Everything is Blooming and Flying

Alas, the winter season has retreated (at least in some parts of the U.S.), and we are beginning to see the brilliant life that bursts through the earth every spring.  Seeds that sat dormant and plants that seemed dead are reaching colorfully past a season of dormancy.  The Easter Season is upon us and nature is a wonderful reminder that things that appear dead, gone, destroyed are able to rebound.  Things that are broken are able to be mended and flourish.  We need that reminder.
Here's an envelope that I did for an individual that recently lost her mother to cancer.  I thought a gentle sympathy of spring flowers and a message of a "perfect brightness of hope" would be appropriate in her time of sadness.

This is done with gouache, acrylic, prismacolor and bit of pen and ink.

I also recently did another envelope for a friend going through a difficult time, and who needed to be reminded that we are not forgotten in our struggles.  Here's the envelope that I sent to him:

Resting Sparrow

It's been a while since I last posted.  Life has been exceedingly busy as of late, and I haven't made the time needed to paint another envelope for giving away.  But, this weekend I changed that and went back to one of my favorite subjects, the lowly, yet beautiful sparrow.  I've written about and painted sparrows on previous occasions and how I continue to marvel at the truth found in Matthew 10:29 wherein we learn that even a sparrow does not fall without our Heavenly Father knowing about it, or the accompanying assurance in verse 31 which teaches us that in His eyes, we are of more value than the sparrows.  There are so many voices in the world today which seem desirous to rob us of hope, faith, reassurance while supplanting it with fear, anxiety and concern.  Surely, we can find reminders in the world around us of the goodness in the world, even if it comes from a little bird.

This one was done for an old acquaintance of mine who is going through some challenges with the health of her daughter.  The note of encouragement that I pulled together for her is going out with this doodle.

This is done mainly in gouache with an acrylic background, and pen and ink outline.

Fear Not

This last week I discovered that a friend in the neighborhood had to face the daunting decision of a double mastectomy based on recent findings of cancer.  She underwent the surgery a few days ago and is now recovering.  I'm proud of her for her courage, and her willingness to undergo a very difficult procedure, both physically and emotionally, while placing trust in the future as she moves through this particular challenge.  She's a great individual, and as I sat down to do an envelope this week, I thought again about the promise in Luke chapter 12 vs. 6-7.  Which reads:
"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?  

 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."

 

All of us are asked to face challenges, some of those challenges appear to be such that our very lives could be lost as we face them.  Yet the truth stated above is that God watches over even the most small, inexpensive and seemingly petty things (a sparrow) with intense care and alertness.  And yet, He takes the time to remind us that we are of much more value than the small things, and that  we can trust that He will direct our lives despite our challenges and trials.  It is comforting to hear the counsel from Him to "Fear Not."  It's also a nice reminder to us of His character and a gentle nudge for each of us to be more alert of all the small, but precious things that are around us every day.

 

So, as I have done previously, I painted a sparrow, and sent it off to her with a reminder that she is not forgotten, and that I have been impacted by her courageous example.