Reflecting

Reflecting

Our area in northern Indiana has seen some significant flooding in this last week or two. It has caused some of the places where I like to walk to be closed and has made some roads impassable, and some homes have water issues.  This painting was inspired by a photo from a walk my Beloved Husband and I took a few weeks ago in a nearby county where there is a relatively easy walk back to a dam on a (usually) small river. It is one of our favorite places to walk. We haven't checked it in the last few days - I wonder if it is flooded too!

4" x 4"

Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep cradled wood panel

Edges painted black

Click here to view on my website. 

This is another very small palette knife painting. I have been enjoying working so small, and working with the knife because it helps me to suggest a landscape without getting too persnickety about mark making and detail. I love to paint enough to be "representational" while still leaving more for the viewer to bring to the story by only hinting at the details.  

I think I will call this little work Reflecting. It is a title that is way overused, so I was hesitant to use it too, but today it has two meanings for me, and just seems fitting. First, obviously, the painting shows a pond with bare spring trees reflected in the water. It is such a lovely view, and I am almost always stopped in my tracks when I see this kind of natural beauty. 

The other use of the word for me today, and I am sorry if this is too pedantic, refers to my state of mind. Today I have been reflecting on some very difficult things, but also some wonderful things from days past, and some potential for coming days. And all of it would derail me if I were not also reflecting words from my Heavenly Father. Today, the words I want to reflect on are these. 

Matthew 6:9 Therefore, you should pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,

Your name be honored as holy.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not bring us into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power

and the glory forever. Amen.