March 31, 2019

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: Excellence

Excellence doesn't mean perfection. That is unachievable. Excellence is the pursuit & implementation  of one's personal best.  This will look different at different stages of your artistic development. Shouldn't this be the goal of every artist. Who wouldn't want their work to be of great quality, merit, value, and distinction. I can't imagine someone striving for mediocrity. As an artist, isn't one of your goals for others to see, experience, ponder, and discuss your creative pursuits? Excellence in your field can open up more opportunities for others to see the work you are creating. 


But since you excel in everything -in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this grace of giving.  2 Corinthians 8:7

I've met many people who aren't striving for excellence in their faith walk. The reasons are varied.  The results are similar.  An unfulfilling faith experience. We all go through seasons where this can be said of us.  However, we can not live our whole life in this season. Not only is it detrimental to our  spiritual development, but it limits our impact on the world around us. In our growing...we have the ability to give. We don't have to be spiritual gaints to make a difference in the life of another, but it is difficult to give when we are running on empty. Striving for excellence in our faith is not an attempt to earn God's favor/blessing, but a reaction to the love & grace that has been given to us. As we know this & live this truth out...we can give freely what has been given us. 

March 29, 2019

K-4th Art Show: Powered by....

THIS ART SHOW IS POWERED BY....


SPEEDWAY UNSWEET TEA!! 

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I love unsweet tea!!  That is my caffeine of choice.
(I was so busy the whole day of the art show...I never finished the second one!!) 

March 27, 2019

Aliens Love Underpants: Kindergarten


I promised my kindergarten a painting day.....and they were SO EXCITED!  
We started the lesson by reading Aliens Love Underpants.  If you don't know this series of books...there is Pirates Love Underpants, and Dinos Love Underpants as well!!! They are a kindergarten favorite.  I mean...who won't chuckle when hearing the word UNDERPANTS said again and again!! ha ha  Plus, when you are creating aliens...students can really let their imagination run wild!








March 26, 2019

Art Encouragement


One of my sweet students brought me a brochure from the art exhibition at The Frist Museum.  She & her mother went on a mother/daughter date to the museum, and she made sure that her mom took pictures so that Mr. E could see!!! ha ha  So sweet that she brought this to me...it said TO: Mr.E with a big heart on the front!!  SO ENCOURAGED!! 


March 24, 2019

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Prepared

One of the most important things an artist can do to set themselves up for success is being prepared.  Having the proper materials in an easily accessible location allows one to jump into the creative process with little fuss or bother.  Personally, the hassle of getting all my supplies out of the garage and setting up a workspace somewhere in my house keeps me from creating as often as I should be doing.  Getting in the habit of carrying a sketch book and basic drawing supplies allows for ideas to be captured when inspiration strikes or for ideas to be processed/worked out in real time.  There have been many ideas lost because I was not prepared with the necessary tools.  Preparation is key to a successful and fulfilling  artistic life. 


 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 
 Matthew 24:44



Reading the Bible. Praying. Teaching a class at church. Leading a Bible study. Mentoring.  Going on a mission trip. Giving. Sharing about your relationship with God with someone you love/care about.  Serving others in some capacity. Speaking words of kindness.  Loving others.  

I'm not ready to do that! I'm not prepared to do that! I'm not qualified to do that! 

   We are often extremely prepared to provide an excuse for why we can't or aren't doing something.  Maybe it is because we don't feel adequate, a bad experience from the past,  have a low self esteem, afraid we'll have to give up something we don't want to give up, have to do something we don't want to do (missionary to ______).....or a host of other reasons.  The thing is...we don't know how much time we have to live this life God has given us.  We do not know when he will return or our expiration date. We need to be prepared to live the life we've been given for glory, to know him, and to make him know.  That looks different for all of us.  However, we need to set ourselves up to accomplish as much as possible each day we are given.  What is it that you need to do to insure you are prepared to live this life to the fullest?  

March 17, 2019

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: Are You Done?

(This is a post written 2 years ago. My family just returned from a week long trip, and I was unable to write a new post for this week. I hope enjoy this "repeat"!! I return with a new devotional  next week!)

One of the most challenging questions artists & art students ask themselves is "Am I done?".  You don't want leave a work appearing unfinished, but you also do not want to ruin it by doing too much.   I think most of us err on the side of overworking our art.  We don't want to give up until we've given our all to communicated our vision.  So when is a work of art done?  Honestly, I've matted & hung a painting before, but then taken it down and worked on it some more. I believe there is a heart and head connection that happens when we know we've done our best, communicated our vision, and are ready to share it with others.  That's not to say we won't question a work's "doneness" again, but we have found a peace in the level of completion & effectiveness in our work.


And there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus' feet, and began to implore Him to come to his house; for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. -  While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore.  But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well."  - Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, "Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep."  And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.  He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Child, arise!"  And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat.  Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.  
The whole story can be found in Luke 8:40-56

Done.  How many times in your life have you questioned if you are done?  Done with a relationship, done with a job, done with something you thought you were meant to do or meant to be......just DONE!  Things didn't work out like you thought.  It wasn't as easy.  It wasn't as fun. It required effort.  It didn't happen like you thought it would.  In your mind the easiest thing would be to call it done and move on with your life.  I do believe there is a time to be done with somethings(or someone), but too often I've seen people give up exerting little to no effort. I believe we do have a responsibility to put in the time & effort, but we also have the responsibility to bring it to the Lord. There are many things we see as impossible that ,with God, are possible. Sometimes we will see Him do amazing things to change the situation.  Sometimes we will see Him change our perspective on the situation.  Sometimes He will lead us to move on.  No matter, all things can be used for His glory & His honor.

March 15, 2019

Lego Land Inspiration

On our way back from Disney...we stopped at Lego Land in Atlanta. I LOVED this poster/sign!!! I try to encourage my students to be original...and to put their own unique spin on their work. I'm going to put this at the beginning of my Power Points....might catch their attention! 


March 09, 2019

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: BUSY

Have you ever seen a work of art (or created a work of art) that you might call "busy"? This is a term used when an artist employs an excessive amount of color, line, patter, and/or objects in part or the whole of a given piece. The work feels almost "too much".  For some artists it is a personal choice/style/decision that they use...and it works for them.  However, many times it is an unfortunate result of not knowing when to stop.  It can be a fine line that some just cross, and other times it is a cliff they jump off in all their blazing glory head first.  The over done/over worked surface becomes a place of stress and uneasiness.  The viewer longs for visual rest in the midst of the busy image.


“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11: 28-30

Life has a way of becoming "busy". That business impacts everything.  It becomes our token answer for when people ask us how we're doing. "Oh, I've just been really busy!" or "I'm just tired because of how busy I am!".  Sometimes this business is caused by the phase of life we find ourselves (or some might say season of life). Other times it becomes overly busy because due to no fault of our own....demands of work, demands of family, or demands of health.  This added to stress, financial burdens, relationship strains, and a host of other issues ...causes everything to become out of wack. It is just TOO MUCH!!

 What the Lord is calling us to in these verses is not a life without business & burdens, but that we can live a life that allows business & burdens to be take their proper place. When we focus our attention on God...it allows us to have a healthier perspective of all those things in our world that can cause us to become stressed out, bogged down, and overly busy.  Are you finding peace? Are you tired at the soul level? Do you long for rest?  Don't be so busy that you neglect going to the One who can lighten your load & give you true rest in the midst of your over done life! 

March 07, 2019

More 3rd Grade Circle Weavings


Look at my last post to see the links for directions & more awesome 
finished student work!













March 05, 2019

3rd Grade Circle Weavings

It has been that most wonderful time of the year....
CIRCLE WEAVING! 
If you've followed me for some time you will know I love to circle weave with my 3rd graders.  They love it, I love it, their work looks amazing.....it is just good stuff!  I will link some previous "HOW TO" posts so you can take a look at that info if you are in need or want of it! 

HOW TO CIRCLE WEAVE

ALL MY CIRCLE WEAVING POSTS






March 03, 2019

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: Be Careful

Though artists are often portrayed as carefree and/or careless, this is usually far from the truth. Artists must carefully & considerately approach their work.  Rushing in one's work often ends in frustration. It can cause the artist to become distracted, disillusioned, and disheartened in their work.   Being reckless with approach or safety can cause issues for both the art & artist. Wasted supplies, wasted time, unrealized ideas, and potential harm to one's self are motivation for most to carefully consider what they are doing & how they are doing it.  One must be art "wise" if they want to continue to pursue their work. 


Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Ephesians 5: 15-17

Our journey of faith is just that...a journey. It is not something to be rushed.  You are where you are in your faith, and that's ok. Such things can not be rushed.  So many become frustrated when they think or feel they should be "further" in their walk with God than they are. Though we should desire to continually grow, there is no real way to rush the process. We must be careful not skip the very things that allows us to develope as believers....the investment of time, energy, heart, and intellect. Without this investment, it is easy for those seeking God to become distracted, disillusioned, and disheartened.    Wisdom takes work, and is always worth the effort.  

  

March 01, 2019

And just like that...#aheartaday19 has ended!

I hope you all enjoyed all the hearts I posted on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram.  If you followed the hearts...you probably learned a great deal about me & my journey! Here is a look at the hearts(without all the info!! ha ha).