Christmas Paintings

Yes, it is that time of the year again. I will be doing a couple of paintings for Christmas. One of which is my very first commission piece. If it turns out well, there may be more coming from that source.


















My little granddaughter absolutely loves horses. She is four years old and like so many little girls she has many, many "My Little Pony" ponies...I would say about 70. She got her daddy to promise her that he will build her a barn for a horse when she is old enough to take care of one. Knowing her, she will not let him forget that promise. She has been begging me to paint her a picture of a pony. I've never, ever painted a horse before but thought I would surprise her with this. Unfortunately, she walked in on me working on it and now it will not be a surprise. Oh well...no matter.


A friend of mine has a friend who wanted a painting done of a sister who has passed away and asked if I would be willing to give it a try. My friend paints, but didn't feel that she was skilled enough to do a portrait. The photograph I was given to use as a reference was not very good, but I thought I would take the challenge. I got the photograph a week ago and I think I'm done with it. I am not very happy with it, but can't find anything I can do to make it better. This is my first REAL commission piece and, needless to say, I really stressed over this piece. I'm hoping she likes it.

> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
1. Share the link to this site with just one other artist, art collector, or someone who would be interested.
2. Post your thoughts in the Comments section.
3. Email your ideas and/or suggestions on what you would like to read/see more of at lokeforrest@comcast.net

A Man of Sorrows

I awoke one morning about a month ago with a feeling of urgency…maybe that’s not the word I want…maybe more “feeling impressed upon” to do a specific painting. I made a sketch, showed it to my son and explained to him my thoughts on the painting. The first thing he said in response was…”a man of constant sorrow.” Isaiah 53:3 says “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” Let me show you by posting my latest “practice” work.

A MAN OF SORROWS
16x20 oil on stretched canvas

Detail...Christ's tears

As I mentioned above, this is a practice piece. I wanted to make sure that what I had in mind; I would be able to create before doing a large canvas. I am told that an artist should leave the interpretation of an artwork to the viewer, but I want no mistaking what I’m saying here…or is it really what the Lord is saying??

The background is the Orion cosmos. For your interest, the constellation Orion, which by the way is the largest and brightest constellation in the universe, depicts… the Glorious One, He Who Triumphs, coming forth as light. Something I learned in my Sunday school class after I did the painting. Isn’t that interesting? (The Greeks call Orion The Hunter). Christ is shown in His ascended glory looking down on earth; His left hand clutching at His heart in grief, while lifting His right hand off the earth in a gesture of both blessing and allowance (allowing man to make his choices, good or bad). He is crying because He is saddened at what He sees as man’s rejection of the Word of God.

Through the art forums I belong to, I have received suggestions on how I can make this piece even better and I appreciate that help very much. I am intimidated by doing a larger canvas, so I am not quite ready to tackle that yet, but I will when it feels right.

Mahalo and thank you for visiting.

> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
1. Share the link to this site with just one other artist, art collector, or someone who would be interested.
2. Post your thoughts in the Comments section.
3. Email your ideas and/or suggestions on what you would like to read/see more of at lokeforrest@comcast.net