January 2018 - New Year!

Well, a lot has happened since 15th December 2017 - the last day I managed to post any art! I came down with a chest infection, head cold on 18th December that still hasn't left me. It really knocked me sideways and affected everything. Can't actually remember the last time I've felt so ill. My youngest daughter also came down with it and was affected just as badly. Now my 93 year old Dad has it and with his already weak health, it's causing some worry. None of which is conducive to feeling creative and motivated!

A few days ago I managed to sit up at my PC and created some art - and caught up on thousands of emails! It's a start. I may go back and try to create the pieces I missed out on through Advent and Christmas; I hope to. First, though, I need to feel better!


New Year's Eve saw me with sme free time and so I created a piece that came together in a very different way than is usual for me. I decided to post it here as a good start to 2018. It was created in a different way to my usual, it seems to speak straight from my heart, and really represent some important truth for me that I need to accept and embrace in order to move forward.

This new year will be a year of more change and achievement for our family. Mum and I are working together on a new book. It will take some time to produce as there is just so much information to sift through and organise. There is a story to tell and it will be told!


There are other goals to be met as well - weight loss for hubby and me, and (hopefully) some conclusion to our PI Claim against the local horse riding establishment where my eldest daughter was so badly injured and so badly treated.


When you come through experiences such as my family has, I feel it is important to learn from them; glean what we can from tragedy and sadness, hurt and anger. Nothing in this life should be wasted. I also feel that it is now, as it ever was, so important to speak up about wrong. Draw attention to it and try to change what we can. Where change is refused, then that also needs to be spoken of. Everybody needs to be aware. Silence helps nobody other than those doing wrong.


So that will be our year! Speaking up, speaking out, pushing for improvement wherever we see failures, wrong doing or ignorance. Moving forward creatively and achieving new successes. Continuing to learn new things and above all keeping the wonder at the magnificent Universe we have been given, and all with which we are provided. I've been reading some very basic Quantum Physics (I'm definitely an artist, not a scientist!) and the truths within the Bible become very clear when you learn even a little about how our world, our Universe actually functions. My youngest daughter and I spent 2017 as vegetarians and we are, this year, going to move ever closer towards being vegan. Writing these things here makes life feel very much a journey and much more positive! Long may it continue!



So here is my piece created on New Year's Eve - Waiting

I think quite possibly this is an expression of the true me...standing alone in so many ways (caring for family members, standing up against wrong in certain areas...) but not disconnected from the rest of the world (the birds) and definitely affected by whatever is around me (the light, the clouds, the path, the fencing...)...and always present is the feeling of, in the end, 'all will be well'. Our God. All-embracing.

However, I can't claim that as any conscious inspiration behind this piece! It does make for an image that I love and which makes me feel comforted and secure. I may often stand alone (in human terms) but I stand strong and upright for all to see. Nowhere to hide in a landscape like that lol, and no desire to hide either!

I'd like to wish everybody a Happy New Year, with much health, wealth, peace and joy.

TFL!
Bernie x

 

 

Journal Your Christmas 2017

2nd December 2017

Christmas preparation.

It sometimes seems that anybody mentioning Christmas preparation before December 24th is frowned upon and judged, especially by the more religious types!

Personally, I think, living in the real world, that Christmas is going to be a time of greater expenditure, no matter how minimal that side of things is kept, and certain items appearing in the shops before December 1st is a good thing, especially for those amongst us with less resources. Rather than adding pressure to buy more, it seems to ease the pressure.

Anyway, we have decided that those people needn't affect our enjoyment and preparation for a time that is to be all about loving others and caring, in line with our faith! The more that 'spirit of Christmas' - which includes people thinking more about how they live their faith lives - that abounds all year round, the better in our view!
TFL!
Bernie x

Journal Your Christmas 2017

Day 1!
I want to try to combine more of the written word with a piece of art to illustrate that - if possible!
2017 has been a year of such great change but my faith is stronger than ever and I have learned so much and from quite unexpected sources!

Despite certain things remaining unsatisfactory and quite distressing, I find myself heading into Advent with more positivity and joy than in previous (recent) years.
TFL!
Bernie x

Daily Scripture Writing Plan, Day 5

5th February 2017 - Isaiah 26:8-12

Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.
When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the Lord. Lord, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them. Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

Hopefully I achieved a feeling of longing in the night within my art piece!
TFL!
Bernie x

Daily Scripture Writing, Day 4

4th February 2017 - Isaiah 26:3-7:

You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever; he will always protect us. He has humbled those who were proud; he destroyed the strong city they lived in, and sent its walls crashing into the dust. Those who were oppressed walk over it now and trample it under their feet. Lord, you make the path smooth for good people; the road they travel is level.

Wow this one was a while in development! This started off as a bright coloured photo of some street art on a brick wall. managed to get rid of the wall lines and turn it into a completely different image!

Then, though, nothing I tried seemed to work. I spent hours adding all sorts then deleting it all! Then thankfully, some Anna Aspnes course content really moved it along, along with a little help from Topaz Adjust to complete the look of (hopefully) an old old photo impression.

But then what? The thought came to me that what I wanted to portray, to illustrate the spirit of the Bible verses for the day, was a young child in an image, a child of today, a refugee or a child living in poverty. How will history look back at these times? What will somebody looking at such an image in 100 years think about the world we live in today where people can be so disposable and hated for their colour, creed, or geographical location?

Finally, the thought came to me of giving the child a little jewellery - the headband she wears, made of barbed wire. Barbed wire that keeps people within camps...or keeps people out of where they're not wanted. There is a hint of blood on her forehead...making the barbed wire headband reminiscent of the crown of thorns worn by Our Lord. Her eyes, that at first looked rather sad and downtrodden, now look rather defiant and even accusing...?

Not such a pleasant image to look at now...what will future generations think?

As I sat in Church this morning (with all the problems our parish and Diocese has always present, of course) I looked at the large wooden crucifix on the wall and thought to myself: did Jesus really die for this kind of Church? For this kind of human interaction? I think perhaps that thought ties in well with my feelings for this piece of art!
TFL!
Bernie x

Daily Scripture Writing - Day 3

3rd February 2016: Psalm 85:8-13

I am listening to what the Lord God is saying; he promises peace to us, his own people, if we do not go back to our foolish ways. Surely he is ready to save those who honour him, and his saving presence will remain in our land. Love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will embrace. Human loyalty will reach up from the earth, and God's righteousness will look down from heaven. The Lord will make us prosperous, and our land will produce rich harvests. Righteousness will go before the Lord and prepare the path for him.
TFL!
Bernie x

Daily Scripture Writing - Day 2

2nd February 2017

Luke 1:76-79 - “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his road for him, to tell his people that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven. Our God is merciful and tender. He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death, to guide our steps into the path of peace.”
TFL!
Bernie x

Daily Scripture Reading/Writing Plan

I started a daily Scripture reading/writing plan today. I'm hoping to keep up with creating a simple piece highlighting the verse for the day, as well as a more arty piece with no words, that captures the feel of the verse. Let's see how that goes!

Today's Scripture was Psalm 29:10-11 - The Lord rules over the deep waters; he rules as king forever. The Lord gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 28, 24th December

Advent Day 28

Words are taken from the Advent hymn When The Angel Came To Mary
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 22 - 18th December

Advent Day 22
Words taken from the Advent hymn Now Watch For God's Coming and tied in nicely with my readings for today.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - Day 20, 16th December

Advent Day 20

These words were taken from the Advent hymn A Voice Cries Out.

I suppose with the heartbreaking words and scenes from Aleppo across all media, it was inevitable my artwork would be affected. All around the world, so many displaced, suffering; wars, utter disrespect for human life in so many places; so much evil and how many nations sit and watch as it all plays out? How many of those are selling arms to countries that use these weapons against their own citizens and those of other countries?

Never before have we had the means to hear directly from those in the heat of the battle, as fast and as accurately. But who is listening?

On our planet, there are so many without even the most basic of things - clean water. Let alone adequate food and shelter. yet there is sufficient money to send people to Mars, and for what purpose ultimately?

locally, young people, elderly, and those in between, sleeping on our streets, trying to keep out of the rain and cold...seeing every day, people under duvets; hearing of young people, even girls, homeless and being beaten up by men. As individuals we do what we can but where is the will of those elected to represent ALL of us to help and end these kinds of situation forever? We are in the 21st Century!

It's shameful that in our times, with so much technology and luxury on the planet, that so many lack food and water, shelter and human rights.Such intelligent humans in charge of Governments around the world and yet they are incapable of joined up thinking and of working together for the good of the human race as a whole.

We really cannot put our faith in human endeavour. There is no hope there. People hope for change in society, in organisations; hope to see women treated equally to men; hope to see an end to human trafficking, to child abuse. Yet the human race never fails to disappoint and fail.

The only hope I see is to have faith in God; in individual ways we are so blessed. I don't have answers as to how such things can happen, let alone in the 21st Century, but I know that mankind was given free will, and it is that free will that is causing all this tragedy and misery around the world.

Of course, there are people doing good around the world as well! Little rays of light in dark places and situations and they must not be forgotten and ignored. If we all tried to go the extra mile, to be a light in someone's day, it would build a less dark world day by day.

Thanks for bearing with lol, and TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - 14th December, Day 18

Advent Day 18
Words taken from The Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79) by Bernadette Farrell.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016 - 12th December, Day 16

Advent Day 16

Having had a glimpse recently of just how our Catholic Diocese of Southwark operates behind closed doors, thanks to the Data Protection Act, these words from the Advent Carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel seemed appropriate! Of course, also on a local, national and international level. This image, for me, best summed up how destructive humans can be, and how we long to escape from whatever 'sad division' is affecting us.

For some, if we close our eyes and pretend it doesn't exist that's enough. For others, covering our eyes temporarily, to gather strength, but then pressing forward to make happen the change we want to see is the way to go! If we only supported each other, communicated more, whatever our outlook and way of working, along our path through this life, that would be a good start, it seems to me, to building that peace we all wish for.
TFL!
Bernie x

Advent 2016, 4th December, Day 8

Advent Day 8
I think the great outdoors is the best place to find peace and focus on what's important...a snowy great outdoors is even better IMO! The words are taken from the Advent hymn My Soul in Stillness Waits.
TFL!
Bernie x

Verse of the Week - 7th November 2016

This piece was created for the Verse of the Week Challenge in the Digital & Hybrid Bible Journaling Facebook group. Having spent so much time creating the Advent/Christmas Freebie kit for the Group's members, I got a little behind! Catching up now though!
TFL!
Bernie x

Lent 2016 - Day 21 - 1st March

Lent 2016 - Day 21 - 1st March

I wanted a feeling of light, airiness and happiness! The white seemed peaceful.
TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - Advent Day 25 - 23rd December 2015

Advent day 25 - 23rd December 2015 - See The Star

I loved these words from Luke so went about trying to illustrate them!
Dawning Light, a pathway leading to a person sitting in darkness.
TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - Advent Day 22 - 20th December 2015

Advent Day 22 - 20th December 2015 - Peace On Earth

Love these words, although it's not a Carol we hear often here nowadays.
TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - Advent Day 12 - 10th December 2015

Advent Day 12 - 10th December 2015 - Surprised by love

The Music was Winter Snow by Chris Tomlinson. I really wanted to capture the feel of snow falling, the silence, the peace, the gentleness.
TFL!
Bernie x

Take Me Deeper - Advent Day 9 - 7th December 2015

Advent Day 9 - 7th December - I Wonder As I Wander

This was another digital paper of mine, to which I added a load of brushwork, made a composite and then digitally painted.
TFL!
Bernie x