Bon-Annie, Oh Man!

My adorable friend Annie is such an inspiration to me. In this portrait I tried to capture a little bit of the essence of the amazingness that is my lovely friend!

'Peace give I to thee'

This finished portrait has such an overwhelming sense of peace about it, every time I look at I feel like it enhances my calm. ;)

Dark Eyes

My mom grew this lovely fuchsia blossom and I couldn't resist drawing it! Love how it turned out so much that I couldn't consider selling it, it lives at my house! ;)

This is a piece that I created for my friend Gus.... He was a wonderful man. He dedicated his life to healing people and he left the world a considerably better place than he found it. Rest in peace my friend! You were truly a blessing in my life!

Spring Garden

Ok, so I am not totally done with this yet, but had to share. I was inspired by a fun group collage project that we created at the Masterpiece Christian Artists' Conference last month. I took advantage of my long weekend and made a fun collage of my own. Hope you like this even half as much as I do!!!!

'Fine' by Jaymes Reunion

Hello my friend, can you teach me how to breathe again,
can you teach me how to love, can you give me a life?
The problem begins, when I add it up and count again,
I'm losing every fight, and I need some answers
maybe its alright, and I'm gonna land it.

You've never really loved, until you've watched it fall apart
And you've never really lived, until you felt like you could die
And you've never really stood, until the weight has pushed you over
And you're picking up the pieces just to find, your doing just fine.

I'm scared to death, that I'll never find the me that's best
Every story's been told, I feel like a loser
All these wounds are getting old, so I'm gonna land it.

You've never really loved, until you've watched it fall apart
You've never really lived, until you felt like you could die
You've never really stood, until the weight has pushed you over
You're picking up the pieces just to find, your doing just fine.

Oh, I'm spinning out of control, looking up as I fall
The colors they blur around me
Oh, I've cut up my heart again, this freedom is nothing but sin
I know you know me better, so make it better

I've never really loved, until I watched it fall apart
And I never really lived, until I saw that I was dead
And I never really stood, until the weight had pushed me over
I'm picking up the pieces just to find, everything's fine.... Oh whoa, I'm fine...

There, I hope that helps ya'll, it really does wonders for me..... :D

Naughty!

Ok, so I've done quite a few portraits now in this, my signature style, but this one, I think, takes the cake. It's such a delightful piece. The colors came together so naturally and brought her to life. This truly is my current favorite portrait.

Glukshinia

My friend Goldie grew this lovely Gloxinia blossom. She took a marvelous picture that was a delight to work from. The end result is this great piece that I titled to reflect how I said it in my head as I drew it... Scottish style, you know, like Sean Connery would say it... Glukshinia.... LOL!

Lost in Translation

We had the pleasure of hosting a Foreign exchange student recently. It was a blast. He would always do this when he was trying to think of an English word but couldn't quite remember it. I had to draw him like that. It really turned out exactly as I'd hoped. I hope you enjoy it!

Mag-a-Nolia'

My friend Magnolia is such a wonderful, delightful person, I really tried to capture her lovliness in this drawing. The title reflects how I pronounce her name when we're feeling playful. I hope you enjoy!

No wine-ing...

Harpo

Pansy2

Though seasons change, never will My love for you...

Radiant Joy!

Well, here it is at last, my very first finished oil painting. I am rather besotted with it myself, LOL! I look forward to hearing what you all think of it. My lovely frog's name is Joy. I was so happy every time I worked on her mostly because she was just so happy looking, I pretty much figured the name was inevitable. There was one point during the coloring process that she was absolutely, astonishingly & even disturbingly green and yellow, she really looked radioactive. But now, in her finished state, she's simply radiant, hence the name 'Radiant Joy.'

Bleeding Hearts

I have always loved these flowers. This is based on a photo taken by my friend Jim Stephenson. I had never before seen a stem with such a perfect example of the different stages of the blossoms opening. He truly captured the essence of the flowers, I simply tried to recreate that wonderful moment. Thanks Jim!

Natasha

Inspiration

The lovely Ash (Amptone) gave me permission to base a drawing on one of her photos. This is the result. Seeing the photo really inspired me, hence the name! LOL! I hope it inspires you too! Oh, also, THANKS AGAIN ASH!

For Maggie With Love

Ok, so my dear friend Maggie's birthday is coming up, and her favorite color is purple, so, well, with the black paper phase I've been in, this was, I think, quite inevitable! LOL! Seriously though, I adore how this came out. I haven't slept since Friday night, I couldn't stop drawing. I hope you like it!

Passion

Ok, so I've been drawing an awful lot of art for everybody in my life for quite some time. In fact, I've not purposefully drawn something just for myself in over a decade. As you've seen, I've been on a pansy kick lately, and, well, I really think I finally nailed it. I've captured the true essence of the flower and done it in the colors of my bedroom, fuchsia and purple with a hint of green. I can't tell you how satisfying it was to do this one, it's vibrant, it's beautiful, it's full of all the passion I've kept deep inside for years. Here it is in all it's glory! Enjoy!

All I Ask of You....

Ok, so I was trying to figure out what to do for my baby sister's birthday and that song from 'The Phantom of the Opera' kept running through my mind. Ok, so it's one of her very favorite musicals of all time, but I couldn't figure out what to draw. A red rose on black paper was too, I don't know, expected. So I decided to make it a red pansy. Totally unexpected, but I think it really captured the emotion I was trying for. Anyway, my baby sis loved it and I hope you do too!

Lilies..........

This is a vision I had for an outreach mission my church had the other day. There is a woman who doesn’t know how beautiful she is. She doesn’t know that she’s beloved of the Lord. She can’t comprehend His immeasurable love for her and lives in a state of hurt and despair.

This piece is for her, to always remind her of the remarkable beauty that she is, inside and out, a constant reminder that she is a unique and lovely creation. Beloved of the Creator, she is never forgotten, scorned or abandoned, but always loved, remembered, and treasured.

James 5:6

....The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

I always loved 'Deeply Rooted' exactly as I drew her, but lately, I felt that there was more to be expressed through her, so I inverted the colors and she became something entirely new. I hope you love her as I do.

Trinity

This piece started as a rough sketch of an idea for a stained glass window, as I drew it over and over with my prismacolors and couldn't get the feel right, it hit me, WATERCOLOR! Duh! Anyway, I started painting it and fell in love with the results. Sorry about the terrible scan, the outer cross is actually a lovely pink. Didn't show up very well, I'm afraid.

I am particularly passionate about this piece. There is so much meaning in it. The colors: Pinks for passion (the passion of Christ and my passion for Him), Green for newness and life (we are new every morning) Yellow for growing intimacy (tucked between the cross pieces as I desire to be tucked into God) Blue is for truth and peace (exactly what I receive from Him) The reason for the title, is that there are three crosses here, the dark pink one (Jesus) the light pink one embracing the dark pink one (Father God) and the white central one filling in the empty space inside (The Holy Spirit). The verse that really speaks to me about this piece is:

John 14:25-27 "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Well, I hope you enjoy this piece, finished on a super lucky day 07/07/07!

Matt 19:14

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." So, this is my first try at drawing a baby, well, since my son was a baby eons ago. LOL! Anyway, it's my e-friend Bree's daughter, Jasmine. I am pretty happy with how this turned out, I'm still tweaking it a little, but haven't posted anything in so long I just had to get it up. I was having withdrawals! LOL! I hope ya'll like it!

Matt 19:5

'....and the two will become one....'
This is a special gift for my wonderful friends Clay and Angela. They are getting married next month, and this is my gift to them. The blossom is, of course, a calla lily, but the leaf is from a Gerbra Daisy. It's meant to show how wonderful the results of two becoming one.

I'm so incredibly happy for you guys! May God bless you in your marriage and may your adventure together never be dull, and always be filled with love, both for each other and for the Lord.

Ephesians 1:16

'I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.'

This is for my friend Mandy. Happy Birthday! I am always thankful for you and you are always in my prayers.

Love,
~Jess

Luke 2:14....

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

This is my friend Jeremy. God put this verse on my heart while I was drawing it. I love the powerful feel of this one. It reminds me of the intensity of Jeremy's love of God. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Amped Up!

James 5:13....

"....Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise."

Psalm 51:12....

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Charity....

Well, I've been experimenting with a new way of doing things. This drawing turned out surprisingly well considering it's my first real attempt to do this technique. I basically took a full-color of pic of my friend Charity and broke it down to four different color values. I then drew her in just four colors of blue. I'm sorry that the scan didn't work out very well. The loveliness of the blues I chose don't really show up like I wanted. But at least you can see the idea and that it looks surprisingly like Charity. I think I may have to play around with this concept more. I sense many a sleepless night coming on. LOL! Anyway, I hope you enjoy her, I sure do!

John 16:33

I saw a picture and the woman looked so peaceful, I just had to draw her. Then, as I was working on her, this verse kept running through my mind:

John 16:33 ~ 'I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.'

It's one of God's promises that I hold onto with both hands.

Obligatory Celebrity Drawing....

Well, I figured it was time to try my hand at drawing a famous person. Of course, I immediately knew who I wanted to draw, but was having second thoughts because, well, everybody and their mother has drawn her. But I finally convinced myself. I mean really, nobody's talent is the same, nobody can create exactly the same thing as another, so even though she's a much-drawn celebrity I figured there was still a need for me to express her in my own particular way. So here she is, the one and only, Angelina Jolie.

Hang on to your hat....

This is based on a photo of my ex-fiance'. I've always loved that shot and finally found myself at a place in my life where I could draw it without any emotional baggage impeding the process. It's nice to be so far removed from the relationship that I'm now able to appreciate his physical beauty again. Anyway, I love how it has turned out and I hope you do as well! I have always loved the Indiana Jones type, I think I always will! :)

Orange-cha glad it's me?

Yessirree, it's Stratton! I must admit, I never realized how cute he was until I started drawing him. LOL! I really think he'll love this, especially considering what his favorite color is!!!! ;)

Military Man

This is Michael, he's an Airborne Medic in the Army, currently stationed in Italy. When I was checking out his pics, I just had to draw this one. It's still developing and evolving, but I think it has great potential. Michael, thanks for putting your life on the line to help others, you're a true hero and in my thoughts and prayers always.

Larissa ~ Red....

Phil & Calla (Finished at last!)

Together Heart & Soul....

This is based on a photo of Cilette and Roman of Gypsy Soul. I tried to express the feelings evoked in me by their music. Hope you enjoy!

Pretty Please? (In progress)

Dreaming of You....

Dan ~ Rhapsody in Purple and Green

Rugged....

Caught....

Beautiful Winter's Night....

I was at my favorite coffee shop the other day, listening to my friend Pete play with his band. I noticed a photo of a couple of girls. It was the darkest, sadest thing I'd seen in a while. It was all in shades of black and grey, the girls were heroin-addict-gaunt, wearing these huge fur coats, they just looked so full of dispair.

Then I noticed the mouth of one of the girls. It had the potential to be so beautiful. I realized that if this girl wasn't so thin, wasn't in such dreary colors, she might just be beautiful. I thought of her with rounder, softer features, in bright colors, maybe wearing a scarf lovingly knitted for her, I decided to try to capture that possibility of beauty and happiness.

I think I captured what I saw in my mind's eye, anyway, I fell in love with her and have been working on her pretty much ever since. I just finished her and raced over here to post her on the net... hmmmm ..... addiction to the internet anyone???? LOL! Anyway, I love her and hope you do as well!

Song of Solomon 2:12-13

12 Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.

13 The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me."

Rev. 21:4 ~ "God will wipe away every tear...."

I had this vision in church one sunday morning. I worked furiously on it all through both morning services, went home and worked on it some more and then worked on it during evening service. At the end of the day, she was done. I get immense comfort from this piece. I can almost feel God wiping away my tears. He is so very good to us!

Hot Aliens....

Oh, how I miss classic Star Trek! I grew up watching episode after episode. This of course led me to believe that aliens are in fact real. Also that they are just sexy girls in beautifull exotic colors. Oh, and it has also given me the need to have people know my name wherever I go. (can't be the expendable crew member after all! :)

Jungle Yertle