Just thought I would share that I do now have a Facebook page: Elasah Art by Heather Young if you are on Facebook and would be interested in following. So far I have mostly used it to share updates to my Etsy account and website as well as to share works in progress and sketches I have been doing (all that stuff that doesn’t get shared on my Etsy account or main site.)
Cat has inspired me yet again–this time with a twitter comment about feeling like a dragon today. This is the fastest watercolor in the west (paint is still damp) but it is fun and was fun to do.
A quick little doodle inspired by a friend’s great post about her own 4 porcupines .
And a reminder to self that even porcupine children are a gift from the Lord.
Once upon a time there was an artist who had a habit of putting too much on her plate (or more often others serving way too much and she just went along with it.) One day she had many artistic projects coming her way, more and more people commissioning her to do paintings, not to mention 3 lovely children who wanted a lot of attention at inconvenient times, plus a side business of webhosting and design. And whilst she had too much on her plate she would get an idea and decide to run with it.
As you may or may not know I am not a fan of holidays. I don’t like that, especially for mother’s, they give us unreal expectations. We get so caught up in our expectations that we forget how God has blessed us and how He has provided for us. God has blessed us so very much and yet we get frustrated and disappointed because the world tells us that we should get this and that and Mother’s Day should look like this or that and in the end, no matter how wonderful our families are, we end up disappointed and discontent–because no one on earth is capable of living up to those expectations that the world has given us. Regardless of your situation, regardless of how much you get or don’t get, regardless of your place in life, God is still in control and God loves you. And regardless of how perfect your Mother’s Day is or isn’t your children are a blessing from God and you are God’s blessing to them. And so, regardless of my feelings for what I feel is just another “media and marketing get people to spend money by guilting them into it” day I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day and want to remind you that YOU are greatly blessed and a blessing to your family–regardless of whether they recognized it today outwardly or not.
I am currently working, in my head, on a project. It has taken me a long time to realize that part of the painting process, for me at least, is in my head. The process goes something like this:
Am I the only one who works this way? I am surprised to realize that despite it only taking me an hour or so to execute a painting it has taken me weeks of brain work to get it right–and the paintings I have put the most thought into are the ones that turn out the best. Some of my favorites–like the shoe painting took years in the making even though they only took 3 hours from the moment the pencil hit the paper to finish.
And what got me thinking about this? I have a project for an illustration for a Homeschool Zine that has been running round and round my head and I am itching to begin but am forcing myself to wait until I have it worked out before I start. I have learned that that makes all the difference.
Idea: 3 years in the works Painting time: 3 hours start to finish.
Idea: 1 year Painting: 4 hours
Idea: 3 days Painting: 1/2 hour (small painting–5x 7″)
Idea: 3 weeks Painting: 1/2 hour
Praise the Lord! He is Risen! He is risen indeed!
My little brother (not the baby–he is only 17) turned 30 today!
My Valentine’s gift to you. Have a blessed day regardless of your circumstances and relationships and know that you are loved with everlasting love that goes beyond that of any mortal (John 3:16).
Honestly I am more likely celebrate it being Friday the 13th than Valentine’s Day–at least Friday the 13th is interesting and different. But since I am not a pagan and not the least bit superstitious I don’t really celebrate either. Once upon a time I did, I longed for someone, anyone, to give me a nice, romantic Valentine’s Day gift and was always devastated when no one did (even if I got something it never lived up to my romantic aspirations.)
About 4 years ago, maybe more, God dealt with my heart on this issue. Honestly, there is no way ANYONE or ANYTHING can live up to such romantic twaddle as the world would have us believe and get all caught up in. And honestly, if it weren’t for the world telling you it was important, would you REALLY care? We are loved and cherished beyond anything by our Lord and Saviour, and HE never runs out and buys us flowers, chocolates , and a romantic card. Instead He blesses us with beautiful wildflowrs, incredible sunsets, His wonderful Word, and all sorts of small daily blessings–so many that if we just open our eyes to see we are amazed at His love for us.
And so, nowadays instead of moping about not getting a gift I don’t really care about on a designated day that I don’t really care about, I realize how blessed I am to have a husband who loves me every single day and shows it, and a God who loves me even more than my husband, and who goes out of the way to show me every single day. And I challenge you to do the same. Even if you don’t have a great relationship if you are a child of God then you are LOVED. I challenge you to find women in your life who have no one, who struggle, who need to know that they are loved, and go out of your way to show them your (and God’s) love for them.
And I offer you a Valentine’s Card just from me to each of you, and offer it to you to share with whom ever you feel needs to know that they too are loved.