God'Sword

One of my children asked for Hebrews 4:12 to be in a drwaing with a sword and shield. Though this one did not take a long time to do, it is one of the best-selling and most requested of my drawings. The sword in this was inspired by an actual sword that I got for my 50th birthday.

More Borders

Among the borders that I like ot use is this one that was inspired by an English knot garden. The winding paths have that Celtic look (at least, that's what a number of friends have told me - they seem to think that most of my art is Celtic). Although the flowers are small and simple, most people seem to like this, especially if they receive a letter written on it.

Florals

Some of the most satisfying works that I do are the florals. Although I do a variety of different florals, as well as using flowers to adorn borders for letters or quotations, it is these solid fields that bring the most satisfaction. Perhaps it is because they are rich in detail. Perhaps it is because they take much longer than many of the others and bring a sense of relief when done. Quite a few people like these, so I know that it is not just me.

One thing, though. I don't do flowers well from the side or from other angles. If you have some hints that might help me there, I'd appreciate them. Thank you.

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 -

Stained Glass Doodle

Quite a few people have told me that this looks like stained glass to them (or rather a doodle rendition of a stained glass window). To me it was fun to doodle, but filling a page takes a long time - quite a few hours. But any long work, once done, gives me a satisfaction that the less detailed ones do not. Let me know what you think.