Somewhere in my 2 1/2 month painting goal to prepare for the art show...I got lost...(that happens when "type A Alisa takes over!!)...I  got so caught up in producing, that to quote David Bayles & Ted Orland in Art & Fear, "Consider that if artist equals self, then when (inevitably) you make flawed art, you are a flawed person, and when (worse yet) you make no art, you are no person at all!" I lost the joy of why I paint in the first place, as thanksgiving back to God for letting me create. This is not to say that I can't prepare for a show or do a show...this was just a good experience in showing me how easily I lose my focus and get lost in the process. My worth is not tied at all to what/how I create...God loves me no matter what...my creating is an expression of love for Him...not to get Him (or anyone else) to love me.

Another quote from David & Ted, "The best you can do is make art you care about - and lots of it!" So, here's to enjoying the process and being thankful that it really isn't all about me after all!!! (who knew...=)

Next up...this weekend at Mt. Laurel....hope you can stop by!!!

From Hwy 31 or Hwy 280

Exit onto Lakeshore Drive, head west on Lakeshore

After the red lights at the main entrance of Samford, Riviera will be the 6th residential street on the right

Turn right onto Riviera, cross over Lucerne Blvd at 4-way stop, continue to top of hill

115 Riviera Road is on the right corner at the top of the hill ....just look for the white tents...I'm actually out in the front yard!

From Hwy 31 or 280

Exit onto Lakeshore Drive, head west on Lakeshore.

After the red lights at the main entrance of Samford University, Riviera Road will be the 6th residential street on the right.

Turn right, onto Riviera, cross over Lucerne Blvd at 4-way stop, continue to top of hill

115 Riviera Road is on the right corner at the top of the hill.

Hope you can come!

*painting is a gift and a skill and exercising it every day (even when I really didn't "feel" like it) was a good habit to get into...I got into a rhythm of incorporating it into my daily life...which helps me express who I am and my love for God...creating really is like breathing for me....

*when I paint I need to paint for God and what jumps out at me, and not be ruled by what I think others are going to like or not like (the latter is a sure creativity killer)

*I breathe by painting every day, but I don't have enough words to share via "blog" everyday...I tried to do it daily, but some days I just didn't have anything to say...and that's okay

*I love the whole online community atmosphere of websites and blogging and sharing of ideas...it's very inspiring, just a whole different level of connectivity with people you do and don't even know

*I am very, very thankful for all the encouragement and support that I have received from sooo many people...that has been so much fun!

Here are some of this week's paintings...

"come...rest"                                 "center"

"mercy to me"

I still have 2 weeks before the show...so we'll see what next week brings!!!

"of my heart"

                                      "light"

Now, back to my brushes.....

Here's one of the paintings that I'll be taking with me...it's entitled "worship up on high"....

Now, off to see what appears on my canvas next!!

I have painted another type of "stained glass cross" entitled "broken and whole"...I am loving the beauty the comes from the broken pieces...in art and in life!

...Which is a good thing because now I will be able to take some time and enjoy the process. As I look back over the past 5 weeks, it's almost as if I've been holding my breath and sprinting going as fast as I can with my eyes closed (which is the way I travel through alot of my life...full out, all out, hair ablaze) until I come crashing to a complete stop when I hit the wall...literally my body just gives out...WHAM! into the wall...I just don't see it coming then BOOM! I'm on the floor wondering what in the world happened to me. Now you'd think I would have figured this pattern out by now (seeing as how I'm knocking on 50's door) but being idealistic by nature...I keep thinking that this time I won't get tired, this time I am super-girl...yeah...not so much! The wall got me last week....completely wiped me out. I was just undone...by everything...exhausted...my "feast or famine" cycle got me again...bummer. As having been around this block many times before, I know the best thing to do is to relax in it and not fight it...my creativity will return and I will not feel "bluh" for long...yet I did fight it...all week long. The only thing for me to do is "Be still and know that I am God" (Psa 46:10) I needed to slow down and be still and listen to what God was saying to me through His word. Being still is so hard yet so needed for me, to get beyond myself. I'm still in my sitting process and I hope I learn more and more about my activity flowing out from a restful heart. My end result, my "goal" is not nearly as important as the process my heart goes through to get there...I want to make sure I'm listening all along the way.

In God's graciousness, He did provide some paintings for me this week....

"beauty called forth"                 "sing, sing, sing"

                     "beauty in brokenness"

I have loved getting into the rhythm of painting everyday, for that to become part of my daily routine. Some days it has been force of will to get in my studio because of craziness, but I'm always glad I did...there's just something about playing with paints!!! The other thing that I have realized is that it's harder than I thought it would be to blog everyday! Other people make it seem so effortless (it may or may not be for them)...the thoughts and musings I have in my head just don't naturally come out "making sense" everyday! I guess I thought that I would "magically" become a writer...(not happening), as I write like I talk, but it's a new skill I'm looking forward to learning more about.

So, as I begin my 5th week tomorrow, I'm looking forward to lots more painting and lots more "musings!" See ya then....

Some of the 6 are duplicates, but here are some photos....

"Gloria"

 I'm excited about how my day/painting ratio is coming along with this being the end of my third week! I'm over half way to my painting goal with 6 more weeks to go...which is a good thing as God has provided me with another opportunity towards the end of April!! As I find out more details...I will pass them along...maybe y'all can stop by! Talk to you tomorrow! =)

I do have the photo from yesterday's painting entitled, "blessing upon blessing". As I look at the painting I am reminded of something my mom taught me when I was just an itty bitty...we were on her bed and she was teaching me how to color and about colors and she said "Alisa, things are never just one color, there are always different shades of that color and other colors as well...you have to look carefully to see all the colors, that's what gives things their dimension and makes them interesting." I have never forgotten that and to this day I CANNOT paint in one color. So thanks mom, for "blessing" me with your creative insight and love of color!!!

Until then...for now...I'm pooped....

Someone asked me one time where I get the names for the paintings; I listen to worship music as I paint and I pray before I get started asking for guidance and I believe God gives me names for paintings. Sometimes they will be related to the song that I'm listening to, other times it isn't related to anything at all...it will just jump out at me....it's always a fun surprise for me. So...here are the latest inspirations....

"hearts"

"shining through"

"remembering"

 Today is the day I get to post the photo of the commission that I have been working on...it is of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church off of Hwy 119. This is such a beautiful church. Once again I had the privilege of being a part of someone's gift giving...what a gift in itself.

I love knowing that I will be forever singing praises to my King!! Until tomorrow....

 I think I will celebrate by curling up with a cup of coffee to watch the snow fall and just glory in God's creation!!

Now I'm off to carpool...so here are the pictures...until tomorrow!

"in the village"

"dance for joy"

I have decided to post pictures as I go instead of all at once (at least I'm going to try)...it took me a long time on Sunday (I'm not a speedster on the computer)...so here are 2 pictures of today's work (I painted 2 of each)...

"in the highest"                              "shout of PRAISE!"

Lots of fun painting today and a Stouffer's in the oven...ahhhhh...until tomorrow!

"exceeding abundance"            "set free"

                                   "precious"

"arise & sing"                          "He lives"

"be still"                                   "everyone sing"

"carried"                                   "hidden blessings"

                                   "whispers"

 I can't wait to start some new paintings next week and continue working on my commission! Thanks for all your comments and words of encouragement...that's been sooo helpful and needed! Until tomorrow! =)

Tomorrow I will post pictures of all the paintings that I completed this week...that will be fun for me to see them all at once! Until tomorrow....