Watercolor attempt #15
Art day is always fun with my children. We pile the kitchen table high with markers, papers, crayons, pencils, paints, etc…and go to town creating. My kids hunker around me and we bond. 🙂 My middle-born son drew Pixel World.
My daughter illustrated a heart with her best friend Bella on it, and her cousin. In a sad twist of fate, we lost it. However, she’s not let that get her down, promising to draw another one tomorrow.
My oldest son (not a huge art fanatic) encouraged us all, and spent thirty minutes searching for my daughter’s work. What a sweetie!
Today I concentrated on trying to recreate Costa Rica’s fiery-throated hummingbird (Panterpe Insignis) with watercolors. I was drawn by its vibrant color. It’s not perfect, but considering its one of my first bird paintings, I’d say it worked.
What ways have you been creative lately?
Blessings. ~ Janna.
Watercolor Attempt #14
Painting keeps me thinking creatively, a necessary skill for both writing and editing. It forces me to visualize light and dark, shadows and colors, and imagine the what-if’s in the picture. When I tried to put words to the feeling this picture evoked, this thought came to mind…
I am a haven, a safe place. Even though trials may come, I promise rest and a place of peace.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” ~Jeremiah 29:11.
My watercolor study of John Lovett’s work
Watercolor Attempt #13
This painting reminds me of my childhood which was filled with days of life guarding, Saturday’s at swim meets,, camping with family, and snapping green beans with the radio blaring Christopher Cross’s song “Sailing.” What summer memories do you have?
The windows of my soul I throw
Wide open to the sun.
~John Greenleaf Whittier
A watercolor study of John Lovett’s work.
My friend Debi and I attempted John Lovett’s tutorial on painting boats. We spent a great deal of time mixing paint colors and even more time laughing. It was a great day. This image reminds me of Charles Martin’s novels, whose main characters live or escape to their boats at harbor. If you need a summer read, these would be a great choice. They come highly recommended by our book club.
Blue shutters and bright red geraniums…I can envision this window along the busy streets of Paris or perhaps the narrow streets of old Quebec. To make this watercolor painting, I followed a watercolor tutorial by John Lovett and used my new birthday present, a paper stretching board by Ken Bromley, to ensure an unbubbled surface. Both the board and the tutorial worked well. I am happy.
Waves and storms
Such fickle thorns
Which billow and blow
Shouting, “GO! NO! GO!”
You staunch threadbare wings
Ensnaring the one who sings
Fly fairy, flee
Find your victory.
~ Janna Vanderveen
Hatchlings birth
On the longest night
When three moons align
At the peak of twilight
An immediate pairing
Hatchling and sprite
Two minds for sharing
If the melding’s done right.
~ Janna Vanderveen
Photo Credit: www.fanpop.com
This is the good news…
Christ died once and for ALL because of his great love.
“It is finished!”
I am thankful for all of my wonderful friends.
They are genuine, honest, intelligent, and gracious…
Sweet incense indeed!
Night’s mare
Dreamer’s shade
Your whispered footfalls
Haunt this glade
Ebony smoke
Tendrils of life
Your whinnying call
Cuts fear like a knife
Out of deep waters you rise
Sparkling dark in the
Your whinnying call
A beacon of light
Bloom roses white
~ Janna Vanderveen
Photo Credit: www.layoutsparks.com
Battle weary
Morale dreary
The war won
But not done
Insane
Is the pain
For loved ones slain
Grief falls like rain
Crashing
Lashing
In roiling waves
Drowning graves
In sorrow
For a better tomorrow.
~ Janna Vanderveen
Photo Credit: www.wallpaperhere.com
Moons
Runes
Muttering buffoons
A sordid lot, my crew
Torn sails
Broken rails
The thorn of my travails
A beastly ship, this canoe
Rotten health
Dwindling wealth
No pride or stealth
Given in search of you.
~ Janna Vanderveen
Photo Credit: www.widewallpapers.us
Chain mail and fire
Nightmare or desire
Soft feathers of flight
Hardened scales of might
Violent energy in hands
Sizzling violet strands
Of power
For this hour
Foreseen and foretold
In prophesies of old
Shout, woe is the day
Wail, woe is the way
Of black dragon and nightrider
And the vengeance inside her.
~ Janna Vanderveen
Photo Credit: www.pageresource.com
You are Beloved
You are loved
You are a flower among thorns
A precious blossom
Cradled in the hands of a God who cares.
~ Janna Vanderveen
Inside autumn’s dream
A pixie popinjay
Weaves golden leaves as one
Into a grand toupee.
With wings so very sheer
Your dance a grand ballet
And preen before the crowd
In an extravagant sort of way.
~ Janna Vanderveen
Faerie and pixie,
Both wearing green,
Frolic beside,
A blue-flowing stream.
Both tiny and large
Sprinkling star-dust with glee
Proving size doesn’t matter.
Where there’s inner beauty.
~ Janna Vanderveen
Several summer’s ago, my husband and two lifejacket-clad sons swam to a tiny island off the shore of Lake Huron. They stood on a branch which jutted out the water and soaked in the view while I snapped their photo.
It was stunning.
Well…OK, maybe their view didn’t look quite like this. I may have gone a little photo-editing crazy.
I love to take the ordinary and turn it into the extraordinary.
Happy Sunday!
Waters blue
Cold oceans deep
Dark roiling clouds
Watch mermaids sleep
Awaken light
Fling starlight fair
Revive the dead
And answer prayer.
~ Janna Vanderveen
Photo Credit: http://wakpaper.com, Karimdell Digital Art
JANNA VANDERVEEN 