Lent 2017 - Day 37

6th April 2017

Forgot to upload this one on the day! Based on that day's reading: Psalm 121, it's called Look to the Mountains.

I didn't have a particular end image in mind when I created this. There are 6 photos involved in making up this piece, as well as lots of brushwork and textures! I really enjoyed myself working on this!
TFL!
Bernie x

Lent 2017 - Day 26

Sunday 26th March

In light of recent events, this has taken a while to finish! For those who don't know, on 25th March my eldest daughter (20) was driving her little car when a man smashed into her, probably speeding. Her car spun around and then smashed into roadside barrier railings.

Then, as if that were not bad enough, while she was sitting in the car in the immediate aftermath, in shock, a man came up, said he was there to help her, but stole her handbag.

Then, another man in a high viz jacket came up, she thought him a paramedic. He was getting her to move her arms and all sorts in case she had cracked ribs. The ambulance crew who arrived saw him and told her he was NOT a real paramedic and the badge that real crew have had been cut out of the jacket.

Thankfully she had no serious injuries or what he had been doing could have had really serious consequences for her. She actually walked away with severe bruising from the seatbelt and a stiff neck and shoulder that the paramedics were sure was muscular rather than anything more serious.

She was kept in the ambulance for an hour and a half as her blood pressure was so high but was then able to come home rather than go to hospital.

She really had a guardian Angel looking after her that day!

Her little car, which she and her bf saved up for all by themselves, as well as saving a year's worth of insurance, is gone forever to the scrapyard in the sky :(

She was so upset about her handbag being stolen, though! there was nothing of financial value in it but it had all the paperwork and studying she had been doing for weeks as she's in line for a promotion at work once it's completed!

So the next morning, my youngest daughter and I went out searching close to the scene of the accident, as Police had said the bag would most likely be dumped once they realised there was no money or valuables in it. Within 10 minutes I found it! All her paperwork was in there - the only thing the thief took was her (prescribed) medication! He was stupid enough to take the blister pack out of the cardboard packaging though so the Police came and dusted her books for prints and took the packaging away to test in the Lab.

Within 24 hours or so the Police had caught the thief and rang my daughter to take her statement. He is clearly seen on CCTV apparently taking the bag and handing it to another man, all the while talking to my daughter and pretending that he was there to help her. The Police are so disgusted by what he did they are determined to get him sent to prison for what he did.

So it's been rather a nightmare of a week, whilst being so thankful that her injuries were as minimal as they were when you think what could have happened.

On 1st April I celebrated my 50th Birthday :) and having us all together was wonderful!

She's still struggling but has gone back to work and trying to press on.

This piece is based on v.8 of psalm 62: "Trust in God at all times, my people, tell him your troubles, for he is our refuge." This was the reading in my Lent book for the day after her accident happened.
TFL!
Bernie x

Lent 2017 - 21st March

Tuesday 21st March

One of my readings for 21st was Luke 15:1-7. The first two verses say:
One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling, "This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!"

Those words, about Jesus welcoming outcasts and 'even' eating with them really struck home. There is so much talk currently within the RCC Church about whether or not certain people should be allowed to receive Communion, but this seems to simply say all that is needed!

Those outcasts turned up to listen to Jesus and to eat with him, and he spoke to them and received them and ate with them. He knew what was in their hearts when no mere human could possibly know that. So what's so different nowadays? Would Jesus really want to be prevented from reaching people through the receiving of Communion when the people perceived by mere men as sinners too bad to even sit at table, the modern day 'outcasts,' have made the effort to turn up and listen and eat?

I'm sure though that my feelings are way too simple and there are 'wonderful' theological reasons why all sorts of people should be prevented from receiving Holy Communion! Hopefully, those responsible for that - those men who know the hearts of others so intimately - will be able to explain their reasoning satisfactorily when their time comes.

So my piece is showing one of those 'outcasts' - but she has taken the first step! She has turned up, is listening. The little glimpses of light signify the hope she has and the love or her that God has - I hope they show up on FB as it often darkens images it seems!
TFL!
Bernie x

Lent 2017 _ 19th March

Saturday 19th March

One of today's readings was the Good Samaritan, the other was a wonderful reflection from Jane Williams taken from her book "Approaching Easter."

She says some things that REALLY resonate! Eg "Indifference is the worst enemy of the divine" and " Those who struggle to free the oppressed, feed the poor and heal the sick...they are all singing with the rhythm with which the world was created." Love it!

The accompanying Bible verse was Luke 10:29-37. Verse 29: "Who is my neighbour?"

Seemed so appropriate in today's world where so much is about self and not looking to how we can help others.

So I merrily started with an image of a young African lad, with gorgeous eyes that also almost accused, so direct was the gaze. But that didn't work out lol! Seems I was meant to produce a far gentler piece than I had had in mind!

I had tried to use the downtrodden-looking woman image alongside the young lad's photo, but when I removed his pic and changed blending modes of the textures I had stacked, I loved what appeared! No skill lol, sheer fluke!

Then I went back to the folder of shared resources, provided by course students. I really want to say a big thank you to everyone who has contributed as I used a lot from there on my last piece, and now on this piece too!

One image in particular I tried, when blended, looked so much like 'wings' I had to use it! Then the words of Hebrews 13:2 popped into my head: "Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels."

I took a little detail out with Topaz Adjust and made it a tad more painterly and think I'm happy with it like this! As always, I'm torn between more colour and less colour and the same with the detail lol!
TFL!
Bernie x

Lent 2017 - 18th March

Saturday 18th March
One of my readings for today was Revelation 3:20-22: Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they will eat with me.

Originally I had the idea of a person in despair sitting at a table laid with food, just waiting. But that didn't come together! The image of the lady sitting in her window, head down, hugging her knees, as if distraught really called to me! So I went with that.

Somehow a male God just didn't have the right feel for this piece, so I went with 'controversial' and opted for the female God (perhaps a subconscious nod to the international call for women priests in the Roman Catholic Church!?!). Whatever, we are all made in the likeness of God, even women lol, so it is what it is :)

So, She is waiting 'outside' for the door to be opened, and the young woman is gently touched by the light (and colour) of the Holy Spirit - she will open that door!
I tried giving the piece a more painterly feel, which I liked, but I preferred the somewhat harder feel to the piece, for its theme. I also LOVE this in b&w but wanted to use the colour to represent the Spirit and God's touch upon us in all circumstances, no matter our failings. We have only to look up and we will see Him.
TFL!
Bernie x

Lent 2017 - Days 3 & 16

Well! Thanks to real life and PC problems getting in the way, this piece, started on 7th March has only been finished today!

On 7th I awoke to a split second of hearing a young woman crying...no idea :) The theme of the readings for the day was to put God at the centre of all we do with a suggestion of using the Lord's Prayer more. The thought came to me 'on earth as it is in heaven' - ie no more mourning or sadness, pain or suffering. There will be love and light.

As the piece progressed, it made me think of Eve, after eating the forbidden fruit. She realises she is naked and is ashamed. She has fashioned herself a huge headdress - a nod to modern-day vanity perhaps! - yet her face betrays her inner feelings and emotions.

Life today, with so much emphasis on material goods, can leave us feeling rather like this - making a good show on the outside but feeling sad, deflated, empty on the inside. Which linked in nicely to today's readings and theme! From Psalm 27 v14: Trust in the Lord, have faith, do not despair. Trust in the Lord."

Now, the bright colours and lights around her can be seen as love and light, encouraging her to put all her trust in the Lord. To believe that, whatever mistakes we make, "you are the people of God, he loved you and chose you for his own." (Colossians 3:12-17).
TFL!
Bernie x

Lent 2017 - Day 3

Friday 3rd March - Lent Day 3

Laying in bed just before rising this morning, I was wondering if I would be inspired by another image, now that my elephant piece was finished. Nothing came!

Then I noticed that the birds seemed to be singing far louder than usual (I always sleep with my bedroom window open and wake to the sound of birdsong, so I'm very used to a 'norm' of sound!).

So I started the day's readings. They were about rejoicing in the Lord, and also from Isaiah 6 - which talks about the Seraphim with 6 wings! Was this my connection?!!

Also from Isaiah, was "I will go, Lord, send me!'

So the piece started to come together - wings, joy, messenger, someone going...

This piece started off very differently, but a happy accident turned this into something quite different for me - and I liked it! Less realism, more illustrative I think :)

The dancer is the one 'going', full of joy. She releases the birds who fly off to spread the Word. Other birds wait on the wire to hear and then to be sent themselves.

I couldn't tell you how I arrived at this result if I wanted to lol, but I like it for this piece, even if I'm not sure it will be repeated!
TFL!
Bernie x

Lent 2017 - Day 1 - 1st March

Ash Wednesday, Lent Day 1 - 1st March

I decided this year not to attempt to create a piece of art every day of Lent, but to just create as and when.

I woke up this morning with this image so clear in my mind! Then I got up and started my Lenten readings which was about almsgiving, prayer and fasting being done in secret, as Our Father, who is in secret, who sees in secret, will reward us. One of the questions for consideration was 'am I happy to have God see all that I do?'

I started wondering about the image I'd had in my head first thing and if it could relate to the readings for the day. I saw a huge elephant, towering over a little man. At first, I was thinking small :) about the 'elephant in the room' - how everyone sees and knows what is going on in our parish and the destruction being caused yet nobody is willing to talk about it.

Then I decided the difference in sizes must be more relevant. Could it represent the enormity of God in comparison to man? I read again the first writing in one of my Lenten books. it says: "I maintain that God - out of the abundance of divine relational life, not any need for us - desires humans into existence for the sake of friendship. This thesis may sound strange because it runs counter to much teaching about God. To be honest, I questioned it myself when I first began to think it through. But over the years, as my own relationship with God has deepened and I have listened to people talk about how God relates to them, I have become convinced that the best analogy for the relationship God wants with us is friendship." (William A Barry, SJ)

This made more sense! Mankind thinks himself all-powerful, in control, so often, even in little things, but there is always the One, more powerful, who does not trample us down, but who watches over us, abides with us.

So I tried to portray the image I'd had and give a feeling that the elephant has the might and the power within this situation and yet stands peacefully watching over the man. Gentle love, yet strong.
The man bows his head, recognising the differences, the power and accepting the light that the elephant brings towards him in his darkness.

As to why an elephant, I've no idea lol! Perhaps just for the representation of the differences in control and power and to illustrate the unexpected peace and love being brought to the situation, when the exact opposite would be expected? Who knows, lol, but I wanted to make this piece as close to what I had in my mind when I awoke.

(This piece is composed of at least 7 photos, with numerous textures applied, some brushwork, filters, and creative lighting!)
TFL!
Bernie x