Autumn Gloria (Small Study)

For the beauty of the earth,

For the glory of the skies;

For the love which from our birth,

Over and around us lies;

Lord of all,

to Thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise!

~Folliott S. Pierpoint

"Autumn Gloria" (Small Study)

8"x10" oil on canvas $55+s/h

Japanese Tea Garden Koi (Small Study)

My original photo for this small study was taken in the Japanese Tea Garden of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. We were blessed by a lovely, sunny (!) March day and enjoyed a walk through the Japanese Tea Garden. I remember being slightly disappointed that we were missing all the Spring color that would be present in the flowering trees had we been there a few weeks later, but the koi certainly didn't disapoint with their jewel-like tones.

For Asian cultures, koi are good luck signs in business and life. I have read that there is even a blue version of koi, and I will be on the lookout now. I'm tempted to paint a much larger version of this - the colors were so fun, with the lighting and water almost giving an abstract effect to the painting.

"Japanese Tea Garden Koi" (Small Study)

8"x10" oil on canvas $55+s/h (tax if applicable)

A Tree Of Life

In a mood to paint something whimsical and fun, I decided to paint my own version of a "Tree of Life" and fill it with symbols that were meaningful to me. This marks a return to a style I used when I was much younger and did far less realistic paintings and drawings. In that sense, I allowed myself to be more creative and less literal.

The hardest part may have been choosing what to put on the branches of my tree of life. Each item has a special meaning, of which I will give you only the basics so you can participate by filling in your own connections as you view it.

Here is a list of a few of the items and what they represent:

• Hummingbird - "timeless joy & the nectar of life"
• Morning Glory - "affection" & "resurrection"
• Dove - "peace"
• Snail - "perseverance & determination"
• Apple - "Old and New Testaments"
• Pear - "Christ's love for all of mankind"

The "tree of life" is mentioned several times in the Bible. According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "the tree of life became a common poetic simile to represent that which may be a source of great blessing."

I kept thinking my painting wasn't finished so I painted until I could go no further. I'm still not entirely sure why I added the word "hope" but thought it was interesting to discover after the fact (Really! Completely unintentional!) that Proverbs 13:12 reads: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."

"A Tree of Life"
18"x24" oil on canvas, gallery wrapped