Hope for the Tree

Never Thirst Again

The Painting

 

The drawing

 

So, how did this painting come about? Hmmmm. Well, first of all I love succulents. Not only are they beautifully unique, they are also easy to take care of.

I have been "thirsty" to draw more succulents in a way of their nature representing faith. Since God gave me the gift of creativity, He often gives me images to draw and draws out of me a reason to connect it to Him. This is my way of personal worship, to Create for my Creator. So, I had the image and idea, but I wondered why He wanted me to create this image... so, I researched.

On Wikipedia I read this...

"The habitats of these water preserving plants are often in areas with high temperatures and low rainfall. Succulents have the ability to thrive on limited water sources, such as mist and dew, which makes them equipped to survive in an ecosystem which contains scarce water sources."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succulent_plant

 

So... I started thinking..... connecting the spiritual and creative dots.

 

Succulents are able to withstand harsh heat and little water each day. They can survive in the desert where they are constantly getting beat down by the sun and then the cold nights. They adapt to where they are.

They take what little water they get in life and hold it inside to get them through dry times. Thirsty people are drawn to them knowing they hold treasure inside.

Faith is like this.

Jesus told the Woman at the well that He had "living water" that He could give her.

She did not understand what he meant because she was thinking in the "physical".

It is a water that our physical bodies do not understand.

It is a spiritual water that keeps our hearts content to hold onto our Faith when there are other things in life tempt us, wear us down or make us doubt... when we are living in a spiritual drought.

 

Years ago I knew about the "living water" growing up in church and with a very Spiritual mother, but my worldly mind couldn't wrap around the spiritual concept.

Not until I came a wife, mother and adult could I really come to a point where I was "thirsty" for that 'Living water" and curious to go to the "well".

My "well" was a spiritual retreat called Kairos in Dallas, Texas.

This is where my real spiritual walk began to go deep.

God spoke to me! I know some may think I am crazy, but it's true.

His words He spoke to me on that spirit filled day I have help in my

skin like a succulent holds water. If that is the ONLY "living Water" I get for the rest of my life here on earth, it is enough for the harshest desert. I knew that day that His love was real.

I fell madly deeply in love with Christ when His love for me was revealed.

My heart was sealed!

Read about my Kairos experience here...

http://thelostsocklife.blogspot.com/2013/03/supertab-autobiographical-comic-of-my.html

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As an artist, I love the beauty of a succulent plant. I really do not have a green thumb, probably because of my ADD and lack of remembering to water plants. I do love green though. I do love plants and feel that without them in a space it is empty. Living without life just doesn't make sense.
I have used succulents in my classroom for the Rodeo Art theme for years because it teaches the kids about contour line and also helps them appreciate the unique visual characteristics of the plant.

My Daughter & student working on her succulent

Daughter and Mother succulents above...

See my students' below here...

1st and 2nd grade cactus
http://tabithaannthelostsock.blogspot.com/2014/09/color-burst-cactus.html

4th and 5th grade cactus
http://tabithaannthelostsock.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/doodle-desert.html

I hope this has inspired you to create for your Creator, draw, paint, read the WOrd, pray or at least think. Please let me know your thoughts. Your words, like His, drive me to create more.

1 Thessalonians 5:11               
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Hebrews 10:23-25               

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Jeremiah 17: 7-8 Spirit illustration

 

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

^"[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord,

 and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit."

 

Above 1: After Sharpie doodle

Above 2: After colored pencil shading and highlighting

 

Usually I get ideas by being inspired by music, quotes, my surroundings, or other artists work. 

I was very inspired by this Del Barber poster I found online...

I loved the layers of the subdued colors stacked together with the texture defining brown lines on all the objects. I was fascinated by the way they exposed the layers of dirt below to show the roots and it reminded me of how we should root ourselves in Christ... or we will be fearful & fruitless.

So, I used the verse in Jeremiah for my Biblical Inspiration.

 

As an art teacher, I just got done teaching my students about Paper Cut-Out method done by Henri Matisse. So, I decided to use the paper cut out to get the layers I wanted of the background paper to doodle on top of. 

I started with manilla for my foreground (tree trunk and dirt), 

then brown (leaves, nest, grass, and roots), 

pink (bird and fruit),

baby blue (water), 

and finally sage green (background sky). 

You can see some of the Matisse lessons we did here if desired on my LostSock Art Teacher Blog...

http://tabithaannthelostsock.blogspot.com/2014/04/matisse-inspired-lessons.html

After I glued down the paper cut-outs, I then used Sharpies (brown, green, and rasperry) to doodle the texture on each part. After the doodle, I used colored pencils to add shading and highlights to the landscape. For the final step, I used this iridescent paper that I have been hording since childhood to cut a piece just right to layer over my water. 

I enjoyed this process so much I am planning on making more in the very near future!

Now you can too!