I have completed what I'll call a silly phase. These are likely suicidal to someone who's trying to create serious work. After over a year of change internally, rearranging my life's activities, actually purging things of no value which didn't bring joy, I found myself self medicating in many ways. Seeking things which gave me joy first rather than seeking Father God who does give joy, During that period I honestly compared my life to that of a hamster on a treadmill: The quest for true joy always appeared fickle and temporary. It didn't stick.
About 3 years ago my life changed. A worship team from a Messianic Jewish worship team were practicing during Covid and they were studying the Torah weekly in a deeper way.. They invited me to join them. It began slowly but has deepened me in ways I never expected. My Christian friends cautioned me asking how studying Torah of the old testament would bring me closer to Yeshua, Jesus. Without a doubt it did and I found what was missing in me.
Since then I have not looked back. What followed was a symbolic, metaphorical death of me, and who I was. Most everything that i had found fun before, were losing their sparkle. In the summer of 2021 I was confronted by Father God to change. Change on the inside was manifesting on the outside. It wasn't just a suggestion, but actually felt like a command. This was a difficult time for me, and I went months in a broken place... and even tears. .Pruning isn't pleasant.
My paintings have always been on the serious, more deep, metaphorical level. But strangely enough a few silly paintings began to emerge following that long sabbatical. The paintings shown here may not be my best work, but I will always look back at this period with fond memories. However, I found joy if not silliness emerging in some of my paintings..
One of the members of our study is an accomplished airline mechanic/ manager. He has an intense demeanor about him but also a very dry sense of humor. He's brilliantly smart at solving difficult situations for his work. During one of our breaks, he discussed that as a young man he'd seen "Big Foot," standing behind a large roll of hay. We all smiled and laughed while he told the story. In fact, we belly laughed and got tickled. When I mentioned I had seen a UFO once as a child, he looked at me sternly and said, "Dude, that's weird!" We were all laughing so hard, getting tickled, and we all had a wonderful time!
Laughter is medicine. Father ordained feasts of serious repentance, but He also installed joyful feasts of laughter. Someone told me he had hinted around he was looking for a painting of this "Bigfoot," characte rto hang in his office. I began work and secretly began painting. I completed this silly painting and titled it, "Shabbat Shalom, From Kentucky," and presented to him a couple of weeks ago, during the study. To my surprise it received roaring laughter and applause from everyone from our study group, and I gave it to him. He was overjoyed! I was told he has it in his office today and even the higher up, managers of his business have come to see it and smile. It's bringing joy and laughter.
Strangely enough I felt the joy of the Lord while composing this silly acrylic painting. Again, this is not my best work. I always struggle painting human like characters. But this is the result. Keep smiling, and be in the center of His joy.
About 3 years ago my life changed. A worship team from a Messianic Jewish worship team were practicing during Covid and they were studying the Torah weekly in a deeper way.. They invited me to join them. It began slowly but has deepened me in ways I never expected. My Christian friends cautioned me asking how studying Torah of the old testament would bring me closer to Yeshua, Jesus. Without a doubt it did and I found what was missing in me.
Since then I have not looked back. What followed was a symbolic, metaphorical death of me, and who I was. Most everything that i had found fun before, were losing their sparkle. In the summer of 2021 I was confronted by Father God to change. Change on the inside was manifesting on the outside. It wasn't just a suggestion, but actually felt like a command. This was a difficult time for me, and I went months in a broken place... and even tears. .Pruning isn't pleasant.
My paintings have always been on the serious, more deep, metaphorical level. But strangely enough a few silly paintings began to emerge following that long sabbatical. The paintings shown here may not be my best work, but I will always look back at this period with fond memories. However, I found joy if not silliness emerging in some of my paintings..
One of the members of our study is an accomplished airline mechanic/ manager. He has an intense demeanor about him but also a very dry sense of humor. He's brilliantly smart at solving difficult situations for his work. During one of our breaks, he discussed that as a young man he'd seen "Big Foot," standing behind a large roll of hay. We all smiled and laughed while he told the story. In fact, we belly laughed and got tickled. When I mentioned I had seen a UFO once as a child, he looked at me sternly and said, "Dude, that's weird!" We were all laughing so hard, getting tickled, and we all had a wonderful time!
Laughter is medicine. Father ordained feasts of serious repentance, but He also installed joyful feasts of laughter. Someone told me he had hinted around he was looking for a painting of this "Bigfoot," characte rto hang in his office. I began work and secretly began painting. I completed this silly painting and titled it, "Shabbat Shalom, From Kentucky," and presented to him a couple of weeks ago, during the study. To my surprise it received roaring laughter and applause from everyone from our study group, and I gave it to him. He was overjoyed! I was told he has it in his office today and even the higher up, managers of his business have come to see it and smile. It's bringing joy and laughter.
Strangely enough I felt the joy of the Lord while composing this silly acrylic painting. Again, this is not my best work. I always struggle painting human like characters. But this is the result. Keep smiling, and be in the center of His joy.