jenedypaige paintings

"Summer's Gift"

2012-01-18T05:21:00.000-08:00

I told Sky at Morgan's birthday party this summer, that she was the best present Morgan received that day, and she definitely was. Those two little kids played together everyday, she was Morgan's first best friend. They loved walking along the beach and collecting little treasures. I love how Sky is holding a piece of dried up seaweed in her hands. It just illustrates the wonder that children find in the world, and it makes me smile. Thank you Sky for all the giggles and smiles you brought to Morgan. We love you!

10" x 30" oil on panel

"An Angel for the Storm"

2011-12-25T05:18:00.000-08:00

I’ve always had a fascination with angels and a desire to be in their presence. There have been several times in my life when I believed at any moment an angel would appear. I have wondered what they would look like, would they be so bright my eyes could hardly see? Would they be transparent? Would they hover above the air? Would I be afraid if one actually came? The thing I never considered was the conditions for an angel to appear. In the Bible angels usually appear during a moment of extreme difficulty: God sent an angel to Daniel to shut the mouths of the lions (Dan 6:22), an army of angels appeared to help save the Israelites from the Syrians (2 Kings 6:17), an angel appeared to warn Joseph of the decree of Herod to kill every baby boy, and told him to take his family and flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13), angels appeared to strengthen the Savior after the temptations of Satan (Matthew 4:11).

In recent months I too found myself in direr circumstances, as I watched my first-born son struggle and fight for his life in the hospital. He experienced weeks of neurological “storming” and the convulsing was almost more than I could bear. There were many nights that I pled for Heavenly Father to just take away all the pain, and make my son whole and new. I longed for the day that I would be able to take my little boy home and get back to life as usual. I pled that Heavenly Father would perform a miracle and heal Him. As I stood by my son’s bedside, night after night, I thought often of the most extreme of all cases, as the Savior suffered in Gethsemane. The Savior of the World pled:

“Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” (Mark 14:36)

But the Father could not remove the cup, for it was necessary for the salvation of all mankind, and so instead,

“…there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.” (Luke 22:43)

And likewise, it was not God’s will to let this cup pass from my son, or from me, for it must have been necessary for our progression, but instead there appeared a whole host of angels to strengthen us. I came to understand during this time, more than any other point in my life, what an angel truly is. Some come from heaven and we can feel them strengthening our souls and giving us power to go on. But many, many, are on earth and they hold us when we can’t stand anymore, and they cry with us and wipe away our tears, they made sure we were taken care of physically and financially. I’ve never felt so humbled or so grateful.

This painting is my tribute to all those that appeared to help us during this mighty storm and who continue to stand by us, even as we cope with the grief following it’s passing.

Thank you.

16" x 20" oil on linen

"Morgan and Momma"

2011-12-13T05:14:00.000-08:00

In the time since my son's passing, I've become incredibly grateful for the ability to create art. It truly has been very healing for me, and the tears I cry while I work seem to cleanse my soul and add another layer of depth to the pieces I'm working on. This was the first piece I created since being home from the hospital, it was always one of my favorite pictures of Morgan. It shows his beautiful smile and the love between him and his grandma. Thank you for being a part of my life and my art Morgan!

20" x 16" graphite on paper

"My Greatest Masterpiece"

2011-12-13T04:08:00.001-08:00

For those of you that are unaware, the past couple months have been particularly difficult for me. On September 26th my son was found lifeless in a pool, he was resuscitated and life flighted to the nearest hospital. He fought valiantly for 6 1/2 weeks, and then returned home to his Father in Heaven on November 12th. During our time in the hospital, my family and I endured so many terrifying and desperate moments as we watched Victory Morgan struggle. However, no matter how dark the night, we always felt the strength and help from Heaven and the prayers of so many. I knew God was right there with us, and with Morgan. We miss him more than words can express. I know we'll be with him again someday, but in the meantime we're all learning a lot about patience and faith. I'm so thankful for my little man and for the three joyous years we shared together. I now know what Heaven will be like. Till we meet again little man!

"Brooklyn" - First in the "Number" series

2011-09-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

"Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth." - Alma 26: 37

This Scripture really hit me when I read it this summer in Mexico, as I was surrounded by so many people of different cultures and backgrounds. My circle of friends included people from Japan, India, Australia, Germany, China, Russia, Lebanon, the United States, and of course, Mexico. It was wonderful to see how God truly was acting in the lives of each one. I knew that God truly did "number" us and knew us individually.

The idea of God "numbering" his people also brought to mind a little quirk of mine. When it comes to my little boys' toys I have this habit of counting every toy as we pick up, so that we don't lose any. I'm very proud to say that my mother-in-law gave a set of 30 colored wooden blocks to my 3 year old 2 years ago, and we still have all 30. I can't tell you how many times I have counted to 30 as I have put those blocks away, and sometimes I would get to 26 or 27, and realize I had 3 or 4 blocks I had to search out. I'd find one in the bookcase, a couple in the toy box, but when I found all 30 I felt such a weird kind of peace knowing that they were all safely tucked away in the cloth block bag until we would bring them out again to play. A couple times I would put them away with one still missing, and I had that one block in the back of my mind until we would find it a couple days later in a couch cushion or under the piano. And every time I found that last block, I considered it a small victory.

I know God feels the same way about His children, He "numbers" us because He doesn't want to lose a single one. He wants us all to come back home again to Him, to all be safely gathered in. He also "numbers" us as a symbol, to tell us that He is aware of the "the one".

I will now be incorporating this theme into many of my portraits to come by hiding a small number somewhere in the painting. In this particular painting I have two numbers, one to represent the group of people in the painting that was painted in 1839, and one to represent the girl visiting the gallery in 2011. For God knew His people in 1839, and He knows us still today.

9" x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"Going Back to Charlotte"

2011-08-24T09:20:00.001-07:00

Can I just say how good it is to be back in the USA after a summer away? I welcomed my dishwasher, dryer, and easel with open arms! It was a wonderful experience, but it's always good to come back home and get back to work. As I've been trying to unpack and put my life back together, I came across this painting I did back in 2007. I liked the complementary color scheme and the look on the little girl's face, and decided to take the painting further.

It's amazing how my vision continues to change, what I thought looked finished four years ago, looked pretty dreadful next to my more recent paintings. I had to start by correcting the drawing, the whole face was too narrow and the eyes were uneven. I also had to add A LOT more opacity to the skin, why did I paint so transparent back then? I've learned that painting a little thicker adds a more three dimensional feel to the painting. I also toned down the green in the background. I've learned you don't need to beat people over the head with the color scheme, and choosing a dominant and subordinate is important. I decided to let red take the lead.

Anyways, for those of you that are still out there following my blog after a summer away, thank you! There will definitely be more to come shortly!

7 7/8" x 9 7/8" oil on panel

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"You are My Sunshine" II

2011-06-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

Another little 5" x 7" from our summer abroad. Painting my boys has been so fun! Benson True, you bring so much joy to our family!

5" x 7" oil on panel

"You are my Sunshine"

2011-06-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

Our family is traveling outside of the country for the months of June and July, and so all I brought with me on the trip is a couple little canvases. This is a little portrait of my soon to be three year old. He really does bring so much light and happiness into my life. I love you little man!

(You'll have to forgive the quality of the image, I left my scanner at home! I'll repost the scanned in images when I get home!)

5" x 7" oil on panel

"Beautiful Savior"

2011-05-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

I guess you could say this painting has been in the works ever since I started painting. I knew someday I would paint the Savior. He is the subject I feel most deeply about, and so my heart yearned to paint Him. However, I always put His portrait in the "someday" category, as I felt I wasn't good enough "this day" to do it. Then it occurred to me "one day" that if I always put Him in the "someday" that day would probably never come. So I gave myself permission to mess up, to not be perfect, and to just try. I knew this wasn't going to be my one and only portrait of Christ, and so I could give myself a starting point, a place to grow from.

I did a lot of research in connection with this painting. I must have looked at hundreds of paintings of Christ. I'd look at portrait after portrait and say, "Nope. That's not what Christ looks like to me. This one looks too old. This one is too serious. This one is too weak." And suddenly, the task at hand overwhelmed me. What was I thinking? Who did I think I was trying to capture the likeness of the Savior?

So I wrote one of my professors from college to get advice, had he ever painted the Savior? Any tips? He told me he hadn't ever painted the Savior, and never intended to, why try to paint someone when we have no idea what he looks like? Especially when there were plenty of other good artists that had created His image already. I was really starting to question my painting at this point.

Then I sat down with another book of images of Christ, and was wondering what to do, when I had this thought: "Jenedy, what does it matter if they look exactly like Christ?" And suddenly I had this revelation, I wasn't creating this painting just so I could share with the world what I thought Christ looked like. And all this images of Christ from Bloch, Anderson, Caravaggio, they weren't painting Christ to share with the world what Christ looked like. They painted Him as a symbol of charity, love, faith, and hope. They painted Christ because of what He stood for, and what He did, not just so we could see Him. And when people put pictures of Christ on their walls, it wasn't to show their friends what Christ looked like, it was a reminder of who Christ was and their relationship to Him. It was a reminder that Christ lived, and that He still lives, and that He is aware of each and every one of us.

Suddenly I felt free to return to my easel, as the weight of creating a perfect likeness of Christ fell from off of my shoulders. I went to work, and did the best I could, hoping that someone out there would feel something when they looked at my painting. I hoped they would feel Christ's love for them and sense His reality, without expecting an exact portrait.

This painting is a precious one to me, although it is just a starting point. It's relatively simple in composition, but there is more to it than just a head and shoulders. If you look closely, you'll notice that the cloak over His head is really textured, and kind of rough. This was done in contrast to the beautiful smooth white robe. This is meant to be a symbol of the Savior, a God, coming down to earth, and taking upon Himself mortality, and with it the sins of the whole world. How thankful I am for His humility in setting aside His majesty to come to be with the least of us, and making it possible for us to one day put on those beautiful white robes ourselves.

How much I love Him. This is my witness of Him.

12" x 24" oil on cradled panel

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"Home"

2011-05-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Where have I been lately? Well, here it is... the 18" x 24" I've been working on for the past month. I was challenged by a gallery owner last fall to work on improving the complexity of my work, to try to work a little larger, and to include more interest in my backgrounds. Well, I took his advice and went for it, and wow... the amount of time involved grows exponentially! But I'm really pleased with the painting, and feel like it commanded growth.

The concept for the painting was inspired by the first time I walked into my parents' house after returning from my first semester of college. My mom was there at the door to greet me, and I felt my eyes fill with unexpected tears. There was a light there and a warmth that I'm sure I had overlooked before. It was a beautiful feeling. It's always so good to be home.

18" x 24" oil on panel

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"Lest I Forget"

2011-04-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

God asks us over and over again in the scriptures to remember - to remember His covenants, to remember to keep the commandments, to remember Him. Yet, in our busy lives full of little tasks like work, shopping, laundry, dishes, taxes, etc. it can be so easy to forget. We'll forget and walk right past the beggar. We'll forget and snap impatiently at our two year old. We'll forget and curse the person that cut us off in traffic. So "Lest I Forget" I've found it a necessity to keep a journal. Every day I stop to think of questions I have for Heaven, and the answers I've already received. I seek guidance and patience for the day.

I started this practice when I was about the age of the girl in the painting, and it's been the biggest blessing in my life. As I've written down my frustrations, problems, questions, and struggles, and followed them by passages of comfort, answers, and help from heaven, they've become a living testimony that God hears and answers our prayers. I'm so thankful for all that God has done for me, and continues to do for me, and I write down that witness, "Lest I Forget."

11" x 14" oil on panel

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"Heart in Hand"

2011-03-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

This image spoke to me - something about the heart in hand. We all have one, what will you do with yours? Will you hold it close and keep it safe, or will you open it up to others? There's a risk involved in that, you may be hurt. To love is to jump into the unknown. It's a lot like faith. You put your confidence in someone or something, but the outcome is unforeseen. So why take the risk? Because Christ did. He offered up His whole soul in Gethsemane in the hope that we would all accept His offering of the atonement. He had no guarantee that we would even use it. But He went forward in faith - He trusted us. As we accept His offering, it changes our hearts and fear melts away in the transformation. We then become fearless and are able to follow His example in offering our heart unguarded to others.

9" x 12" oil on panel

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"In Between" The Process

2011-03-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

I've been working with a new palette lately that includes alizarin crimson, transparent iron oxide, and viridian. I've discovered that these pigments are very potent, compared to the burnt sienna and cadmium red deep that I had been using - a little goes a LONG way! They also last longer on my palette as they don't dry up as quickly, but I think it also increases the drying time of the total painting - so I've had to practice patience! Overall I think I've enjoyed the change and think I'll be using them more in the future.

Enjoy!

"In Between"

2011-03-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

I had a photo shoot last month with this darling girl and her mother. When I arrived she was in a cute tank top with yellow flowers on it, a matching yellow cardigan, and a big flower in her hair. When I was done taking the photos I had planned on, I asked if we could take some just for fun. The girl asked if she could change, "By all means!" I replied. As she raced up the stairs, her mom rolled her eyes, "This sharing clothes thing is driving me nuts!" I smiled and thought of that exciting time in my life when you begin to grow out of little girl's clothes and start to become a young women. She came down the stairs in this striped shirt of her mothers, but the flower was still in her hair. I thought how fitting it was to describe the state of transition she was in - her mother's shirt and a flower in her hair. It really is such a brief moment in time, I was grateful to be able to capture it with my brush!

9" x 12" oil on panel

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Bloch Master Copy - The Process

2011-02-24T09:28:00.000-08:00

I never cease to be amazed at how bad some of my paintings look "in process". It's always a surprise to go back and watch, because while I'm working on it I always see more than what is really there! It's almost like I can see the end from the beginning. :) Enjoy!

8" x 10" oil on belgian linen panel

Master Copy: "Christ with Nimbus" by Carl Bloch

2011-02-18T09:22:00.000-08:00

I saw a master copy a couple of weeks ago of Carl Bloch's "Healing at the pool of Bethesda" by Joseph Brickey and was so inspired by it. I decided I'd like to learn lesson or two from Bloch myself, and so I've worked on this portrait of Christ, taken from Bloch's "Christ Portrait with Nimbus". I learned a lot about edges, just when I thought I'd created a soft edge, I looked back to Bloch, and knew I had to try again. There is also something so humbling about painting a portrait of Christ, even if you're copying someone else. You can't help but think about the direction your life is taking, and wonder if it's in harmony with His will. You make changes in the painting, and begin to make changes within yourself. I can't wait to create my own portrait of Christ, and am for the first time starting to feel ready to do so.

I have a testimony of Jesus Christ. I know He lives. He is the source of all my happiness and my strength. I'm so thankful for His constant care and instruction. I pray for His continued tutelage as I strive to become the person He desires me to be.

8" x 10" oil on belgian linen

"Clarity" The Process

2011-02-16T12:50:00.000-08:00

I started this painting by sanding down the start of one of my previous student's oil paintings (sorry Danielle! :)). It had a really fun texture to work with. I then roughed in a sketch in raw umber, to just get the idea of placement. Then I did more drawing while knocking in the underpainting (I see so much better in planes of color vs. line, which is why my drawing is always so rough. ;)) I worked really hard on this painting in keeping all my transitions really smooth, especially on the face. I also had fun working with the light coming through the trees, and ended up using quite a big of cool reds and greens to achieve the effect.

Enjoy!

"Clarity"

2011-02-05T14:34:00.000-08:00

I love being outside. There really is something said for a breath of fresh air. It's like I'm able to get a greater perspective and life seems more manageable. So when I feel my nerves on end, I know it's time to take a step back and go outside. Everything becomes clearer, brighter, and I come back inside renewed and ready to begin again. Thank you Heavenly Father for this beautiful world, and for the clarity it affords.

8" x 10.5" oil on board

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"But a Moment" Revisited

2011-01-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

"For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee..." Isaiah 54:7-8

I've always liked this painting, as I thought that it really captured the desperation we feel at times, the yearning for peace and consolation from heaven. However, I pulled it out recently and realized that "hmm.. that looks like the underpainting to a really great painting." I had improved a bit since 2007, and thought I should revisit the piece. So it came back to my easel.

I find this whole process very symbolic, as Heavenly Father often brings us back to these moments of trial, and just like the painting was refined when I came back to it, so we are refined with each successive trial. Moment by moment Heavenly Father refines us into the person He intends us to be.

As I worked I also thought of some painting pointers for my 2007 self:

Pay closer attention to your values
Use bigger brushes
Soften, soften, soften your edges... and don't be afraid to lose some
Don't be afraid to go thicker in your application - your oils look a little watercolory

This time around I also added a sunrise to the background, a reminder that although the night may seem long - the morning will come, the sun will shine!

9" x 12"

SOLD

"The Chain Around Her Neck"

2011-01-18T10:54:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've been in a hurry my whole life. I have almost a constant sense of urgency to get things done before a certain time. Even silly things like getting dressed and showered, doing dishes, eating breakfast, I create a schedule in my mind and give everything a time frame. A neighbor of mine growing up said she used to know what time it was by what I was doing in the window. :) And I wonder why I feel this way? Then I was listening to a discourse on patience this week by a very wise man, Neal A. Maxwell, and he helped shed some light on the subject. He spoke of time as something we only have to deal with here on earth, that once we die, time will die with us.

"When the veil which now encloses us is no more, time will also be no more. Even now, time is clearly not our natural dimension. Thus it is that we are never really at home in time. ... Whereas the bird is at home in the air, we are clearly not at home in time—because we belong to eternity! Time, as much as any one thing, whispers to us that we are strangers here. If time were natural to us, why is it that we have so many clocks and wear wristwatches?"

This makes so much sense to me, and explains my anxiety in relation to time. As eternal souls, time is just something we have to put up with while we're here on earth. And so the clock ticks, until eternity takes over.

8" x 10" oil on belgian linen on board

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"Leonard Jay"

2011-01-10T13:16:00.001-08:00

Growing up everyone always called my grandpa "Pete" or "Peter", so you can imagine my surprise when I received a check in the mail with the name "Leonard" on it. I took it to my mom, "Who's this Leonard guy, and why is he sending me birthday money?" That's when I discovered that my grandpa's real name was Leonard. "Leonard?" I thought, "What kind of a name is that? I'd go by Peter too!" But upon further investigation I found that Leonard actually meant, "Brave Lion", and then I felt the name rather fitting as my grandpa has always had the heart of a lion. He has a great capacity to love and to see the best in people. He's been one of my biggest fans since I started painting. He even keeps this darling three ring binder with images he's printed off of my website that he shows to other people. I'm so grateful for his faith in me, to him I've already "arrived" artistically. Thank you Grandpa. I love you.

12" x 16" oil on board

"Touch of the Master's Hand"

2011-01-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

I did a portrait of my grandpa this year for Christmas. As I worked on it, the poem "Touch of the Master’s Hand," by Myra Welsh kept playing over and over in my mind. My mom had always loved the poem and compared her father to the "old violin". My grandpa had had his "mess of pottage", his "glass of wine", his "game and he traveled on". He was "going once, going twice, going and almost gone," but the Master came and we all stood in wonder at the change that was wrought by His hand.

So as I post this progress series, I thought it only fitting to include the words of the poem. How grateful I am for the Master and His ability to change lives. How great is the worth of a soul.

T’was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile.

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who’ll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar," then, two! Only two?
"Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

"Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three . . . "But no,
From the room, far back, a grey haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
And going and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master’s hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.

A "mess of potage," a glass of wine;
A game, and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice,
He’s "going" and almost "gone."

But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.
--

Jenedy Paige Greeting Cards

2010-12-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

After years of being asked to do so, I've finally produced my first set of greeting cards. They are 4.25" x 5.5" notecards with a glossy finish. On the front is a print of one of my paintings, and on the back of the card is the name of the painting and the inspirational message that goes with it. The cards are blank on the inside to be filled with your thoughts. Each set of 12 cards comes with three each of the four images below: "Finding a Way", "Ponder", "Be Patient with Me", and "Beyond the Clouds"

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True Joy

2010-11-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

I really do find so much joy in being a mother. Granted, it can be frustrating when I get up at 3:30 am to work, and at 4:00 am I hear a little voice down the hall say, "Mom, is that you?" Sometimes I wonder how I'm really supposed to juggle motherhood and being an artist. But when I have a little two year old wrap his arms around me and say, "Mmmm... mom I love you!" it's then that I remember that being a mother is my greatest calling and my greatest source of joy.

16" x 20" graphite on paper

SOLD

"Pink"

2010-11-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

This beautiful little lady has been 100% pink from day one! Such a joy to paint her.

11" x 14" oil on panel

SOLD

Pakistan Portraits: "My Brother's Keeper"

2010-11-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

The third in the series of portraits in which 100% of the proceeds will go to help flood victims in Pakistan. I especially loved working on this portrait. I love the intensity of the look on the little girl.

16" x 20" oil on panel

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Pakistan Portraits: "The Refugee"

2010-11-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

The second in a series of three paintings in which 100% of the proceeds will be donated to flood relief in Pakistan. To read more click here.

16" x 20" oil on panel

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Pakistan Portraits: "Not Forgotten"

2010-11-05T14:12:00.001-07:00

This is the first in a series of three paintings, in which 100% of the proceeds will go to help the flood victims in Pakistan. The other two will be posted shortly.

Unbeknownst to many Americans, in July Pakistan experienced unprecedented monsoon rainfall that left one-fifth of the country under water, some 20 million people's lives effected, and more than 1,500 people dead. I too was one of the people that was oblivious to the Pakistani plight, until I got an email from one high schooler from Pakistan. She asked if I'd be willing to help raise awareness and funds for the people of Pakistan. So working from images taken by her photographer brother I've spent the past month and a half, working on paintings for Pakistan.

It's been a beautiful experience to really get to know the faces of these refugees. My heart goes out to them and I feel like my efforts are just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the help that they really need. What is several hundred dollars when they really need millions? But this is the most I can offer, it's the most I can do. However, I hope my little offering will do some good and I pray the Lord will magnify my efforts.

To read more about the current state of Pakistan you can read these articles, one from the LA Times and the other put out by the UN.

8" x 12" oil on panel

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"Finding a Way"

2010-09-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct Thy paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6

I never cease to be amazed at how the Lord really can provide a way for us. Just when you think you're on your own, and your not sure how it's all going to work out, miracles start to happen. I'm so thankful that the Lord is enabling our little family to find our way in the new journey we are beginning.

(For those of you that have been following my blog for a while, you'll notice that the background in this painting is going back to my 'old school' style. I've decided that I've missed the expressive gessoed panel, and so I'm going to merge my more refined technical skills with the 'old school' background. I'm excited. I think it's going to be good!)

Enjoy!

8" x 12" oil on board

SOLD

Benson True

2010-08-23T15:38:00.001-07:00

My new little champion.

9" x 12" oil on linen mounted to panel

"Days of Summer"

2010-08-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

Wow. I can't believe it's been two months since my last post! My apologies. But I must say in those two months I've had another son, we moved out of state, and my husband started an MBA program. Life has been full of changes, and it's taken me until now to work painting back into my schedule, and what a relief it is to be painting again! So I thought I'd kick off my new life with this fun piece of a little girl that totally embodies summer. I love the light and joy that she exudes, and like childhood, the summer is always gone too soon. It's full of long days, and short months, so enjoy it while you can!

11" x 14" oil on belgian linen mounted on panel

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"Walk in the Light" revisited

2010-06-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

So my mom is kind of the last word on all of my paintings, and one of my best critics. When I posted this painting before she told me it didn't look finished... so I had some time this weekend and decided to go back in and clean it up. Thanks mom for keeping me on my toes!

6" x 8" oil on belgian linen

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"Beyond the Ceiling"

2010-06-04T06:56:00.001-07:00

"Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

-jeremiah 29: 12-13

I think most of the prayers I offer on a daily basis are sincere. I really do petition the help of heaven, especially in my work as a mother and as an artist. But there are only rare times, usually brought out by a desperate need of some kind, when I really feel like I've connected with Heaven. When it seems the earthly barrier has been taken away and I can see more clearly and get a taste of the divine. In this painting I tried to capture this moment of really communing with God, the veil is taken away, the clouds part, the Spirit comes and you know... you really know that God is there and that He's listening and that He loves you.

12" x 24" oil on belgian linen panel

SOLD

"A Time to Fly" the process

2010-05-20T15:12:00.001-07:00

I had soooo much fun on this painting! There's just something so exhilarating about painting a girl flying through the air. :) You'll notice a color shift between the last two steps, this is due to the difference between a scan and a photo. Scanning in is always way better, unfortunately you can't scan wet paint. Enjoy!

16" x 20" oil on panel

"The Bride"

2010-05-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

9" x 12" oil on belgian linen

SOLD

"Maya"

2010-05-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I know my posts seems so far and few between these days, but my Baby Einstein project will be coming to a close soon, and I'll be back! In the meantime, here is a commissioned piece that I just completed. Isn't she adorable? Enjoy!

12" x 12"

SOLD

"A Time to Fly"

2010-04-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;"

Isaiah 40:31

I love Spring, and all the new beginnings that seem to accompany it: weddings, babies, graduations. It's definitely a time of renewal and moving on. My own little family definitely has some new beginnings on the horizon, especially with the addition of another son in July. And while there is always excitement in a new start, there is also usually some hesitation. There may be risk involved, a leap of faith. You may question if it isn't safer just to stay where you are - but you know there is no progress in being stagnant. And so I'm thankful for the knowledge that I don't have to go through these changes alone, there is always God leading me along and recreating me in each new phase of life, helping me to take that jump when a jump is needed. I feel His gentle hand offering reassurance and building me the wings to fly.

"Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go." - Isaiah 48:17

16" x 20" oil on panel

SOLD

"Coming Through"

2010-04-02T14:50:00.001-07:00

In this painting I tried to capture that moment when questions are answered, the cloud or veil that seemed to be covering your mind is lifted and you can finally see. Call it inspiration, revelation, but in that moment you know that God is real and He answers your prayers. He loves you and is beckoning you onward and upward. For as James said,

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

12" x 9" oil on belgian linen mounted to panel

SOLD

Walk in the Light

2010-03-20T14:21:00.001-07:00

"...come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord." Isaiah 2:5

There is so much peace that comes from just keeping the commandments and living as the Lord would have you live. It truly is the way to peace and true happiness in this life. All we have to do is follow Christ and walk in the light.

6” x 8” oil on Belgian linen mounted to panel

"Be Patient with Me" the process

2010-03-13T18:10:00.000-08:00

"Be Patient with Me"

2010-03-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

I know this may seem like an odd title, but it's the phrase that kept going through my head the entire time I was working on this painting. This piece has been weeks in the making, it's been my "in between" painting as I've continued to work on the Baby Einstein project, and it's been quite the process (which I'll post shortly). I know I may say this a lot, but honestly, this painting was ugly for so long, and I kept wondering when that magical moment would be when it would come together. I think part of the problem was that I was back to working on a gessoed panel, without the linen, which I greatly missed as it was so much harder to get soft edges. Anyways, as I kept trying to be patient, my thoughts turned to our Heavenly Father who must be so patient with us as we are "in process". And I found myself saying a silent prayer that God would "be patient with me" and keep working with me, until I reach that "magical moment" when I become all that He intended me to be.

9" x 12" oil on panel

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"Faith and Freedom"

2010-02-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galations 5:1)

I know it may seem an odd time of year to be posting a painting such as this, but it's a topic that's been on my mind for some time. I've been slowly chipping away at this painting for the past couple months and just completed it yesterday, and I don't think I can wait until July to post it.

It seems there are many in our country today who wish to take the separation of church and state as far as to take God out of everything. Some wish God was off of our money, out of the pledge of allegiance, schools, public holidays, etc. But I don't think this was what our founding fathers intended when they included the separation of church and state in our first amendment. I think they were simply trying to prevent a government established and enforced religion, having just escaped such in their home country. But what are we doing when we insist that God is politically incorrect, but enforcing atheism as a national religion? I believe that faith and freedom go together. I think freedom is God given, and can only be maintained through faith in Him and obedience to His laws. This connection seemed clear to our nation's founders, Benjamin Franklin said,

"God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."

And John Adams also said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and a religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

So I find it not very surprising that as our country has begun to turn its back on God, slipping away from morals and virtue, that some of our liberties also seem to be slipping away. The government seems to want more and more control as people seek less and less personal responsibility. Well, I call for a return to virtue and a return to God and a return to responsibility and a return to freedom. I do believe God was the true Founder of this nation, and thus our country can only stand as we continue to seek His help.

12" x 16" oil on belgian linen mounted on wood panel

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"Lexi" The Process

2010-01-25T17:39:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd post another process for your viewing pleasure. Wow. This one didn't come together until the very end, but Hallelujah it came together. I think it was so challenging because the values in the face were so close together and the temperature changes so subtle. Enjoy!

9" x 12"

SOLD

"Anne Marie"

2010-01-22T06:46:00.001-08:00

I apologize to all that my blog has become rather lame lately. You may all be wondering why I've been neglecting to post anything. And the reason is because I've been really involved with commissioned work. Not only have I had portraits such as this one to complete, but I also recently started a project with the Baby Einstein company that will last through the summer, and I'm not allowed to post any of the paintings on my site until August. So bear with me. I still am working on other paintings, but I'm afraid my postings are not going to be quite as frequent. So in the meantime, enjoy this painting, and I'll try to include more process posts as well.

9" x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"Good Tidings"

2009-12-23T14:13:00.000-08:00

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2 :10-11)

I've been so busy with commissioned pieces I was so grateful to be able to take a deep breath and paint this refreshing painting. The thing that I enjoy painting the most is my testimony of the Savior, and so this is my Christmas witness. I know that Jesus Christ was born in a humble stable and came into this world to give us all the greatest gift of eternal life. I know that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the Redeemer, and that He truly did atone for our sins and make forgiveness, hope, and happiness possible. How grateful I am for the little baby that was laid in a manger, how grateful I am for His selfless life that continues to touch mine.

O come, let us adore Him.

9" x 12" oil on belgian linen panel

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"Lexi"

2009-12-15T14:49:00.000-08:00

Sorry it's been so long since my last post, I've been up to my elbows in commissioned pieces and also will be starting a big corporate commission, so bear with me. :) This portrait was really fun and challenging. I really enjoyed working on the background, which is unusual for me. And working on the lighting on the face was a big learning experience as all the light is reflected, this also allowed for a lot of different colors in the face: green, yellow, blue, all of which you may not be able to pick up on in this scan. But I'm really pleased with the end result... fun job.

12" x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"Derek"

2009-12-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

Another commissioned piece for dear friends. Enjoy!

9" x 12" oil on panel

"Mother and Child"

2009-11-21T17:35:00.000-08:00

This was a commissioned piece for a friend. I almost scrapped the whole thing and started over about five times. It was a hard piece... I'm not quite sure why, but I'm so glad I kept going, because now I love it. I know I say this all the time, but persistence is definitely the key, you have to keep going, and repainting, and trying again, and eventually it comes together.

12" x 12"

SOLD

"The Memory" The Process

2009-11-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

As you can see I'm a spatial painter. I don't care much for working with line to begin with, I much prefer to just start blocking in the shapes that I see, and looking for how they relate with each other. I apologize for the changing temperature, this would be from the changing light of my window.

"Emmalee" The Process

2009-11-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

Here's the process of "Emmalee" as promised. Wow, it sure had some rough spots. The more I paint, the more I realize the difference between a bad painting and a good painting can be just a couple days. We've just gotta keep going! :) Enjoy!

"The Memory"

2009-11-03T11:44:00.000-08:00

This painting was an experiment in a new type of panel. I've always been a fan of painting on board versus painting on canvas because I don't like the give of canvas, and canvas will expand and contract with temperature and time and thus be more likely to crack. However, panels are also very challenging to create soft edges on, and edges is something I've wanted to improve on. So, I decided to try belgian linen mounted on a wood panel. It should be the best of both worlds right? Yep! I LOVED it! Unfortunately it's about 3 times the price of gessoed panels, but I think it's worth it. So you may be seeing more of these kind of panels in the future.

As for this painting, it was created with a limited palette: cadmium red deep, payne's gray, cadmium yellow, and titanium white. While I worked I couldn't help but think the model was thinking back about some memory. Her look is kind of an "off in the distance" expression, and I find it very intriguing. It's like she's with us physically, but not mentally. Interesting. Enjoy!

8" x 10" oil on belgian linen mounted on wood

SOLD

"Emmalee"

2009-10-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

This piece was a commissioned portrait of a sweet little girl. I found this piece challenging, you'll understand why when I post the process, but I'm very happy with the results. I used a limited palette of: cadmium red deep, cadmium yellow, payne's gray, and titanium white, and just a hint of quinacridone rose and cadmium red light when necessary. Enjoy!

12"x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"Beyond the Clouds" Progress

2009-10-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

One of my main goals is to be constantly improving. I think many artists, and people could relate with this. However, sometimes the change can be so slow, and we can't see immediate results. One two hour painting session may now involve dramatic improvements, and it can be frustrating as we wonder if we are just running and running but staying place. That's why it's fun to occasionally visit older paintings. The second painting above, "Winds of Change" was done 2 years ago, I used the same model from the same photo shoot to create, "Beyond the Clouds", so I took the two out for a side by side comparison and I was pleasantly surprised to see progress. Woohoo! It may take looking back over a span of years, and not just hours, but it's there. Patience... patience... :)

"Beyond the Clouds"

2009-10-19T14:48:00.001-07:00

While working on my book, I realized that I had a lot of paintings that were of struggles, waiting for answers to prayers, having my patience tried and my faith stretched. This is because it's in these times that my heart feels so drawn out to God and I have to paint it. However, I realized that after the answers came, I didn't always have a painting that expressed my gratitude and joy. And so this painting is just that. If you've paid attention to some previous posts, this year has definitely been one of a financial struggle, and there have been times when we wondered if we'd have a place to live and if my husband would have a job. I think a lot of people could relate with that. But the good news is, the Lord heard our prayers, and they were answered. Things didn't exactly work out as planned, but we were taken care of. I'm so grateful for a God that is aware of me, and pulls me through the cloud cover into the marvelous sunlight. Life is good.

9" x 12" oil on panel

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My first book: The Offering

2009-10-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

For quite some time now I've been receiving emails from friends, family, and fans requesting I put some of my paintings and words into a book. I've hesitated thinking, "Don't you have to be at the end of your career, a true professional, to write a book?" But then, with the encouragement of my mom, I realized that it might be fun to take someone on my journey of becoming. So even though I still feel like I’m at the tip of the iceberg, the start of the road, the first chapters of my journey, I believe it’s in the process that we learn the most. And so I hope this book, a humble offering, will be an inspiration to you in your own process of becoming.

The book is available in soft or hard covers, and is 78 pages.

Click Here to Preview or Purchase the book!

"The Invitation" the process

2009-10-12T10:58:00.001-07:00

I thought you might like to watch this painting unfold. Started out rough, they always do. :)

Enjoy!

"Gentle Breeze"

2009-10-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

I have always loved a good gentle breeze. It's so refreshing and somewhat familiar. Whenever I step outside to meet one I'll stand for a moment and lift my head, close my eyes, and just enjoy it dancing across my face. There is just something so delicious about a sunny, breezy day.

12"x 18" graphite on Stonehenge paper

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"Anticipating Fall"

2009-09-30T11:04:00.001-07:00

I've had the photo reference for this painting for months, and well it looked so much like fall, it didn't seem the right time for it. So I've waited patiently. I LOVE fall! It's my favorite season, and partly because I get to accessorize so much! Does that seem shallow? Well, I really love hats and scarfs and what better time for them! So naturally this picture called to me. And technique wise, I wanted to take the idea of combining photorealism with painterly elements to the next level. Hence on this painting I tried to keep her face as smooth as I could, and especially tried to soften the edges around her face. Then I had lots of fun with the scarf and the hat, playing with thin and thick strokes. I let the underpainting show through in places and got pretty thick (well thick for me) on the scarf. All in all this painting was just a joy to create. I hope you enjoy it as well.

9" x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"True"

2009-09-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

The model for this painting is a dear friend of mine, and she's one of the truest people I know, she's true to God, true to herself, and truly puts herself wholly into everything she does. As for the technique, I've always had a healthy respect for photorealistic paintings. However, personally, if it truly looked "exactly" like a photo, I've wondered why not just have the photo. Hence, I've always really appreciated paintings that had photorealistic elements combined with painterly elements. This is what I tried to accomplish in this painting. I wanted the face to be as "true" to the model as possible, while having a little more fun with the background and her shirt, allowing the underpainting to show through. I also tried a more limited palette with this painting, using mainly cadmium red deep, cadmium yellow, paynes gray, and titanium white. It was really fun, and somewhat easier to use the limited palette, and so I think I'll use it more in the future.

9" x 12" oil on panel

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"The Invitation"

2009-09-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

18" x 36" oil on panel

SOLD

"Safe"

2009-09-03T16:54:00.001-07:00

I had a dream several years ago where I was on a stormy sea, the wind was blowing, the sky was dark, and yet I was safe on top of the water because I was bound to the Savior. He could stand on the water and so could I as long as I was bound to Him. I've thought about the meaning of this dream many times, and have always been determined to paint it. It is so true that when we bind ourselves to Christ through covenant, and promise to keep His commandments and do His will, we are offered His strength to meet all the storms of life. And so when the hail, and the rain, and the wind beat upon us, it can have no power over us, because we are bound to Christ, and He will never fall.

8" x 10" oil on panel

SOLD

"A Child's Prayer"

2009-08-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

I teach a Sunday School class every week to a group of nine 7-8 year olds. Sometimes it is madness, a bit of a circus really, as I strive to convince the children that they really do want to sit in their chairs and listen. However, within that chaos there are moment that are wonderful. Usually prompted by a question, the sweet children tell me of the prayers they have offered on behalf of their father that he might be able to find work, of the prayers they have said that God would help them in their schoolwork, or that they might be nicer to their brothers and sisters. And in those precious moments, the Spirit comes so strongly into the room and you know how much God loves children, and you know they have a concept of the gospel that is so pure and simple. How grateful I am to have been able to take part in these moments of growing testimony. Yes, God does hear our prayers, we are His children, and the gospel really is so simple.

9" x 12" oil on panel

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"Holding Back" Process

2009-08-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

This painting took a lot of determination, as it didn't really seem to come together until the very end, and there were a lot of tricky folds and such to work with. Phew! I had a professor in college who told me once that my talent wasn't necessarily in art, but in persistence, and the latter would eventually make me a good artist. :) I think he was right!

9" x 12"

SOLD

"Holding Back"

2009-08-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

So my friends, for those of you who have seen this piece prior to me being able to write about it, I apologize. I had a particularly busy day and only had time to scan in the painting and post it. This piece was a struggle for me, I don't know... I worked on it, and worked on it, until I didn't really know what I could do to make it better (the point my professors always said was when you knew you were finished), and now... well, I think I've just looked at it too critically too long and need to walk away. And as some of you so wisely guessed, it's about holding onto that part, that little thing that we can't seem to quite hand over to the Lord. I kept thinking about this quote from C.S. Lewis as I painted,

“The principle runs through all life from top to bottom. Give up yourself, and you’ll find your real self. Lose your life and you’ll save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favorite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fiber of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep nothing back. Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in” (Mere Christianity).

Why do we hold to the things we do? What are we afraid of? A wise person once said that the most important commandment is the one you're having the hardest time keeping. This is so true. This is so true. Maybe this painting was such a struggle because this concept truly is a difficult one. Hm.

9" x 12" oil on panel

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"Fleeting" Process

2009-08-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

Here's another process series for your enjoyment. You know I've watched so many students struggle with a painting that isn't necessarily going as they had hoped. They get all frustrated and start to think that they're not that good, and that they should just quit. And you know I must say I've gone through times like that myself. In fact almost every painting I do goes through an "ugly" stage. And I know it can be hard to keep moving forward when "ugly" is staring back at you. But if there's one thing I've learned and observed, it's that the great artists keep moving forward, they keep taking their painting one step further. So you've just got to take confidence in your abilities and in God and move forward, and when you do, amazing things happen. I find it interesting how much this process parallels our lives, we all go through "ugly" stages, when times are hard or not going as planned, but if we put our trust in God and keep moving forward, things will always work out! May we all have the faith to move past the ugly.

"Fleeting"

2009-07-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

This young girl is a dear friend of mine. I taught her in a Sunday School class when she was only 12, now she is 15, and it is amazing to me to see how much growing up has occurred in three years. When I was her teacher, there was still pieces of childhood in her, but somehow those pieces have all but vanished as now she is truly turning into a young woman. So in this painting I tried to capture that movement, that passing of time, for youth truly is fleeting. Enjoy!

9" x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"Covered" The Process

2009-07-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

So I had a thought this week that some people might enjoy seeing how I arrived at a painting.I always love to see process pictures of other artists' work, because you can learn so much from observing the process. Such is life, it's all about the journey, right? So here you go. I think I'm going to do this more in the future. And if you haven't visited my new website jenedypaige.com, be sure to do so, in order to see a gallery of finished pieces. Thanks! And as always, enjoy!

"Covered"

2009-07-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Psalm 28:13

I did something very dangerous recently, I went to the Lord as the rich young man in Matthew and asked, "What lack I yet?"(Matthew 19:20) I've heard that this is a dangerous thing to do because you certainly will be told what you can do, and it most likely won't be easy. However, I so wanted to be good, to be all good, and so I took the risk and asked the question. As promised, I received an answer. At first it kind of made my heart sink, and was hard to swallow, "Oh... that." I realized that I had been covering something. I thought that if I did enough good, it somehow "covered" the sin, that I didn't need to address it. After all it was so long ago, and I had done so much good since. In effect, I was trying to atone for my own sin, somehow hoping that enough good would override the bad. But this cannot be, for we cannot truly become clean without the atonement, without Jesus Christ. So despite my righteous desires, underneath all the good this one thing still remained.

Why hadn't I repented of it sooner? Well, I guess because I was scared. The Adversary would whisper, "Oh that? That you've got to keep secret. Don't let anyone know. Why, if they knew, well they'd never think the same of you. No just pretend it never was, forget about it." And so it was kept in the dark. And well, I've learned that when things are in the dark, then they are in Satan's power, and he is able to have control over that part of us, no matter how small it may be. Hence, the importance of confessing our sins. It is in the confession that we bring matters out of darkness to light. We take full responsibility for what we've done, and realize our need for a Savior. And only then, can the real repentance process begin.

How grateful I am for the atonement, and for the cleansing power that can only come through it. May we all have the courage to bring things out of the darkness, and truly walk in the light.

11" x 14" oil on panel

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"Patience"

2009-07-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

"But let patience have her perfect work... "

James 1:4

I love this verse of scripture. I imagine patience as a kind of angel that comes into our lives and does a little bit of tidying up, so to speak. Tweaking this, fixing that, adjusting this... and realigning us with the Lord. I've experienced this kind of "perfect work" the past 9 months or so, as my husband and I have sought after the Lord's will for us, and have tried to follow through. I've discovered that it's one thing to do God's will, it's another thing to have to wait 9 months or more to accomplish it! It has been beautiful to watch, however, as the Lord has taken my will, and slowly turned it more and more towards His. When first given direction I thought, "Are you sure you want me to do that?" and now, over the course of patience, I have found myself pleading, "Please Lord let me do it." Isn't that wonderful how the Lord is so patient with us, and in a beautiful symphony of events can make our desires become one with His? How grateful I am that the Lord has given me, and continues to give me, a course in patience and in trusting Him. I feel myself being molded a little bit each day. Yes, thank you patience, for your perfect work.

9" x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

Trinidad Couple

2009-07-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

This is a commissioned piece I completed this week, a beautiful couple from the West Indies. It's always a challenge to capture the personality of someone you've never met, and to really create a likeness. So I found myself researching Trinidad and it's culture, in an effort to get to know them better, and in the process fell in love with the country! How funny! I told my husband we definitely need to add it to our places to visit. So fun. Enjoy!

14" x 18"

"Move" Revisited

2009-07-10T10:31:00.000-07:00

The meaning in this painting is more about the process than the actual image. You see I originally painted "Move" in February. I had started and completed it in just one day, and when I was done with it, I really liked it, and was thrilled to post a true "daily painting". Then the painting has sat on my shelf as other paintings have been created. Occasionally I go through my older paintings and see where improvement could be made. I took out this painting and thought about how much I had liked it when I created it, but now 5 months later, the painting looked thin, and somewhat hurried, and unfinished. Isn't that funny how that happens? Something which was once okay, suddenly becomes unacceptable? I think it's because as I progress as an artist, my vision changes, and my standards are raised. Still, I wanted to like this painting as much as I had when it was originally created, so I brought it back to my easel and went to work again. I sharpened definition here, and softened transitions there. I brought more life and light back into the painting, and I like it so much more now.

The reason I go through this long explanation with you is because I think it applies spiritually. Sometimes it's like the Lord takes us off the shelf, we are examined, and we are found wanting. Things that were okay before, are no longer acceptable, and we are brought back to the easel for refinement. Ironically enough, the Lord has been taking me through a process like this just this past week. I've been led to ask questions like, "Well, wasn't I good before?" And the answer is, "Yes," Then I ask,"But then why am I being brought back to this?" "Because you're gaining better vision now." And so although it's a little uncomfortable, I'm grateful and I'm trusting in the Master Creator, and I know that He'll make a masterpiece of me yet.

6" x 11 3/4" oil on masonite

SOLD

"Bright"

2009-07-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

We all know the feeling, right? Leaving a dark theater after two hours of dilation, and walking into the sunshine of the afternoon, we are temporarily blinded, and it kind of hurts. But it's not long before our eyes adjust, and we can enjoy the light. I was thinking of this kind of shock and applying it to spiritual things. I think when a change begins at first it can be kind of painful. We can't fully comprehend the light, and yet we want to embrace it. We are a bit scared, and there's a temptation to return to the seeming comfort of the dark. But if we stay, if we continue to turn although it may be a bit bright, we will soon be able to soak in the light and wonder how we ever in darkness remained.

8" x 10" oil on panel

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"Ponder"

2009-06-30T14:32:00.001-07:00

"Ponder the path of thy feet,..."

Proverbs 4:26

"How are you doing?" This question is so frequently asked, that often we don't really think about the answer but robotically reply, "Good," and then go on with whatever it is we were doing. However I think no matter how busy our lives may be it's important that we take the time to really ponder our progress once in a while, "How am I doing?" You may be led to thoughts of gratitude, tears, or a determination for the future. Whatever the answer, it is a time to reflect and really hold yourself accountable, and will almost always lead to progress. So... how are you doing?

9" x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"The Godfather"

2009-06-24T14:09:00.001-07:00

So I watched a Steven Assael demo online the other day, and I don't think anyone could watch that without then being desperate for a pad of paper and a pencil. So I worked out this portrait trying to pay close attention to edges and line variety, in hopes of creating an interesting drawing. Sometimes I feel that I'm letting people down when I post a drawing that's just a drawing, but sometimes I just need the refreshment of creating a drawing just for the sake of drawing. So here you go! Enjoy!

12" x 16" charcoal and carbon on paper

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"Stand"

2009-06-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

When researching the word "Stand" in the scriptures this morning, I noted a common theme. There were many like this scripture given in Malachi 3:2,

"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers' soap:"

Asking the question, who is able to stand in the Lord's presence? For we know that no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God (Ephesians 5:5). So who can abide His coming? Who will be able to stand? And ironically the answer to the question is, those who have been standing for him all along. Those who have stood by faith, as Paul counseled to the Romans (Romans 11:20). Those who were "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ" (Romans 1 :16).

So may we stand "having done all, to stand"(Ephesians 6:13-18). May "we hold fast the confidence... firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3:6). That when Christ comes, we may stand beside Him.

12" x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"Crowning Creation"

2009-06-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

I went to see a movie a couple weekends ago that was all about the earth, and the life upon it. It was very inspiring and got me thinking about the creation. God designed and built this wonderful world for us. He formed the world. He separated the light from the darkness, He separated the waters from the land, He placed all kinds of beautiful trees and plants upon it, followed by all kinds of animals. He then created man, but the creation was not complete until He created woman. She was the last and final creation, making the world complete. Ever since that time, knowing her worth, Satan has been trying to demean her. Granted modern day society has worked to strengthen her stance on the political stage, but I'm afraid there is still so much cheapening of woman in trashy magazines, movies, and online filth. I'm thankful for the knowledge that woman are daughters of God, and as the crowning creation hold an essential role in God's plan. We were not created for display, we were made for greatness.

11" x 14" oil on masonite

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"Unveiled"

2009-06-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

There are many kinds of veils spoken of in the scriptures. Ecclesiastes 1:11 gives reference to a kind of veil of forgetfulness that we passed through before coming to Earth, for we have "no remembrance of former things." When Moses spoke to the Children of Israel in Exodus 34:33-34 he wore a veil over his face. I believe this was symbolic of a kind of protection that he was passing on to the Children of Israel, for his people were not ready to receive all that Moses had been given of God. The veil then served to protect his people from being accountable of the greater things he had received. Paul then refers to this veil when speaking to the Corinthians, except instead of him wearing a veil, he says that the people have a "veil upon their heart" (2 Corinthians 3:13-18). However, Paul says that when the people would turn their hearts to Christ, the veil would be taken away.

I believe that we all begin with a kind of veil on our minds and our hearts, like the Children of Israel, I think we are given this as a kind of protection. Therefore we are only held accountable for what we know, and for what bit of light we have received, for where much is given much is expected. I'm thankful for the Lord's tender mercy in starting us out this way, so that we may grow line upon line. However, I think we all reach a point in which we yearn for more, and we desire the Lord to impart more to us from beyond the veil. And I believe as Paul instructed, that as we turn our hearts to Christ, the veil is taken off a piece at a time. Until as Paul witnessed,

"For now we see through a glass (veil) darkly; but then face to face: now I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

We can come to know God and Christ as well as they know us - what a beautiful thing to hope for and strive for. May we all have the faith to raise our veils a little higher, and a little higher.

12"x 16" oil on panel

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"Sure"

2009-05-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

1 Thessalonians 5:21

A testimony is something that starts small, and with time, and experience, and trial, it can grow into something great. My testimony of the Savior began with that of my parents, they taught me of Him. I've also gone to church all my life and learned of Him. My testimony started small, but through the years I have 'experimented' upon His word, and I have striven to keep His commandments, and the small light that began so many years ago is growing and turning into a fire in my heart. Like Paul said to the Thessalonians, I have proved what the Lord has said. I have tried it, and it works, it really is the way to happiness and peace. I have found it to be good, and so I am holding fast to it.

9" x 11 1/2"

SOLD

"Rare Beauty"

2009-05-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." - Proverbs 31:10

Because I don't have tv reception or cable in my home I'm not really "in touch" with much of the current media. Therefore, when I catch the occasional show at the gym, it can sometimes be a little shocking or discouraging. Today one station had a show called, "The Sexiest Women Alive" or something like that. Of course, all of these woman were half naked, or more, and pretty much just looked like you're average Victoria Secret model. These woman were selling their bodies for profit, or for fame, and I was sad that they had truly sold something so valuable for so cheap a price. And it wasn't just "The Sexiest Women Alive" so much of the media seemed saturated with the air-brushed, augmented, and unclothed. So who can find a virtuous woman? Yes, that is something truly rare.

12" x 9" oil on panel

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"Horizons"

2009-05-15T12:34:00.000-07:00

I remember moving to Colorado my senior year of high school, and one of my favorite things about the little town that we moved to, was how big the horizon line was. I loved going for walks through the big open fields and being able to see the ground kiss the sky in almost every direction. The world seemed so big, and I felt so small. My horizons have changed a lot since then, in southern California you're lucky if you can see above the smog. :) But as my family and I embark on a new adventure, I feel as I did standing in the Colorado fields, the world is so big, and I am so small. But nevertheless, I have a happy anticipation for the future, and am excited for all that lays ahead on my next horizon.

9" x 12" oil on board

SOLD

"Down the Road"

2009-04-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

I find myself at such an interesting place in my life, everything is so up in the air. I don't really know where I'll be living, or what my husband will be doing in the next four months, let alone the next couple of years. I guess one could say it's kind of a scary place to be in. But the wonderful thing is that although I may not necessarily know where I'm going, I do know that God is in charge, and that God is aware of me and my family. I know He will lead us to the place we need to be, and so for now, I just exercise faith and wait for the way to be opened and the path to be clear. It will all work out, and it's kind of exciting to think about what lay down the road.

9" x 12 1/2" oil on masonite

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"The Light Still Shines"

2009-04-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we make choices that turn us from the sun, like the girl in this painting. However, no matter how long we choose to hide from the light, or pretend that the light was never there, nevertheless, the light still shines. The Son is always there waiting for us whenever we are ready to turn around, and through repentance He can help us be free from any darkness. How grateful I am for the Son that shines on all of us, may we humble ourselves enough to turn around to Him.

9"x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"Coming to Light"

2009-04-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

There is a principle in art that if you want to make something look light, you put it against a dark background, and similarly, if you want something to look dark, you put it against a light background. So many times I'll mix up what I think is a dark color on my white palette , only to place it on a dark panel, and then the color looks surprising light! I think this concept applies spiritually too. As we come to know a greater light, the darker our sins appear to be. What once was not that big of a deal, perhaps something we didn't even think of as a sin, is suddenly obviously wrong and needs changing. When this moment of realization occurs, we can find ourselves very much like the young man in the picture, not quite as clean as we would like to be. At first we may be struck with a fleeting despair, as it can be discouraging to discover our weakness, but then we can have great hope in the atonement of Jesus Christ. How grateful I am that He has already taken upon Himself my debt, and only waits for me to turn to Him to find forgiveness. As we celebrate Easter this weekend, may we reflect on the greater light of Jesus Christ and rejoice that through Him we can become clean again!

12" x 16" oil on panel

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"Agency"

2009-04-03T17:41:00.000-07:00

"And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil..."

- Genesis 3:22

I've been thinking a lot about choice lately. I believe that we are constantly being acted upon by two forces, and we are given the choice to follow whichever one we wish. This ability to choose, was set up in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Man was given agency, the power to choose, and this then set him apart from the rest of God's creations, making man great. I think this point is wonderfully illustrated in John Steinbeck's East of Eden:

"Thou Mayest! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the Gods, for in his weakness... he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win. ...It is easy out of laziness, out of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of deity, saying, 'I couldn't help it; the way was set.' But think of the glory of the choice! ...I feel that a man is a very important thing - maybe more important than a star ... I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is always attacked and never destroyed - because 'Thou Mayest'."

9" x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"Protected"

2009-03-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

"And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness... And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid." - Ezekiel 34:25, 28

A covenant is an agreement made between God and man. God sets the terms of the agreement, and then man chooses whether or not to abide by the terms. However, if man chooses to be obedient, the Lord then is bound to give certain blessings in return. The Lord sets the terms of covenants in the scriptures, and they are found throughout the Bible. The Lord made covenants with Abraham, Noah, the children of Israel, etc. Although these covenants were made thousands of years ago, I believe that the terms of the covenants can still apply to us today.

The Prophet Ezekiel in the afore quoted scripture says that the Lord will make a covenant of peace with His people, a covenant that will protect them in the wilderness. This reminds me of a promise made to the children of Israel in Leviticus 25: 18, "Wherefore ye shall do my statues, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety." Although we are not wandering through a desert, like the children of Israel, we do dwell in a type of spiritual wilderness, a place where spiritual beasts abound. We live in a time where commandments are forgotten, and the adversary has convinced men to act as they please and do what they may with little or no consequence. In this time, I'm grateful for the covenants and promises made in the Bible, for as I continue to live by the commandments of God, I feel a kind of Divine protection over my life. I know this protection comes as a blessing from keeping my covenants with God. I especially love how Ezekiel says, "..and none shall make them afraid," what a powerful promise that is, to live free of fear. I know that as we act in faith, and hold true to what is right, and keep the commandments that the Lord will watch over us, and no beast, or economic condition, or housing market, or terrorist can make us afraid.

16" x 20" oil on board

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"The End of Gray"

2009-03-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

"...Choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15

There was once discussed a kind of morality that was somewhere between good and evil, this place was known as the "Gray Area". It wasn't exactly good and it wasn't exactly bad, it was just somewhere in between, and it's perimeters were set by personal convictions combined with society's approval. Well, as I've pondered on the condition of the world, and the choices we make, I've come to the realization that the once infamous "gray area" is coming to a close. I see the world becoming more and more bipolar everyday and I think it's becoming harder and harder to ride the fence in between black and white. Because really in the end, there are only two options: you can choose to serve God and give your whole heart and soul to Him, or you can choose to serve Satan and give your whole heart and soul to him. And so as the world continues to slide in it's morals, and leave "traditional family values" behind, the gray is slowly fading to black. However, I am determined to continue to stand for all that is good - for all that is virtuous, for all that is lovely, for all that of good report, for all that is praiseworthy. Let the world choose what they may, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

24" x 36" oil on masonite

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"Windows"

2009-03-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

It's been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. I believe this to be true, sometimes you just have to take the time to remember to really look. People are not always what they seem. :)

As for the technical part of this painting, I took a trip to Laguna Beach last weekend to see an art exhibit. It was so inspiring to see really good artwork. I decided I could push myself farther and I could do better. I realized that it was the little things that took an artist from a rookie to a master, it was being willing to go that extra step. I think I have a tendency to give up too early on a piece, I get impatient wanting to post it and to move on to another, but I recognized that if I just kept going a little longer I could create a more professional painting. So this piece is the fruit of my labors. I spent a little more time, and I think it shows. I continue to learn so much about skin tone and the structure of the face. I think the flesh in this painting may be my most successful to date. Enjoy!

9"x12" oil on masonite panel

SOLD

"Letting Light In" II

2009-03-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

I'm not one to paint the same picture twice, however, after the previous painting sold, the model's parents approached me and asked if I would paint it again. So here it is. It's kind of interesting to see the different interpretation from the same photo. Enjoy!

SOLD

"Move"

2009-02-27T16:53:00.000-08:00

"For in Him we live, and move, ..." Acts 17:28

This painting is all about movement, from the actual pose of the model, to the way the colors move the eye through the piece. Painting it actually made me want to dance, but also, just to move in general. You know it's so easy to just sit and do nothing, when really all the great things in life require action. So I hope it "moves" you as well. You have the power within you - get up and do something! Doesn't it feel good?

6" x 11 3/4" oil on panel

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"Solace"

2009-02-25T11:43:00.000-08:00

I'm so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost that brings peace to my heart. Isn't it amazing that the world can be in udder chaos and despair, and yet, if one really desires they can have a quiet reassurance in their heart that is stronger than anything a newscast may tell them? I begin each day with prayer, and every morning I feel a sense of God's awareness of me, me, a little painter, in a little studio, God is aware of me... that's a wonderful thing.

11" x 15" graphite on paper

SOLD

"Taking Cover"

2009-02-19T14:27:00.000-08:00

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure." —Marianne Williamson

I think that perhaps so many of us are capable of more. I believe that we are all children of God and as such have divine potential to do great things. However, one of the greatest lies from the adversary is that we are just mediocre. And I think perhaps some of us take comfort in that lie, it's easy to be average. You don't have to work too hard or make many sacrifices to just be ordinary. So they wrap themselves in the gray of average, and hide away from the light that is possible for them. May we all remember who we are, and then have the courage to rise to our true potential.

P.S. Thanks to James Christensen and my mother-in-law for inspiring me to create my smallest piece yet. ;)

3" x 4" oil on masonite

SOLD

"The Beggar"

2009-02-18T16:09:00.000-08:00

"For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust." (Isaiah 26:5)

Isn't it interesting how everything can change in an instant? I've been really well taken care of my whole life, I've never really had to worry about where I'd get food, or where I would live. Even as the economy began to turn, I still thought of myself as the exception. The newscaster talked of the falling stocks and unemployment, but I didn't feel it. Now I didn't live frivolously by any means, but if I needed something I just went to the store and bought it. But then one day, rather abruptly, the "recession" finally hit me, and suddenly I found myself a beggar. It's been an especially humbling experience.

I think of the above scripture in Isaiah, and I think about our country, and we truly have been blessed. And in our abundance I think perhaps many have forgotten on whom they are truly dependent. So maybe this economic downturn is actually a blessing in disguise, designed to bring us "low" and to remind us to turn our hearts to God.

I do know that God is still aware of me, and that things will work out. So I'm going to keep doing my best, and keep relying upon God, and I know that perhaps this is only an opportunity for God to work a miracle. For all those out there that are feeling the same way, my heart goes out to you, may we all remember on whom we depend for all things.

8"x 10" oil on panel

SOLD

"Lifted"

2009-02-13T08:17:00.000-08:00

"And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up;" Mark 1:31

I never cease to be amazed by the enabling power of the Savior. He continues to lift me in every aspect of my life. I stand in awe at the power of His atonement, not only to lift us from the pit of sin, but to continue raising us up to the highest of the heavens. We are not only brought back to a clean slate, but can be given power to become better than we ever thought possible. I know that I'm still far from where I could be, but I'm excited ever day at the thought of working my way there. I glory in my Redemeer, and know He is lifting me up.

24" x 24"

oil on panel

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"Scarlette"

2009-02-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

Scarlette is almost three. She is the daughter of one of my closest friends, whom I was visiting last weekend. I had given my son, who is 7 months, to my friend to hold. Well Scarlette wasn't quite sure how she felt about her mom holding another baby. She just stood there looking at her like this. It was so cute, I just had to take her picture. I just think this little face says so much!

9" x 12" oil on panel

SOLD

"Watching Over"

2009-02-02T11:27:00.000-08:00

My husband and I have been going through some rather challenging times lately. I guess you could probably say the whole country is. But what has been rather miraculous, is that even though we're going through a time that would generally cause great anxiety, my heart has really been at peace. I have this comforting feeling that everything will be all right, and it will all work out. The scripture that keeps coming to mind is, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). So even though my problems most likely won't be solved today, or tomorrow, I have this knowledge that I'm being watched over, and my soul is content.

12" x 24"

oil on panel

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"To Whom We Must Look"

2009-01-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

In watching the inauguration this week, I was glad to see so many people rallied to hope again. It was definitely a historical day. However, I couldn't help but think about how many people were looking to the new president to solve all their problems. I wondered what it would be like to see that many people rallied together with hope in Christ. For it is Christ who can really help us to find solutions and to move forward. May we all remember to whom we must look, for it is not Obama, but in God we trust.

9" x 12" oil on panel

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"Enough"

2009-01-16T10:24:00.000-08:00

I think we all have times where we wonder if we're enough. I think I will always remember the first day of art classes my freshman year of college. I was SO overwhelmed. I had a rude awakening to the difference between high school art and college art, and it was rather a humbling experience. I left classes thinking, "There's no way I can do this!" I felt like I had been weighed, I had been measured, and I definitely had been found wanting. But then, on the walk home from school I turned to God for help, and He reassured me that I was enough and that with His help I could do great things. It's just as Paul said to the Corinthians, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;" (2 Corinthians 3:5). So to all my siblings that are still in college, and to everyone out there who has wondered if they have what it takes, turn to the Lord and with Him you will always be enough.

7" x 13"

oil on panel

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"Letting Light In"

2009-01-07T08:59:00.000-08:00

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:20

Sometimes I get frustrated when in trying to share the light that I have, I am constantly met with people who aren't interested. If they only knew how much joy they could feel! If only they knew all that I'm trying to offer. But, then I am reminded of the Savior who stands at the door and knocks and wants so badly to come in and give us all that He has, but we are the one's who have to let Him in. We hold the key, we turn the handle. May we all listen for the knock, and welcome Him in.

9" x 12"

oil on panel

SOLD

"Ambivalence"

2008-12-11T18:41:00.000-08:00

"It is still 'either-or'. If we insist on keeping Hell (or even Earth) we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell." - C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

This young man is wearing black, gray, and white, symbolic of his inability to make up his mind. Like so many of us, he intends well, and yearns for heaven, yet there are just so many things of this world that he holds close to his heart. And as Lewis says, it really is 'either-or', no matter how many excuses you give yourself, whatever it is that you're holding to that keeps you from heaven, will eventually become your own personal hell. May we all have the courage to make up our minds and give our whole heart to God. :)

oil on masonite panel

8.5" x 12"

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"The Offering"

2008-12-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

This painting is about offering my greatest treasure to others. Just as anyone would excitedly call a friend when they have seen a great movie, or recommend their favorite restaurant to a stranger. I too have a desire to share that which I have found to be most precious. I have learned for myself the joy and peace that can come from living the gospel. I have a reassurance and a hope in Christ that leads me to believe that all is possible for me. I have a testimony that burns inside my heart, and brings light to my life in an increasingly dark world. And because of this I have such an intense desire to share it with everyone that I can. So I stand, like the girl in the painting, with hands offering the best thing I have ever tasted... so come and taste it, try it out. It might just change your life.

p.s. Thanks to my little brother Jace for his song, "Take a Look" which inspired this painting! :)

12" x 18"

oil on masonite panel

SOLD

jenedypaige paintings

"Summer's Gift"

"An Angel for the Storm"

"Morgan and Momma"

"My Greatest Masterpiece"

"Brooklyn" - First in the "Number" series

"Going Back to Charlotte"

"You are My Sunshine" II

"You are my Sunshine"

"Beautiful Savior"

"Home"

"Lest I Forget"

"Heart in Hand"

"In Between" The Process

"In Between"

Bloch Master Copy - The Process

Master Copy: "Christ with Nimbus" by Carl Bloch

"Clarity" The Process

"Clarity"

"But a Moment" Revisited

"The Chain Around Her Neck"

"Leonard Jay"

"Touch of the Master's Hand"

So as I post this progress series, I thought it only fitting to include the words of the poem. How grateful I am for the Master and His ability to change lives. How great is the worth of a soul.

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,"Who’ll start the bidding for me?""A dollar, a dollar," then, two! Only two?"Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

"Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;Going for three . . . "But no,From the room, far back, a grey haired manCame forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,And tightening the loose strings,He played a melody pure and sweetAs a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,With a voice that was quiet and low,Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;And going and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,"We do not quite understandWhat changed its worth?" Swift came the reply:"The touch of a master’s hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,And battered and scarred with sin,Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,Much like the old violin.

A "mess of potage," a glass of wine;A game, and he travels on.He is "going" once, and "going" twice,He’s "going" and almost "gone."

But the Master comes and the foolish crowdNever can quite understandThe worth of a soul and the change that’s wroughtBy the touch of the Master’s hand.--

Jenedy Paige Greeting Cards

True Joy

"Pink"

Pakistan Portraits: "My Brother's Keeper"

Pakistan Portraits: "The Refugee"

Pakistan Portraits: "Not Forgotten"

"Finding a Way"

Benson True

"Days of Summer"

"Walk in the Light" revisited

"Beyond the Ceiling"

"A Time to Fly" the process

"The Bride"

"Maya"

"A Time to Fly"

"Coming Through"

Walk in the Light

"Be Patient with Me" the process

"Be Patient with Me"

"Faith and Freedom"

"Lexi" The Process

"Anne Marie"

"Good Tidings"

"Lexi"

"Derek"

"Mother and Child"

"The Memory" The Process

"Emmalee" The Process

"The Memory"

"Emmalee"

"Beyond the Clouds" Progress

"Beyond the Clouds"

My first book: The Offering

"The Invitation" the process

"Gentle Breeze"

"Anticipating Fall"

"True"

"The Invitation"

"Safe"

"A Child's Prayer"

"Holding Back" Process

"Holding Back"

"Fleeting" Process

"Fleeting"

"Covered" The Process

"Covered"

"Patience"

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who’ll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar," then, two! Only two?
"Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

"Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three . . . "But no,
From the room, far back, a grey haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
And going and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master’s hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.

A "mess of potage," a glass of wine;
A game, and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice,
He’s "going" and almost "gone."

But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.
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