"Let There be Light" exhibit goes up this week!

The photos, pastels and watercolors for the exhibit "Let There Be Light" are matted, framed, labeled, packed, narratives written and ready to hang this Tuesday at the Henriott Group.

Creating art is such a joy, but after much creative flurry, my studio tends to get a bit crowded with finished pieces, not yet matted or framed.  So when I was asked to do a solo exhibit, it was the deadline I needed to get my work organized and ready to share.

After all the prep was completed this past week, I felt there was one more piece to create.  The theme for this exhibit came from my recent months of being attracted to painting the light as it transforms even the mundane every day things into glorious gems.  It it such a metaphor for what God does in our lives.

Last week I read Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation...) and felt compelled to create one more piece that would reflect my heart.  I have a "blessing to being creative work" prayer hanging in my studio that I wrote last year during my journey with the book The Artists Rule, by Christine Valters Painter.  After reading the prayer and using my pastels - here is the finished painting.

The Lord is my Light


Here is the prayer that I wrote last year. It's hanging n the wall in front of my painting table - I just need to take the time to still my soul and read it before jumping into painting.  It was a rich personal experience.

Blessing to Begin Creative Work

Blessed are you Lord

the Alpha and Omega of all creation

the beginning and the end of my own life,

the giver of all good gifts,

most of all – Jesus.

You alone are worthy to receive glory, honor and power.

For you created all things, and by your will the world and all that extists were created.

So, it's to you, Oh Lord, that I come to present my body, soul and spirit, heart, mind and hands, before you in an act of worship.

Bless the creative works of my hands as they move from a soul touched by You.

Bless the process of painting from the inside out.

Bless the tools that I use, all sorts of brushes fashioned for different purposes, paints in all their profusion of color, palettes and pencils, paper and pens.

Bless the spaces where it all happens, whether it be my studio, the kitchen or outside in a wonderful “plein air” venue.

Bless the water as it works its wonder of integration flowing from contemplation, inspiration to creation.

Bless with joy those whose heart and soul resonates with the work of my hands.

Bless the Lord oh my soul. All that is within me bless His holy name.

Jerie Artz – January 22, 2016, exercise from The Artist's Rule

"Let There be Light!"

I will have a solo exhibit March and April 2017 entitled "Let There Be Light."  It will feature photos, pastels and watercolors that show the kiss of the sun giving life to all it touches.  These past months I've been fascinated by seeing how the sun turns ordinary subjects into glory as it's rays illuminate trees, leaves, flowers, weeds, as well as glorious sunrises and sunsets.

It makes me think of the touches of glory God  places on the obscure whether it's a lowly weed transformed, or the lives of people I meet.  Let there be light!

Christmas Past

It has been awhile since I posted paintings.  Before Christmas, I did have a one day class painting poinsettias.  I created a collage of previous poinsettias, as well as a new collage layered with colored tissue paper with watercolor painting on the surface.  It was a challenge to force myself to layer colored tissue in an abstract fashion in order to create the illusion of poinsettias.  I went through a stage of wondering if anything of beauty would emerge, but stuck with it to see something I'm quite happy with emerge.

White and Red Poinsettias

Collage of Previous Poinsettias

Colored Tissue Collage and Watercolor

 I never get tired of painting these beautiful plants.