Claude Vignon’s painting, “The Lament of St. Peter,” is a beautiful example of how an artist can use lights and shadows to create a sense of depth. The background is almost indiscernible, yet the robe, hands, and face of Peter are richly illuminated. We see the pain in Peter’s eyes, but with a glance, we […]
July
23
Bloom Where You Are Planted
posted by laurieetta
Summer—the time of year for flowers! Everyday I linger among my peonies, marigolds, and geraniums, thanking God for their beauty. We often send flowers to people we love to show our affection or to brighten their day. In the Victorian age, flowers became the primary way people shared their feelings. Proclaiming affection in those days […]
July
10
I Have Called You Friend
posted by laurieetta
This lovely painting of two friends reading together comes from the French impressionist, Pierre Auguste Renoir. His first foray into art was creating designs on fine china, but he went on to become a prolific painter, creating several thousand paintings in his lifetime. In his later years, he suffered severe rheumatoid arthritis which left him […]
June
26
Standing Strong
posted by laurieetta
One of the attractions in New York City is a bronze statue called, “Fearless Girl,” sculpted by Kristen Visbal. She is a 50-inch high ponytailed powerhouse with attitude, facing down the famous Charging Bull sculpture, a longstanding symbol of Wall Street. After she was installed on March 7, 2017 (the day before International Women’s Day), […]
June
19
The Journey, Not the Goal
posted by laurieetta
If you want to see some amazing paintings of the sea, go here. Marine artist Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky creates mesmerizing waves and seascapes and has over 6,000 paintings devoted to the subject of oceans. An article in “My Modern Met,” says, “What separates Aivazovsky’s seascape paintings from others is his ability to replicate both the […]
June
12
“Dance with My King”
posted by laurieetta
©Maria Magdalena Oosthuizen I recently discovered a wonderful South African artist named Maria Magdalena Oosthuizen. One website explains her style and motivation: “She paints figurative portraits emanating innocence and hope that pay tribute both to her devotion to God and her belief in the intrinsic goodness of the people of this world.” Maria has no […]
June
05
The Wrestling Match
posted by laurieetta
This striking painting depicts the story of Jacob wrestling with a mysterious stranger in Genesis 32. The stars in the background look down Jacob and the stranger, whose identity is hidden behind his garment. Jacob leans with all his might into his opponent, who has a hold of Jacob’s foot. Jacob’s face is buried in […]
May
29
The Divine Artist
posted by laurieetta
This Sunday, May 31, is Pentecost when the church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit. It occurs 50 days after Easter, and the Greek word for 50 is “Pentecost.” The story as told in Acts 2:1-21 is that all the disciples were together when there came a sound like the rush of a violent […]
May
22
We Are All in This Together
posted by laurieetta
This painting is done in the style of art called Cubism. You are probably most familiar with Picasso, who pioneered the genre. It was considered to be among the most influential art movements of the 20th century. In this style, objects are broken up and then reassembled in an abstracted form. Instead of depicting objects from […]
May
15
Peace, Be Still
posted by laurieetta
When I look at this painting, I get a sense of calm. It depicts Jesus and his disciples after Jesus has calmed the storm. (Mark 4:39) You can still see distant thunder and lightening disappearing in the lower left- and right-hand corners. Jesus, in the red cloak, has his arms raised in such a way […]
Recent Comments