Creating!

 I was not able to write my weekly Sunday Devotional With Mr. E this week.

(For those of you new here...almost every Sunday for the past 5 years I've written a post that connects art and faith.  I normally post that Sunday morning.)  My church asked me if I'd create a painting to co along with the new sermon series.  I LOVE that they want to include visual art...I've always felt that was something churches should embrace....allowing people to use their gifts/talents/skills to contribute to what the church does.  However, something had to give.  I'm a husband, father of three, and a full time art teacher.  I just don't have enough hours in the day.  So...I decided I'd invest the time I usually put into writing my weekly devotional into my painting (and a bunch of other hours I squeaked out here and there!).  It is 24 in x 48 in acrylic painting.  I'm not exactly sure when/how it will be used, but excited to see the church embracing us arty types!! ha ha 

 

MAKE SOMETHING

HEY EVERYONE!! What are you making right now?? I know many art teachers are out there working on content to share with their students. However, you must take some time for yourself too (Practice What You Preach!). It doesn't have to be huge and grandiose!?!?! It can be something small, manageable, and in a sketchbook. Just take time to make. It is good for you!!!!!

I started last night with the sketch...and think I’m pretty much finished(but ya never know!?). It isn’t big...just 6 in x 9 in. I’ve not created anything in this style for awhile...this is how I worked in grad school(but much larger). The “style” pulls from quilts & stained glass. I thought you might like to see the progression. Every artist works differently.

Neglected Talent...

I dare say most of us neglect our inner artist.  We are so busy creating lesson plans, teaching children, other professional responsibilities, family..etc.  It is extremely easy to become so busy with "life"...we don't make the time to creating! I've posted about this "issue" before.  I've taken part in online challenge to help keep me actively creating my own work, and I've created a couple challenges to inspire myself & others to create(check out my Twitter @ArtWithMrE for the Nov. Turkey A Day Challenge & Feb. A Heart A Day Challenge).  So far this school year I've had two opportunities arise that "forced" me to create...AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!  I'll share more about the opportunity through my alma mater in the next week...after I've attended the opening! 

The image you see here I just completed this week for our upcoming Art Teacher Art Show!  After many years of not having one....IT'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm so excited to see all the work created by the amazingly talented art teachers of Nashville.   I went back to the style I was working in during grad school where I connect to my Appalachian roots of quilt making(my mom, aunts, grandma) & stained glass(church)....and combined it with my love of turtles.  I have loved turtles my whole life, but have never created a true work of art featuring one?!?!!?  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  The reds/pinks did not photograph well, but it gives you an idea!!  

I used a mix of my liquid watercolors and standard tube watercolors to 

lay down the base color for my painting.  

I then used black colored pencil to outline all of my pencil 

marks to give it that stained glass feel.

I used color pencils & gel pens to create the patterns in my turtle and water.  I did go back into some parts and deepen the colors to make it POP more.  

NOW..CAN I KEEP UP THE CREATIVITY WITHOUT DEADLINES!??!?!