Friends in Time of Need - II SOLD

I had a customer who liked the rustic version of "Friends in Time of Need" in my Etsy shop but wanted an orange and yellow background and a few leaves.  This is the final product. 3 canvases 8" x 20" each.
I like how it turned out.  How about you?

Graphic Design by Aaron Fehlen, who also did the graphics

for these video games!

Newest Wood Art Block

This is one of my newest 5 x 5 Art Blocks.  It was made for a special young lady.  Her favorite song is Day by Day.  

 "Day By Day "

Holiday Art Blocks

I am working 5 x 5 art blocks for a Holiday Bazaar held by the Fort Meade OSC next month.

 These are so much fun to make, almost addicting.  Right now I am torn between canvases and these.  That is when there is time to paint....after homeschooling and household responsibilities.

Family Devotions

     Family devotions are such an important time for our family.  It is a wonderful way to close our day..together... We learn from God's word and talk about how the lesson applies to our lives.  After most of the devotions, my husband asks questions. It is a hoot watching the boys quickly get into their answering stance.  They think if they position themselves just right then they can raise their hand that much quicker. Hands flying, kids toppling over, laughing, a little light-hearted punching and then the....tie breaker....rock, paper, scissors.  It is always a competition in our house.  My husband keeps a tally of who answers the most each night and at the end of the devotion book the one with the most "wins" gets a small reward.  Of course, we all win when we are learning from God's word and get an added bonus being together as a family. 

"Make a Joyful Noise"

"Birds and Books" series #3

     This painting represent the five in our family. Now normally I, (lower left bird),would be much closer the father bird but I need to fill in some space on the left.  I did not want to paint the bird too far away though.  I love how some personality came through on two of the birds.  Though the one looks grumpy, I think it represents the serious character of my oldest son.  We recognized an old soul,  a matureness in him since he was very young.

Could this painting represent your family?  Do you enjoy devotions or a special time together as a family? I hope so.  If not, you could start now. The children grow up so fast.

Make A Joyful Noise

   I had fun painting the second painting in the "Birds and Books" series. It's called "Make a Joyful Noise."  I like how the two birds' cheeks are puffing out in effort to sing unto the Lord at the top of their tiny, little lungs!   

"Make a Joyful Noise"
"Birds and Books" series #2

"Resting in the Light of His Word"

     Here is the newest painting from the "Birds and Books" series.  It is entitled, "Resting in the Light of His Word."  The painting shows the peace you can have if you fully trust in God.  Because we all could trust God more.

"Resting in the Light of His Word"
"Birds and Books" #1

             

Getting Ready for JBAB Craft Sale

Getting ready for the JBAB Craft Sale this Saturday.  It is fun figuring out how I will layout the paintings. This is just a picture of the first attempt.  I still need to rearrange and make room for the price tags, but it is a start.

Display Boards

Most Recent Sale

A customer thought this would be a great anniversary gift for his wife...I happen to agree.

Love Rises at Sundown

Painting During Our Military Move Part 3

Here are the other two paintings I did in the hotel while the boys were away at camp.

Two in the Harvest

A Hard Lesson

I named the second one "A Hard Lesson" because it came out looking like a mother scolding a child.
Little did I know that while I was painting this one my second son was learning a hard lesson during the piano competition at camp.  It was such a blessing to hear from everyone that he handled it like a young man.  He wasn't being scolded or anything like that, but he did learn a hard lesson that will help him in the future.

Painting During Our Military Move Part 2

We closed on the house....yea!
     A hotel was our home for a few weeks until moving day.....
          The boys were gone to Bible Camp.....
               No dishes to do.....
WHATEVER DOES ONE DO WITH HER TIME ? 

WELL PAINT, OF COURSE!!!

I kept my painting supplies with me for this very occasion.....Happy Me!

Then the electricity goes out...so I painted by window light, only it was not much light due to the storm.  This is what I managed to get done.

A Colorful Gathering

Two more paintings will follow when I get the pictures taken.

While the Packers were packing I was Painting

While the movers where packing up the household goods I was busy painting a little whimsical piece to coordinate with a collage frame 

    This was a wedding shower gift for a very dear couple. 

Emily's Posts: A Quick Review of the Week

One of the sweetest girls I know, met her when she was about 1 1/2 years old and is 16(for one more week), is getting a bone marrow transplant from one of her brothers. Please pray for them and the whole family that this cancer will be beaten. They are very dear to us.

Emily's Posts: A Quick Review of the Week

Painting During Our Military Move

     My family is now in the midst of one of the great attributes of military life.  The Air Force is moving us to Washington D.C.  While many look to moving as a dreaded experience, I think it is an adventure. Getting to start over and be a part of a new area of our wonderful country.  Although I love it here in Ohio, and DC is not my preference, I know The Lord has always put us in the right place at the right time and it is exciting to look forward to what He has in store for us.  It will be difficult to leave because the Fehlen5 have been stationed in Ohio longer than we have been anywhere else.

     So, how does this relate to painting?  Well, while "depersonalizing" the house to put it on the market we had to take down photos of the family, leaving blank spaces that needed to be covered up quickly to hide nail holes.  Plus it just looked plain awkward.  You might think, "Why not just fill the nail holes?"  I think it will take longer to find the supplies, fill the holes, and paint over them than to just whip up a simple painting.  And it would be a lot more fun anyhow to make a painting, I needed to take care of it for my own sanity if nothing else.  So do I commit to painting something when there is time to accomplish it???  NOooo.  Like most of my everyday life I decide on a whim that I must do it and do it NOW!  We had fifteen minutes before a house showing and that blank wall was getting the best of me.   So why not go out and buy a pretty painting and not bother with the DIY?  But those near and dear to me know that is just not me.  Why buy it when you can make it! 

TIP:  To instantly coordinate colors: I had leftover paint that I had color matched with our curtains at Lowes for an accent wall in our bedroom.  I used this for the background on the canvas.  Perfect match and very cost effective  FREE! While I don't normally use latex paint for home decor paintings, it was perfect for this!

                       The first painting has three eggs in the nest...a little representation of our boys under Dad and Mom's watchful care.  The second painting represents our 17 year old who has started his own adventure away at Bible College.  I miss him terribly but know that he is growing and serving the Lord where God wants him to be.

           

This was much more fun than filling nail holes and more satisfying than running to the store to buy a print that there are a bazillion copies of.

And I know it coordinates with the rest of the room!