Fish

I enjoy the Haida style of art, and many of these I do for myself. One or two have been suggested by others, but most of them I do because I like to see them on my wall at work. Above is one example.
The outline of the fish is distinctly non-Haida, while most of the internal elements are Haida. The water is my own design, and though it fits with the theme, I have not seen such on any Haida paintings. I used different water in several other designs, none of which are any closer to being true Haida. Let me know what you think.

Redraw

As I posted some time ago, my first doodles were little more than the random doodles that one might produce in a meeting that went too long. Most of them were on lined paper - not the best for producing art-quality prints. However, a few of these early designs were pleasing in their own ways, even if they were rough and lopsided and lined. So I went back to a few of them and redrew them with a little more care and a little more steady hand.
Above is one such design. A number of people pause on it when looking through my designs. There is obviously something pleasing about it to others as well. What do you think about it? Please let me know. Thank you so much.

My Shield

Sometimes I forget that I have a shield. Family members get hurt; people at work play strange political games; sickness strikes; things break down; my memory fails (especially bad when it is something important, like taxes or insurance). Even some of these things seem unimportant when others are facing death (like we did in 2001 with one of our children). Things happen to all of us. We all have painful things - physically, emotionally, socially, etc. - in our lives. They all shape us. The question is: Do they shape us for better or for worse?

For me, I KNOW that they all work for my good, for I have the Shield about me. Even those things that others intend for evil against me, God will use for my good. His plans for me are good. The plans others may have for me, He will change for my good. Even having a child at death's door brought opportunities for me to minister to others that never would have happened otherwise.

Also, I will not know, this side of eternity, all those things that MIGHT have happened but were defelected by God's protection.

I pray that you will know God's protection as well.

- R -