The Woman At The Well

The Woman At The Well

Oil with Palate Knife on Canvas
24" x 36 "
by Cheryl Harris White

John 4:4-30

I just completed a study on Joy at Denton Bible Church.  One of the lessons I was most impacted by was the encounter of Jesus with the Woman at The Well.  I was so inspired by the tenderness and compassion shown by Jesus to this woman who came alone in the heat of the day to avoid the scorn and gossip of others.   Her life was a mess, and like all of us, she tried to hide it... but He knew her story before she even told it.  Not only did he know her past, He forgave her.  Not only did He forgive her, He gave her truth and life everlasting.  In the midst of her shame,  Jesus, the tallest red figure in the center of the painting,  is the lifter of her head.   Can you see His blood shed to cleanse our sin,  flowing through the arms of living water swirling through the painting?  And the woman bent over by the well, finally free... she drops her water pot and runs to tell everyone in the town. Through her testimony, an entire village met the Lord Jesus that day. 

We Are God's Artists

It saddens me a bit when I see Christians push art out the door of our churches like it is bad tattoo or offensive T-Shirt logo.  I don't know why some humans are more creative than others.  What makes a person an artist, really?  I'm not sure, but I do believe that our creativity comes from God.   He is the Creator of all life and the entire universe after all.  And in Genesis chapter 1, we read that WE are created in God's image.  All of us.  It's what separates us from all the rest of creation. The birds, the animals and the plants were created and then they were called good.  Then man... created in the image of God and called Very Good.  We humans, the image bearers, the creative ones.  We are God's artists. 

I have recently found yet another outlet for my creativity; Bible Journaling.  I love to write when I learn new things,  so I have always been one of those people with highlighter and notes all over my Bible, but this takes it to a whole new level.  I began by using supplies I already had used in art journaling; colored pencils, Water proof calligraphy pens, India ink, stamps, markers and stickers... and my Bible.  I found some great ideas from other Bible Journal posters online and got started.  

Some people may find it shocking to draw and paint in a Bible.  If you don't like it, I promise, I won't write and paint in yours... but I will definitely keep doing it in mine.  For one, I have enjoyed reading my Bible more since I started doing this, and I remember what a read much better.  Second,  whether painting on a stage or a canvas or in my Bible,  I  keep doing it,  because when I CREATE ART, I feel God's pleasure.

Oil on Canvas and A Heart That is Full

Birch Glade
Oil on Canvas
18" x 24"

Hello Blog,  I've missed you.  Thank you to all my friends who always ask me when they see me... Are you still painting?   I finally can give you YES for an answer.   Done with oil and palate knife, completing this happy painting gave me so much joy.  I love this sunny glade kissed with yellow light and protected by the silent birch trees surrounding it.  This place feels peaceful and  safe and when I gaze upon it my heart is full.  Enjoy!

Barn For My Dad

Last summer, while visiting my Dad in Minnesota,  we drove around back country roads looking for barns to photograph.  We got list a few times and found ourselves at this goat farm.  The owners gave us permission to walk around and take our photos.  Dad chatted with the family while I snapped away.  The barns were huge and old and beautiful.  It was like traveling back in time.  In the quiet, I stood to gaze at them in wonder.  How many generations of people lived,and worked here? The barn knew and kept it's secret.

Red Forest with India Ink

Red Forest
India Ink on Mixed Media Paper
7" x 7"
by Cheryl Harris White

I really loved allowing gravity to actually do the painting of these trees.  They look so firmly planted to the ground as if they actually fell from the sky into their spots instead of sprouting from the ground.  

Love, Joy, Live, Laugh, Hope, Wish

Six more hymnal mixed media art pieces, each one is 8" x 10".

These happy reminders brightened my day and serve as reminders of to be truly thankful for each and every moment.  These are the things in life that really matter.  

Heralds of Spring

  Torn pages from an old damaged hymnal and paper scraps are worked into these small 5"x5" whimsical mixed media pieces.  A happy color palate of pinks and purples heralds the arrival of spring.  

Singing Tree - Living Fully Engaged One Moment At A Time

As a kid, I spent many summers at Camp Rocky Point on Lake Texoma.  One of my favorite activities was after lunch each day, when we went to "Singing Tree."  There were benches to sit on like aisles in a church, and trees all around us and above us. The branches were so thick, it was like a "living" room  of leaves forming shimmering green  walls and a ceiling.   As we sang,  I thought about the beautiful nature around me and felt God there in our presence.  I was not home sick, felt no worry and no anxiety...just peace and joy.  The beauty around me just soaked into my soul and I was living in the moment.

As and adult, living in the moment becomes more of a challenge.  I must choose daily to NOT live in the past;  to NOT live in the future; but to live fully engaged in the here and now. Some of us lean naturally toward living in the past.  Having left our hearts behind somewhere between memories and losses, we can easily become blind to the missed opportunities for connection with the living hearts close by right now, in the present.  Others of us tend to skip ahead to the future; planning for it goes too far, to the point that we fall into habits of manipulation and control, trampling over the present on the path to what will be. 

This recently completed piece is called "Singing Tree"  and it inspires me to be different.  It helps me to remember that I am made to sing, to create art, to appreciate nature, to consider God and invest into His most beautiful creation, people.  I can still sing a song,  by simply listening to the music in the hearts of others.  I can paint a work of art, by engaging deeply with people one true moment at a time.  I can see God, by carving out time to appreciate His creation and it's beauty.  When I look at this tree, it compels me to stop crying, stop talking, stop worrying, stop managing, but to just be quiet and to give others the freedom to be with me in the moment.  This piece inspires me to rest, to listen, to accept, to trust and to live, completely engaged in the here and now moments of life.  Join me.

Singing Tree
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
24" x 36"
$300.00

FOODIE Opening show

Tonight was a great opening for the Foodie show at the MCL GRAND in Lewisville.  Art was created for the Visual Art League calendar, each month highlighting an area restaurant. Sponsors of the opening reception included Bisteca, Good Times Cajon Cuisine & Square One Cafe.  The show is still up through January 17th. My hamburger painting was selected for July in the calendar and they are sold out! 

Lolly pop art for The Ronald McDonald House

These fun whimsical lolly pops were just part of the Tolyland exhibit at the MCL Grand in Lewisville and will be donated to the Ronald a McDonald House.

Lone Star Holiday SOLD! to the highest bidder!

Lone Star Holiday
5 feet diameter
SOLD $625.00

Judge Becky Kerbow and Commissioner Bobbie J. Mitchell placed the winning $625 bid for the 5-foot wreath titled “Lone Star Holiday”.  The wreath will be displayed at the Lewisville Government Center where Judge Kerbow and Commissioner Mitchell’s departments are located.

  It was an honor to reoresent CoServ and participate in the Highland Village Wreath Auction and Tea raising funds for counceling services for area youth.  

Mouth Watering Hamburger Painting Selected for the VAL 2015 Calendar Sponsored by local Lewisville Area Restaraunts

VAL has 2015 calendars for sale for $15.  The calendars feature paintings depicting dishes available at th local restaurants listed below.  My mouth watering Hamburger Painting is the July entry.  Please support these establishments and purchase a calendar.  Proceeds support arts education.

We thank those sponsoring businesses: Christina’s, Good Times Cajun Cuisine, Square One Cafe, Johnny G’s, Mama” Daughter’s Diner, Village Grill Restaurant & Catering, Pho 7 Vietnamese Restaurant, Salerno’s Italian Restaurant, Bistecca and Italian Steakhouse, New China, Starwood Cafe, Tacos Regio Monterrey, Certa Pro Painters, Carmen’s Magic Touch Hair Salon, Premier Gallery.

Hamburger
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
18" x 18"
$75.00

Burger Paint

You can go to the Blick Art Materials Facebook page to vote. http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/26-Ridgewell-Ln-Bella-Vista-AR-72715/70674525_zpid/

This is my entry for their Good Enough To Eat Contest.  I call it "Burger Paint"

Girl In Red Dress on La Rambla

I went to Spain once.  I loved the culture, the people and the paella! I came back with a paella pan, which is awesome by the way, and a lot of photos. My husband and I soaked in a lot of culture, art, architecture and history while we were  there, but my favorite days were when we walked down La Rambla.  The leaves on the trees danced with the pale blue sky and their shadows on the patterned walk way below and washed everything in shady, sparkling, dappled light.  My favorite spot for people watching and my inspiration for the oil painting posted here; Girl In Red Dress on La Rambla

Girl In Red Dress on La Rambla by Cheryl Harris White

Oil on canvas

24" X 36"
$300.00

Trees Of The Field

This is a new piece done with India ink. I loved how the trees look like they are singing joyfully. They are all lined up, as if they are playing follow the leader and dancing. As I was working on this, a song I haven't sung since I was a teen at First United Methodist Church of Carrollton kept running through my memory.  It was called TREES OF THE FIELD and here is just 1 verse of the Lyrics..

You shall go out with joy

And be let forth with peace,

And the mountains and the hills

Will break forth before you

There'll be shouts of joy

And all the trees of the fields

Will clap, will clap their hands

Trees Of The Field
by Cheryl Harris White
India Ink on Canvas Paper, Framed
12" x 48"
$250.00

Paint On My Walls ROCKED the CHALK FEST in LEWISVILLE!

Paint On My Walls ROCKED the Art Festival yesterday at CHALK FEST in Lewisville! I felt so blessed to be able to share my art with people yesterday.   I sold so much art, I had to ask my daughter to bring more up from my studio at home.  Earning money from my own creativity felt good, but what I most enjoyed from the day was connecting with the people.  People are sooooo interesting.  I truly enjoyed visiting with each and every person that I met in my booth yesterday.  It's so amazing what people will tell you if you just ask a question or two and start to listen.  I had a lot of people tell my my work was beautiful, but nothing compares to the beauty I saw inside the people of LEWISIVLLE, TEXAS!   Sharing my passion for color, light and life with them was an honor.  A big thank you to The Colony and the The City of Lewisville for partnering together to throw this event.  Great job everyone!  I loved it and I will be back! 

And now for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!  The winner of the Dripping Autumn Painting Raffle was The Wells Family!  Such a pleasure to meet them today in my studio and award them their new painting.  

Come see me at Chalk This Way In LEWISVILLE

9 AM to 6 PM Saturday in Old Town Lewisville between church and main st. Paint On My Walls art work for sale! Cards and crosses + lolly pop art + oil + acylic + mixed media + many items under $10.00 + Dripping Autumn painting raffle!

Two Tall Mosaic Birch Paintings Ready for Chalk This Way

 I finished these two Oil paintings just in time for the Chalk This Way Art Festival coming up this weekend.  I used a lot of thick oil paint applied with a palate knife in a mosaic pattern.  They are very large; each one about 8 square feet and they look amazing on my red entry way wall.   Almost too amazing to part with.   Come see me in the tent at Chalk This Way in Lewisville to see these up close in person. The festival hours are from 9AM to 6PM. Location is around MCL Grand and Lewisville City Hall, at Church and Charles Streets, Lewisville, TX 75057.

Tall Mosaic Birch I                  Tall Mosaic Birch II

Oil on Canvas                           Oil on Canvas

24" x 48"  $400.00                                 24" x 48" $400.00

Paint On My Walls new blog header

I have been experimenting with a lot more collage elements in my work lately.  So, I thought this would be a fitting new header for my blog.  Most of the letters are made of actual photos of my paintings, and the tree trunks and grass are from paper scraps.  The trees are done with layers of ink and acrylic paint applied with a sea sponge.  I love taking old photos or paper scraps that would have normally been thrown away and using that as a foundation in art work.  It just seems to be a great way to make something beautiful even more meaningful and adds story behind the work.  

New blog header for Paint On My Walls!
Mother's Day 2014

I have tried several different mixed media adhesives so far and the one I like the best is Aleene's Matt decoupage.  It is much less sticky than regular mixed media adhesive and easier to manage.  When it is dry it creates a good surface to add more layers of paint or ink on top.

Also; I am getting ready for an art festival next weekend.  Chalk This Way takes place at Lewisville City Call and MCL Grand area, 100 North Charles, Lewisville, TX 75057.  To find my booth, just look for the Paint On My Walls sign above.

New York City Collage

This one was for my daughter Courtney.  She has been to New York several times and LOVES Broadway.  Some of the scraps from theater flyers and maps from her trips were used in this collage as well as magazine articles and paper scraps.  Combining them with the paint really captures the excitement of the city.  More like this to come. Enjoy!

New York City
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
24" x 36"