Sunday, June 24, 2012

The Baptism of Jesus

This is a variation of a photo I saw the other day.  It really touched me and decided I wanted to try to do it in pastel.  It's not for sale but I wanted to share it with you.  I hope it touches you like it touched me.

Matthew 3:13 - 17
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Saturday, June 9, 2012


I'm finally getting back to my pastels and my blog!  I can't believe it has been so long since I have done either!  But I had a good excuse - I remodeled my office/studio.  What do you think?

This was something I have never done before.  My brother was getting rid of his kitchen cabinets and asked me if I wanted them.  At first I said "no" but then I thought about my office and said "yes!"  I needed storage and this seemed like the answer.  Honestly, I didn't know what I was getting into as far as the mess and length of time it would take but I love the way it turned out! 

I did all the work myself except installing the bank of cabinets on the one wall - my brother helped me with that.  I did install the two little cabinets all by myself though.  I learned a lot and I wouldn't mind putting more flooring down in my house at some point. 

Getting back into the habit of working on a piece of art and blogging has been hard but I do believe I'm ready to do both.  Watch for a new post coming later.

  
Hebrews 13:21 (KJV)
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Master's Touch
11" x 14" (28.0cm x 35.6cm)
Pastels on Velour
$200 plus $10 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

This pastel of a violin was inspired by this poem:
The Touch of the Masters Hand
by Myra Brooks Welch (1877-1959)
'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.