Many are the plans in a human heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. - Proverbs 19: 21

Ocotillo in April , 20 x 16 oil on canvas

 

The desert flora is bursting with happy pinks, oranges and yellows at this time of the year.  This robust Ocotillo, easily 10 feet tall, is in my front yard and I enjoyed painting from the shade of the carport, and visiting with friendly neighbors who stopped by to chat.

 

Painting of the Day - Contemplation

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things that are not seen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4: 18

Contemplation, 8 x 10 pastel

 

 

I painted this on site at Spur Cross Conservation area last Wednesday.  My friend, Paris, is in the foreground planning her watercolor painting.  We go to places of astounding beauty to paint, but more lovely is the painter's spirit, which unlike the mountains and foliage, is unseen yet eternal.  Its the thing that brings exclamations of awe to the lips of my friends and I, and partakes of the shapes, colors, temperatures, textures, values, perspective, fragrance and mood of the beauty God has placed before us for our enjoyment during our stay in this temporal world.

Painting of the Day - Patio Roses II

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. - Psalm 51: 10

Patio Roses II, 8x acrylic

 







Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. - Proverbs 16: 3

Rider at Dusk

8 x 10 acrylic

 

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. - Ephesians 5: 21

This study of Pinnacle Peak was painted by me with helpful intervention from some wonderful new artist friends during our Wednesday morning Plein Air meet this week.  8 x 10 pastel.

 

What a great painting morning we had!  About 7 artists showed up and everyone was eager to interact and take interest in each others' work.  Afterwards we had a lovely brunch at The General Store restaurant/antique shop at Pinnacle Peak. 

 

Special thanks to Gary Bender, President of the Arizona Pastel Artists, for encouraging me to try my pastels this time.

 

Painting of the Day

In silence my soul waits for you and you alone, O God. - Psalm 62: 1

Tonto National Forest Entrance A

by Debra Rutherford

8 x 10 acrylic Plein Air

 

Another image I painted recently on location.  This month I am reading Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton with my Tuesday morning women's study group.  There are plenty of invitations to be silently alone with God in the quiet majesty of this natural area.

Painting of the Day - Bartlett Lake II

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
 - 1 John 3:11

Bartlett Lake II, by Debra Rutherford

20 x 24 acrylic

Painting of the Day - Happy Birthday to my grandaughter Lily!

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. - Genesis 1: 31

Zinnias and Guests, by Debra Rutherford

8 x 10 acrylic

 





Painting - Trust and Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15: 13

Trust and Hope, by Debra Rutherford

16 x 20 acrylic

In a previous post this painting was an unfinished study, created on a hilltop where I like to sit to listen to God.  Now that the shadows and flowers are more defined I'm ready to leave it alone.  The slopes that face East actually reflect warm colors into the shadows of the rocks facing West.  I hope you like the colors of the morning and the meandering path into the hills as much as I do.