winter solstice

time and a friend

"and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time."
Georgia O'Keeffe

no words

“All those things for which we have no words are lost. The mind—the culture—has two little tools, grammar and lexicon: a decorated sand bucket and a matching shovel. With these we bluster about the continents and do all the world's work. With these we try to save our very lives.”
― Annie Dillard

thy heart

O thou sculptor, painter, poet!
Take this lesson to thy heart:
That is best which lieth nearest;
Shape from that thy work in art.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

December

How did it get so late so soon?

 It's night before its afternoon.

 December is here before its June. 

My goodness how the time has flewn. 
How did it get so late so soon? 

Dr. Suess– From “How Did it Get So Late So Soon?"

My blog has been on hiatus from mid-April and so much has changed around here, and I have so many sketches and paintings to post. Hang on for the ride, I will be posting and writing more.

This sketch is from back in mid-March of this year, visiting grandchildren in Mexico, enjoying sunny days observing them playing. I have said before how much I enjoy quick sketching from direct observation, how much it sharpens the keen experience of the moment. 

after the snow has melted

Of whom all nature hath creation

I bind unto myself today
The Name, the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Words: Patrick (372-466)
Music: St Patrick's Breastplate, Irish melody

My watercolor sketch of the River Boyne near Newgrange, Ireland.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me,
Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.

dear March

Emily Dickinson, 1830 - 1886

Dear March - Come in - 
How glad I am -
I hoped for you before -
Put down your Hat - 
You must have walked -
How out of Breath you are - 
Dear March, how are you, and the Rest -
Did you leave Nature well - 
Oh March, Come right upstairs with me -
I have so much to tell -

I got your Letter, and the Birds - 
The Maples never knew that you were coming -
I declare - how Red their Faces grew -         
But March, forgive me - 
And all those Hills you left for me to Hue - 
There was no Purple suitable - 
You took it all with you -         
  
Who knocks? That April -
Lock the Door -

Epiphany Sunday

Rough sketch for the wood carving of the Great Doors at Church of the Resurrection.
Church of the Resurrection is in Wheaton, Illinois, I am a member and have contributed many hours of art work for the beauty of the sanctuary and narthex. I'd like to write a few posts about the Great Doors in future days and share the beauty of the final wood carving and some of my sketches that made up part of the five year project that is now completed.

rest and peace

When despair for the world grows in me....

I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

...I come into the presence of still water.

...For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

lines from the poem "The Peace of Wild Things"

by Wendell Berry