The past two springs here in Texas (2019 and 2020), several artists have been blessed by the generosity of our friend Jim who has allowed us to set up our plein air easels and paint one of the most inspiring spring landscapes in this part of Texas.
A little south of the DFW Metroplex, the rolling hills of the property fade into the distance with the color of Indian Paint Brushes and Bluebonnets looking as if they were plugged into an electric light source. Not really one who paints flowers, I was blown away by the beauty of this landscape.
I painted four works during the two days that were spaced about a week apart. Since I work mostly with a limited palette these days, I chose a Quadradic Square palette, using as the mixing primaries Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow Light and Ultramarine Blue. From these I mixed the palette colors of Yellow-Orange, Green, Blue-Violet and Alizarin Crimson was straight from the tube as the red.
One of the struggles I have with any painting is the value structure – the way color fades into the distance. The interesting thing about wildflower on a bright sun-lit day is that they seem to be shinning out color. Limiting the palette adds another level of problems to work through, but that is why I go out and paint. I believe no matter what we are involved in we should always be open to learning.
I believe I am more pleased with one of the last works I did during this time, but I know all could be improved. I probably will not paint anything similar in nature until next spring.
Consider the Lilies, How they Grow…
When I am in a remarkably beautiful landscape as the one described above, I am in awe of the Creator who made it all. Is it true that the God who creates such beauty must Himself be beautiful in all His glory? I believe so.
The scriptures are quite remarkable. Some have described them as a love letter given to us by God. A God who says and demonstrates that He loves us.
This loving God created the universe with all its majesty. Animals, plants, oceans, mountains…the list is endless of what He has created. And one thing I find very intriguing is how this loving God instructs us to look at what He has created in order to communicate His truth to us.
He told Job when Job was questioning God’s wisdom in the terrible events of his life, God ask Job some questions that required Job to observe God’s creation, as well as know something about the physical creation. One question was this:
“Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? Do you make it leap like a locust, striking terror with its proud snorting?”
Job 39:19-20
Another question a few verses down:
“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars, Stretching his wings toward the south?
Job 39:26
God the father uses His created world to teach us about Himself, and I believe God is pleased when we investigate and enjoy His creation.
Early in the book of Job we see these instructions:
“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?”
Job 12:7-10
It’s clear that we can learn from creation, and in Psalm 19 it says “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1
Jesus, who the Bible says was involved in the creation (Colossians 1:16; John 1:3), says this:
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!”
Luke 12:27-28
Jesus is pointing us to the real, created, beautiful creation and using it as an object lesson to get us to see that God is in control and that He loves us and that we should have Faith in Him.
I find that remarkable! God the Father is in many ways reaching out to us. Both believers and unbeliever. To the believer He is encouraging us to trust Him in every aspect of life. To the unbeliever He is calling…
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
Romans 5:8-11
