Today I’m going to take you on a journey with me. Are you ready? Lets see where the pathway leads. A few weeks ago I purchased some ink sprays and stencils. I decided to use a couple of stencils to make a pattern as a background on a page in my art journal. [bctt tweet=”Little did I know the path it would take and how much the final page would veer from the original. ” username=”GaylWright”]This first picture was taken on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
Mixed Media and Changes
The following week on Friday, August 31, 2018, I made some changes using mixed media. You will see that the butterflies took flight and disappeared. [bctt tweet=”I was mainly experimenting and wondering how the picture would develop.” username=”GaylWright”] It looked like the sky part was a bit too large. So using black acrylic paint I covered a section and shortened the sky. Using a stylus while the paint was wet I sketched outlines for trees. I also used gelatos, metallic gel pens and even some paint pens.
At the same time I was reading in Proverbs each morning and writing down some verses that stood out to me. When reading Proverbs 4, I copied the following into my devotion journal:
Proverbs 4:18, 26-27 (CSB)
The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until midday.Carefully consider the path for your feet,
and all your ways will be established.
Don’t turn to the right or to the left;
keep your feet away from evil.
More Changes
As I looked at my picture, I thought maybe I could paint a pathway that would look like it was heading toward the sun. On Saturday, Sept. 1, I used gelatos to put some green in the tops of the trees, add grass and some brighter flowers on the ground, but I wasn’t completely satisfied with the results. Using a metallic gel pen I tried to brighten up the tree trunks a bit. That was all for that day and it was left to rest.
Monday, Sept. 3, came around and I mixed two shades of green acrylic paint in order to fill out the trees a bit more. The roots also seemed to need attention so I tried to make them blend in and flow better with the rest of the painting.
Final Touches
Still, I was not satisfied that the painting was actually done. So I left it to dry and came back to it this morning, Tuesday, Sept. 4. After spending a little time tweaking it I knew it was finished. I hoped it would in some way illustrate my thoughts on those verses in Proverbs 4 .
Never Give Up
Why do I share all this with you? It was important to me that I did not give up when the painting wasn’t turning out the way I had originally thought. I want to encourage you not to give up on projects you may have started and set aside. [bctt tweet=”My original picture is nothing like the final, and I realized that life is a lot like that. ” username=”GaylWright”]We start on our journeys, and along the way we are met with obstacles that seem insurmountable. Even if we are tempted to give up, God never gives up on us. He is even working behind the scenes where we can’t see.
Our lives may take a different turn than we might have expected, but we can be sure God is right there with us. He leads us through the dark and the light, and as we follow, the pathway becomes more clear. We grow as we walk with God, using our talents to bring encouragement and inspiration to others. [bctt tweet=”Because God is our guide, we can move forward knowing that He loves us and will never give up on us.” username=”GaylWright”]
Philippians 1:6 (CSB)
I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Follow the Pathway Toward the Light
I wrote a haiku based on Proverbs 4:16,26-27.
Moving Toward the Light
Like morning sunshine
My path unfolds before me
With radiant light
Pondering my steps
I keep steady on the path
Moving towards the light
~gsw~
I’m linking up with: #InspireMeMonday, #TeaAndWord, #TellHisStory, #TrekkingThru, #Let’sHaveCoffee, #porchstories, #BVNetworkParty, #Grace&Truth, #TuneInThursday
Dear Gayl,
I love the way you shared your journey with us of how the painting progressed throughout the week! And I love this thought: “Little did I know the path it would take and how much the final page would veer from the original.” We have our plans, but God sets the way for us. I like to think about those stencils and butterflies in the original painting, that are even now under your current painting–they were vital to your finished product, even though they can’t be seen now. That is such a comfort to me–God never wastes a bit of our lives that we have gone through. Every piece becomes part of the whole that He has planned. His light does lead us along! Thank you so much for sharing this process, and your beautiful painting & words with us! Blessings, love and hugs to you my dear sister/poet/friend!
Dear Bettie,
I’m so glad you love it and I thank you for your prayers! I love what you said about the butterflies and patterns – yes, they were vital to the process of creating even if they didn’t stay in view for the finished product. Yes, God never wastes any of our lives. Even our mistakes can teach us. Blessings, hugs and much love to you, too, my dear sister/poet/friend! 🙂 xoxo
Beautiful, Gayl! <3
Thank you so much, dear Bette! That means a lot. Love and blessings to you, dear sister! xo
Love the journey! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Melissa! Blessings to you!
Gayl, this is beautiful! You have quite the talent! And, I love how you mixed your words in with the painting and in God’s Words of truth. What a blessing it is to come and see what God is doing through you over here. What a joyful space. So glad I’m following you at Anita’s this week. Bless you!
Julie, thank you so much! You have blessed me with your encouragement tonight. Blessings and joy to you!
Gorgeous!
Thank you so much, Tara! Blessings to you!
Gayl, you are quite amazing. xo
Wow, Susan! Thank you! Blessings and hugs to you! xo
This is stunning, Gayl. Even more stunning is the transformation that took place to get to the final version. So, so beautiful. A couple weeks after my baptism a congregant I didn’t know sought me out. He had witnessed my testimony and baptism and felt the LORD tell him to give me a notecard with Proverbs 4:16 on it. It had taken him a bit of time and courage to finally give it to me, a complete stranger. It is a gift that continues to bless and encourage me, as I am certain your art work will others too.
Thank you so much, Anna! What a blessing to have that notecard with the verse and to know the time it took for him to actually follow the Lord’s leading! That is just another reminder of how important it is to use our talents for God and not ignore the Holy Spirit’s prompting. If he had not followed through, you both would have missed out on that blessing. That encourages me to keep on sharing and being vulnerable because you never know who might need just what you have to offer. I’m so glad God can take our offerings and encourage others with them. You are such an encouragement to me, dear Anna. Blessings, love and hugs to you! xoxo
You are a woman of many talents Gayl! Love the picture and haiku, but most of all, love the analogy of your painting with this life. I’m sure we’d be hard-pressed to find someone whose life turned out the way they imagined it, but as Christians, we are blessed to know that God is working all the ups and downs together to create something beautiful in the end.
Thank you so much, Toni! Yes, because God is working in our lives He is creating something beautiful. Blessings to you!
Gayle, hi! Such beauty, the shades, the textures, all that shines through what you’ve shared with us.
A wonderful way to start today. Thank you …
Inspiring.
Linda, thank you so much! I glad I helped you start your day in a positive way. Blessings to you!
Wow! How cool to see how an artist goes through the process of creating! Everything came together beautifully!
Anita, your words encourage me so much! Thank you for actually calling me an artist. I have a hard time seeing that sometimes, esp. as I look at the work of others. But that means I’m comparing and that is never good, right? If I am using what God has given me, then I am an artist in my own way. It doesn’t have to be as good as or like someone else; it just has to reflect a bit of me as I’m obedient to God’s leading. Thank you for reminding me of that. I’m glad you enjoyed reading about and seeing the process. Blessings to you! Have a wonderful weekend!
This was such a visual treat. I loved how you shared the journey of your painting. Life is so much like your painting journey – fun, unexpected, twists and turns, and a beautiful ending. Thank you for this beauty today.
Thank you so much, Mary. I’m glad you enjoyed it! Blessings and love to you! xo