love – Page 2 – heatherdawnfineart

The Drawing

There is not any present moment that is unconnected with some future one. The life of every man is a continued chain of incidents, each link of which hangs upon the former. (Joseph Addison)

Marks on canvas

Shadows and light

Connected together

Creating the drawing

The foundation

A base for the painting.

Just as the present moment is connected to the future moments,

so are the edges,

the lines,

the smudges

all in relationship to each other

which brings life to the form which ones eye has seen…

a time past,

a moment gone by,

captured for the future

in a relentless gaze of the innocent asking

what is waiting for me?

~Heather Dawn

Sparrows

Impressionist Painter.

Click to view larger

2 Sparrows

16 x 20

Oil on panel

Available

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I came from a family of nine children, I think it was common back then for couples to have larger families. I love my siblings very much yet I often found myself playing alone. I thoroughly enjoyed being by myself playing quietly; digging in the dirt was one of my favorite pastimes. Not just digging, I would be creating roads, whole communities where my imaginary citizens would live in perfect harmony, it was my creative outlet at the time, that is probably why that I chose Ceramics as my major at the Alberta College of Art and Design… I love dirt 😉

Growing up in a small village it was always rather quiet and so hearing the whisper in the breeze was ever present, in my heart I knew where the still small voice came from and it was ever-present, speaking to me. Another familiar sound that is so endearing to me are the sparrows songs. The sparrow has such beautiful songs that hearing them makes me feel so at peace, so at home….it always brings a smile to my face. I know that sparrows are viewed as pests, but for me they bring comfort. Here is a link to some of the songs. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Song_Sparrow/sounds

I recall dreaming and earnestly desiring to be a bird, I didn’t know what kind of bird, but I just wanted to fly, free in the air…they seem so carefree, so happy, so free…that is what I wanted.

It’s no wonder that I have chosen sparrows as my subject because the symbology (art of expression by symbols) of sparrows is very telling and I feel it is no surprise as to the accuracy of this symbolism that has been attributed to them, this is how I see sparrows and because they are a small bird that seems to have no significance, I can relate. These symbols of the sparrow are very much the attributes of that still small voice in the breeze that I have been so familiar with for all those years.

SPARROW~

Joy
Inclusion
Creativity
Simplicity
Protection
Community
Productivity
Friendliness

Still Small Voice of the Pure Breath that I heard in the breeze.

Love
Joy
Peace
Long-suffering
Kindness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Self-control

The Native American symbol of a sparrow is: Sparrow: Symbol of desire and fertility; manifests new love in someone’s life; understands the aspects of race; ability to use the power of song; understands all aspects of color.

It wouldn’t be too far fetched to say that sparrows are a symbol of love, not just manifest love, not just fertility, but LOVE.

Love is understanding, love is truth, love is compassion, love is forgiveness, love is kindness, love is empathy and much more.I know that I am being taken care of, just like the sparrows who have no worries. I know that HE has been watching over me all my life and continues to do so. I know that I am clay, He is the Potter and HE is the One who has kept me all these years. I am so thankful.

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home

When Yasha is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me.

Civilla D. Martin

*Jesus or Joshua are English translations of the Hebrew name YASHA (Yahusha) here is the Hebrew number, meaning and name.

H3467
ישׁע
yâsha‛
yaw-shah’
A primitive root; properly to be open, wide or free, that is, (by implication) to be safe; causatively to free or succor: – X at all, avenging, defend, deliver (-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save (-iour), get victory.

Leah

Impressionist Painter., Portrait Painting

Over the past years I have come to the realization that a painting is not just something captured on a board or canvas to look at. It is the experience that the artist has encountered, it is time which the artist has captured and held still onto the surface in order to be revisited over and over again. A painting to inspire, or stir up one’s emotions or speak out against tyranny…or simply is beautiful to behold are all meaningful and historical pieces ensuring perpetual discourse to as many souls as possible.

A painting or any other art work is antiquity, fleeting moments that are stilled and preserved for years to come.

This is a piece of the artist, drawing snippets and morsels from their life experiences that has brought them (me) to that particular point in time. What value can we place on that?

This is a session that I had with a beautiful young lady named Leah. She is a nurse who works for Pure North S’ynergy Foundation http://www.purenorth.ca/ she works so hard, most often at the homeless shelter http://www.theseed.ca/ starting in the wee hours of the morning in order to help the vulnerable before they head out the door for the day.

Leah is also co-founder of an orphanage called Darja Foundation here is the link. https://www.facebook.com/darajafoundationinc?pnref=story http://www.daraja.ca/

Daraja means bridge in Swahili, isn’t that lovely? Isn’t that what life is all about bridging relationships between fellow, flesh and blood human beings? 🙂

I met Leah at Pure North (which is another story for another time but please read about them, the founder of this program is a very generous and caring man Allan Markin) and have had the pleasure of spending time with her creating our artwork.

Leah lost all of her art supplies (among other things) in the Calgary flood that happened in 2013 and that is why she comes to paint with me at my studio. She paints her artwork while I paint her. We spend our time working and listening to music while we get to connect and share our experiences in life.

This thing called art has brought me in touch with a lovely young lady who has blessed my life.

Thank you Leah and thank you to all of you who stop by and take the precious time to read and comment.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-Dawn-Fine-Art/1015450641815718?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

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http://homestudio1.com/

Stay With It

Portrait Painting

Even though there are days when everything seems to be going wrong, even the most simple of tasks are a challenge, I can say with confidence stay with it.

We hear it all the time, but it isn’t something that seems real unless you push through it yourself. Trials come our way and we tend to give up, but that is the most important time to stay the course, don’t give up!

When I worked for a sales company, one of the leading instructors would say to me…”You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.” In other words he was saying that it is a good thing to learn from others’ mistakes and successes. Well yes, that is easy to say but until we actually do take good advice and apply it to our situation, we may continue to reinvent the wheel.

I have been constantly setting the standard for my work higher and higher by constantly learning and applying the skills that I could. When I would apply those skills I was happy with the results, until the next day, because I am constantly pushing to grow and hone my skills. This can be depressing and sometimes it is…but because I have this intense desire to do the work it pushes me to do more.

Today was one of those days, I study other works, I apply techniques and it just doesn’t seem to cut it…well I kept at it and finally I thought of trying something different, it took 3 or 4 tries until I decided to start this painting from the other direction, dark to light; however when I saw what was emerging I liked it so much that I left it at that. I think this image is one that I can do over and over to continue to learn from so expect to see more of this one.

This Van Gogh quote is encouraging to me because I know Who is the source of LOVE and I find it to be very true.

Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.

Vincent Van Gogh

Yellow Roses and Shadow

Impressionist Painter.

Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.

Vincent Van Gogh

Love is truth …if there is someone in my life that I have not forgiven it will constantly be there…nagging at me (and you) like a shadow. If that someone that I withheld grace from is me, then there is the possibility that the shadow of unforgiveness becomes larger and larger until it will overtake any rays of peace and light. Forgiveness is a key to love, to happiness, to peace and harmony. Today and everyday, I choose to live in forgiveness.

Yellow Roses signify Friendship, Joy, Get Well

Throughout history, yellow has been closely associated with the sun, making these roses excellent for cheering people up. Yellow roses send a message of appreciation and platonic love without the romantic subtext of other colors. The color represents feelings of joy and delight.