The JOY of Art - Celebrating Valentine's Day

A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love.

- Mother Teresa

Art is a beautiful way of expressing the heartfelt emotions of love. So on this Valentine’s Day – from young love to mature love, from classics to pets – here’s an assortment of artwork that speaks to me on so many levels.

Thoughts? Any favorites?

Cinderella

By Ruth Sanderson

You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep

because reality is finally better than your dreams.

– Dr. Seuss

Grow Old Along with Me

By Paula Vaughn

Young Summer Love

By Vickie Wade

All you need is love.
But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.

– Charles M. Schulz

For My Valentine

By Tom Wood

The Waltz

By Morgan Weistling

They invented hugs to let people know you love them

without saying anything.

- Bill Keane

Moments to Remember

By Mark Keathley

Arthur Saron Sarnoff

Love doesn’t make the world go round.

Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

– Franklin P. Jones

The Secret Admirer

By Jim Daly

The Road Ahead

By John Sloane

No Place Like Home

By Diane Dengel

Grow old with me! The best is yet to be.

– Robert Browning

Romantic Hideaway

By Mikki Senkarik

Coffee with Love

By Iwona Lifsches

Amy Rosenberg

More romantic-themed art on my Pinterest board at

Love, the Greatest Gift

The JOY of Art - "The Dream Keepers" by Kathy Fincher

Kathy Fincher is a children’s painter and illustrator, a devout Christian who glorifies God through her art. Concerned that the heart of our Constitutional principles of “Faith and Freedom” were under attack after the events of 9/11, Kathy felt a responsibility to offer a message of hope to American families. “The Dream Keepers” came out of that concern, and the original painting is in the George W. Bush Library.

The Dream Keepers

By Kathy Fincher

In Kathy’s words . . .

        “Following the events of September 11th, I lost my desire to paint. However, I realized my responsibility and decided to fight back with a brush of the American spirit and my palette.
        “Illustrator Norman Rockwell painted illustrations that became a comfort to weary Americans following WW II. In the same light, I wanted to encourage today's generation during this tragic time. A blank canvas sat before me for a very long time as I contemplated what the heart of the message would be. I chose . . . Faith and Freedom.
        “To illustrate freedom, I drew a rectangle symbolizing the shape of the American flag.  Representing “faith” I drew the symbol of a cross to intersect the stars, (the states). Bringing the cross to life, I used light and shadows from a side window.  Light is a symbol of faith and represents hope and truth. Wasn’t September 11th a battle between darkness and light, I asked President Bush years later in the Oval Office?
        “There are seven children representing the seven continents; biblically, seven is considered the perfect number.
        “But it was a bystander that pointed out the bloodstained hand print on the finished painting as I was showing it to my mother and aunt on the Town Green in our hometown. He saw what we did not; a red hand print at the foot of the cross created by the footprints of the children.
        “My husband and I had the opportunity to visit Ground Zero months later and a policeman, hearing our story, took us inside the barricade to see and meet the REAL Dream Keepers. The destruction inside formed a mountain range of devastation. Yet the mood and attitude of these volunteers revealed a unity, strength, and hope greater than the mountains of rubble.
        “I felt that my painting was coming to life!  Just like the children in my painting, my husband and I witnessed adults - of all different backgrounds - united and working side by side.  They reflected a child-like hope and became united in their efforts; painting for us a picture of the American spirit.
        “Some say our innocence is forever lost; we will never be the same. Maybe so. However, painted in my memory are the young men and women, working together among the rubble, refusing defeat. Their example invites all of us, young and old, to join the children and offer our own hand prints as a testament of our faith and freedom.”

Freedom of Worship

By Kathy Fincher

The JOY of Art - Honoring those who gave their all

Generations of Service

- Kevin Daniel

_________________________

And I'm proud to be an American

Where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died

Who gave that right to me

- Lee Greenwood

_________________________

May Freedom Ring Forever

- Kevin Daniel

Reviewing the Troops

- Jack E. Dawson

_________________________

“I don't have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is.

Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded

that liberty is a rare commodity in this world.”

– President Ronald Reagan

_________________________

Washington at Valley Forge

- Mort Künstler

Helicopter Rescue of Wounded
Indiana Rangers: The Army Guard in Vietnam

- Mort Künstler

Divine Guidance

- Mort Künstler

_________________________

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to

something bigger than oneself."

- Joseph Campbell

_________________________

Homecoming

- Dan Hatala

Col. Robert Shaw and the 54th Massachusettes

- Mort Künstler

A Hot Night in Basra

- David Pentland

_________________________

“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero
to be one of those men who goes into battle.”

– General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.

_________________________

Duty, Honor and Tears / God Be with You

- Mort Künstler

Hometown Heroes

- Dona Gelsinger

His First Goodbye / His First Homecoming /His Last Goodbye

Terry Redlin

_________________________

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we

should thank God that such men lived.”

— General George S. Patton

_________________________

D-Day

- Mort Künstler

Back Home

- Tom Wood

The Joy of ART: Alive!!

Following up on Friday’s It Is Finished post, I wanted to share these Resurrection paintings that I enjoy so much, along with the artists’ own words. May you enjoy these as I have . . .

He Is Risen

by Liz Lemon Swindle

        The greatest message of hope is not found in the crucifixion, but in the empty tomb. When Mary arrived on that first Easter morning, she found the stone rolled away and two angels standing inside. One turned to her and said, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen” - Luke 24:5-6
        Like Mary, each of us will face the loss of a loved one. One does not live long without experiencing the sorrow that comes with death and the longing for a glorious reunion. The miracle of the empty tomb is not just that He rose, but that because He did, we will too. Each of us will leave our own empty tombs and be reunited with those we love.
        It is the promise and hope of our own glorious resurrections that we hear in those angelic words, “He… is risen.”

He Is Risen

by Del Parson

        A man who had recently visited the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem came to me and described the personal feelings he had experienced while he was there. He said that as he stepped out of the darkness of the tomb and into the sunlight, he was overwhelmed as he thought of Christ’s resurrection. He wanted me to recreate those feelings in a painting of the Savior stepping out of the tomb and into the early morning sun.
        I wanted this piece to be accurate and to capture the feelings he described to me, so I built a tomb door opening in my living room out of 2x4s to have a model step out of for the painting.
        Many people have enjoyed this painting and some have commented to me that the placement of his hands is meaningful to them. One hand is behind Him, touching the opening of the tomb, and the other hand reaches forward. It is as if he is putting the tomb and death behind him and reaching ahead into eternity.

He Is Risen

by Greg Olsen

        Easter morning began full of magic and joy as our little children searched for eggs to fill their Easter baskets. That magic seemed to evaporate when our six-year-old daughter “found out” about the Easter Bunny. This led to a discussion about the Tooth Fairy, leprechauns, and finally, Santa Claus. It was sad to see some of the childhood wonderment disappear from her eyes.
        Later in the morning, I found her curled up on the couch, looking even sadder than before. Upon questioning her, she said, “Dad, does that mean that all that stuff about Jesus and Heavenly Father is just pretend?”
        I sat next to her, gathered her up in my arms, and told her that I was happy to say that I know that Jesus and Heavenly Father are not pretend – They are real!
        This painting reflects that belief. On that first Easter morning, the risen Lord himself reassured a sad and questioning Mary Magdalene that He is real and that yes, He lives!

Why Weepest Thou?

by Liz Lemon Swindle

        How fitting that one of His most devout disciples was the first to see him after He had risen. Mary Magdalene knew Him well. She had followed Him throughout His ministry and loved Him deeply, yet in her grief she didn’t recognize Him. Was it her tears that blurred her recognition? Perhaps it took a moment to recognize Him because of the glory of his resurrected body. We don’t know.
        Aren’t we all a bit like Mary? When we struggle the most, we are reluctant to look up and see His face and let Him bring us peace and comfort and direction. Possibly one of the greatest lessons we can learn in life is to know He is there and to go to Him immediately.

The Resurrection

by Nathan Greene

Hope

by Liz Lemon Swindle

        When Mary came to the tomb, she found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. She ran to the disciples crying, "They have taken away the Lord…and we know not where they have laid him" (John 20:2). Peter and John immediately ran to the tomb.
        What did they think as they ran? Were they simply curious to see for themselves? Did they fear, like Mary, that their enemies had stolen the body? Or did they remember His promise, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up"?
        The decision that faced Peter and John that Sunday morning is the same decision that faces each one of us today. Will we doubt? Will we hope? Or will we know that He lives? I know that He lives.

Mary Magdalene

by Del Parson

As the first person that Christ appeared to after His triumph over death, Mary is described as a great friend and a loyal follower. In this portrayal Mary desires to touch her Master. However, “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father …” (John 20:17).

My Redeemer Lives

by Liz Lemon Swindle

        I wanted to capture that first Easter morning as the Lord sat in the quiet stillness of the garden. He must have known that Mary would come seeking Him, but for a moment He was alone to ponder on all that had happened. He must have felt unspeakable joy in knowing that by doing His Father will He had made it possible for each of us to return to live with God.
        We are each faced with a similar choice. Will we follow our own will, or the will of our Father? May we live to say as the Lord said, “I came… not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” – John 6:38

Sunday Go to Meetin’

by Billy Jacobs

The Joy of ART: "It Is Finished"

Art moves me. Art touches me in so many various ways – with laughter, memories of a long-forgotten time, peace, conviction, awe of God’s creation. I’ve recently become fascinated by artists’ depictions of Jesus, which speak to me in a way that’s hard to describe.

On this Good Friday and Resurrection weekend, I wanted to share some of that art. I was able to find the artists’ thoughts about their paintings in most cases, and I’ve included that as well. May you enjoy these as I have . . . and look for more on Sunday! (Click on each image for a larger view.)

In Remembrance of Me

by Greg Olsen

        The Savior sat in an upper room. The world was on the brink of a great struggle between good and evil, a very real battle for the souls of all men and women. Though surrounded by His beloved apostles, the weight of the world’s sorrows – past, present and future – rested on Him alone. No one else could comprehend what lay ahead in the dark shadows of Gethsemane or upon the rugged cross at Calvary.
        This Last Supper marks the beginning of the end. Judas has silently departed and is on his way to complete his treacherous bargain. The time has come for Christ to “suffer all things.” Though understandably apprehensive, and wishing, even praying, that this cup might pass from Him, He nevertheless submitted His will to that of His Father. He went on to drink the bitter cup and drain the very dregs – because He loves us!

Gethsemane

by Liz Lemon Swindle

When I started this painting, I believed that Gethsemane was about the suffering of Christ. About the agony so intense that He trembled because of pain and bled from every pore. By the time I finished, I saw that the miracle of Gethsemane went beyond the suffering. The miracle was the love that brought Him there.

No Greater Love

by Greg Olsen

Via Dolorosa

by Jon McNaughton

        This painting has over 100 figures, both good and bad, men and women that have left their footprint on Christianity. The man in the middle represents the modern Christian...a man who must decide whether or not he will stand up for his Christian beliefs. Many are shouting out to tell him what to do. He raises his hand to say, "Be silent, for I know that Jesus is the Christ!" He touches Jesus' shoulder to indicate that he gets his strength from the Master.
        Each person was chosen based on how they may have influenced Christianity for good or evil. Some were great leaders or inspiring examples of those who spoke the truth regardless of the consequences. Others were merciless in their persecution of those who professed Christianity. And some are considered to be good or evil depending on whom you talk to. In some cases it's hard to know... only God can judge.

The Crucifixion

by Nathan Greene

Jesus said, ". . .if I be lifted up from the earth, ( I ) will draw all men to Myself," ( John 12:32 ). The cross and its unique message are the focus of the gospel. At Calvary the Saviour gave His life so that all men could be free. While many creeds stress mankind striving to appease God and earn his favour, the gospels tell of God reaching down to man, experiencing suffering (even to death on a cross) to ransom His creation.

It Is Finished

by Liz Lemon Swindle

How could the disciples understand that He loved them enough to allow Himself be taken, scourged, and killed? How could they know that His death was for them? Yet with three simple words, "It is finished," the door to salvation was opened and His love was forever etched on the hearts of the believers.

Beneath Golgotha

by Jon McNaughton

        There truly is a face of a skull in the side of the hill just as I painted it. When on a research trip to the Holy Land, I visited a place believed to be where Christ was crucified. It was called Golgotha or Calvary, which when translated means...place of the skull. There is no geological formation around Jerusalem which resembles this spot. It is just North of the city a short distance from the Damascus Gate. Currently there is an Arab bus station beneath the hill. On the opposite side of the hill is the Garden Tomb.
        This painting is very different from other Crucifixion scenes I have seen. Traditionally it would be painted on top of a hill and the cross would be straight and well crafted. I endeavored in every way to paint this scene as archeologically accurate as possible. The Savior's body has just been pulled down from the cross and is being wrapped while the Roman guards gather together on the right side. The crosses are made from olive trees which would have been the common wood used for crucifixion. This image is both haunting and provocative to me as I consider the reality of my Lord's final hours in mortality.

The Roman Centurion

by Nathan Greene

Mark 15:39 tells us that the Roman centurion, who had witnessed the suffering and death of Christ at Calvary first-hand, said: "Truly this man was the Son of God!" This painting pictures the pensive officer, after the body of Jesus had been removed from the cross, bending down to pick up a discarded crown of thorns, a powerful reminder of Jesus' great sacrifice for mankind. The centurion symbolizes all of us as we contemplate the love of God and His gift of forgiveness.

Thy Will Be Done

by Del Parson

        I wanted to do this painting, but I didn’t want it to focus on the suffering aspect of the Atonement. I wanted to portray the Savior’s resolve to overcome the suffering of his ordeal. I wanted this painting to express a feeling of Christ’s love and devotion to His Father — His willingness to complete His earthly mission as He had been ordained to do from the beginning. I didn’t want a painting of a tortured, suffering man, but of the Savior of the world, nearing His victory in spite of His suffering.
        We know that the soldiers who tortured and crucified the Lord were not in charge of the situation. Priests mocked the Savior, saying that if he really was the Son of God, to come down from the cross. He was not at the mercy of the executioners. Instead, He was willingly saying, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
        I asked my son to pose for this painting. His attitude was “since it’s my dad, I’ll do it for him.” We discussed the painting and prayed together, and we really wanted to communicate what the Savior must have felt during the culmination of His earthly mission. As my son had helped, it struck me – here is my son, doing something for his father. Then I really began to think of Christ suffering not only for us, but doing it for His Father as well. I thought of the tremendous love He has for His Father. Then I thought of my feeling for my own son, as he was doing this thing for me, and was overwhelmed with the feelings that the Father must have had for his son.
        The emotion in my son’s eyes turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. The eyes of my own son, willing to do this for me, show just the feeling I hoped to capture – eyes looking heavenward with willingness and determination to do His Father’s will. In the finished painting, the eyes are the only features that resemble my son.