auction to be held on June 6 & 7, 2014.  As I was considering what I would paint, I thought about doing a series of paintings featuring businesses in Lancaster County.  Since LAMS is in Lititz, I thought it appropriate to start there.  As I was traveling through Lititz this past week taking reference photos,  I discovered the perfect place to feature, Isabella's Ice Cream Parlor.   Last night I worked out my rough sketch.   I will share photos on the progress of the painting.

                        The finished painting: "Pedaling Around Lititz - Isabella's Ice Cream Parlor"

After One Painting Session

A Rough Sketch

Autism York Benefit Painting & Prints

One good thing about a LONG winter, is that I've spent a great deal of time inside; which means a lot of  painting time.   One of the pieces I finished is a 16x20" original acrylic painting to benefit Autism York's Walk to be held on April 5.   I will also be donating some prints to their event of the painting.  The title is "Seasons of Autism - Summer".    This is the second in the series of four paintings.

Others paintings that I finished over the winter will be available at Dutchland Galleries in Lancaster County, PA in the coming days. (shown below).

Sunflower Farms 16x20"

 

A Picture Perfect Day 16x20"

                                                           

















                                               Sunflower Barns Set of two 6x6"

Three Fundraiser Prints in Memory of Hannah Garman

Help The Fight, First Responder, and Hannah's Wish


"Help The Fight" is the third print in memory of Hannah Garman. This year all profits from each print go to Help The Fight, an organization associated with Lancaster General Breast Center, to provide gap funding directly to local breast cancer patients in need of funds for utilities, rent, food or medicine. The 8x10 giclee prints are $40 each. They are signed by the artist and fit a standard 11x14 frame. To order contact Mary Charles at 717-209-1119 or email at starlitestudios.art@gmail.com.