Author: virginiacmccoy

Well, I made this painting, Tree of Joy, a little while back. After hanging it and studying it for a while, I came to realize the the sky was what I will eloquently call “icky”. It just didn’t work out. I wasn’t feeling it. Ya know? So, I glazed some cobalt blue over it. No, that didn’t work, either. Too dark. I scumbled some transparent mixing white over that. Yes, better… Another coat. Much better. I love it. It looks messy and yummy and so much better. What do you think?

Below is the old one. At the time that I was taking the photo, I couldn’t seem to get a good one. It was out of kilter and I just could not get it straight. Also, the light was off. The new photo, above is more true to the color of the original. It is hard to get a good photo that matches the original of any artwork.

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I said to the almond tree, ‘Friend, speak to me of God,’ and the almond tree blossomed. — Nikos Kazantzakis

This has been a stressful week, but, today, I received the good news that the CT scan must have been mistaken, because the second PET scan in a row has showed no cancer and my blood markers are fine. So, I am officially off the immunotherapy and no plans for a hysterectomy. I will be seeing the doctor in a month and taking another cancer marker blood test. If my numbers go up, I will restart the immunotherapy. Now, I just need to recover from the cure. LOL!

I posted this poem a while back, but thought it was appropriate to repost it now. It is based on Psalm 119:143-152.

Peace and Rest

Things may look bleak, dark, distressing,
All beyond our control,
But my delight in Your Law and Your Word
Lights the expanse of my soul.

Your Holy Word is eternal and sure,
Make me to know it and live.
I ask You, I beg You, I cry to You, Help
Me take of the hope that You give.

The world twists and tumbles around me,
Enmeshed in all wickedness.
But, with You, O Lord of hosts, my God
There is surely peace and rest.

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Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord; and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee. — Augustine

I have always wanted a Siamese cat. This is probably the only one I will ever have. LOL! It is pastel pencils on 8×10 black sanded paper.

Also, just some info. I recently had a CT scan and it showed a mass on my left ovary. My guess is that it is the original one that never totally went away. The PET scan I had in the first part of March did not show it, but, come to find out, it is not as accurate as a CT scan. I am scheduled for another PET scan on Monday and then probably a hysterectomy. In the meantime, I am on lots of medication dealing with side effects of the chemo that I am no longer taking and the immunotherapy that I am taking. Today, I am starting to get some nausea from the newest medications. Sigh… LOL! But, God is good! All the time!

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No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens. — Abraham Lincoln

Not just pleasantly, but beautifully plump. This is a little chunkster of a girl. She is the daughter of one of our elders at church and is a little over a year old.

This is graphite and white charcoal on a 9×12 sheet of gray sand-textured paper.

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A toddling little girl is a centre of common feeling which makes the most dissimilar people understand each other. — George Eliot

I am working on several things: art, sewing, piano lessons (got me a new keyboard — yay!), etc. Below is the beginning of a drawing from a photo I took while in church. This little girl was sitting on the floor staring at me. I got the phone out and when I was ready to take the picture (during the offering), she looked away. Oh, well. I think it is a cute picture, anyway.

Below is a two-page spread from my sketchbook which I did with wax-based pencils and sharpie. I am thinking that I will make a big one with acrylic paints on a 12×24 inch canvas that I have. I really like it.

Art does not need to make sense. It just has to be beautiful or meaningful or both. I think this is both. What do you think?

I am slowly (painfully slowly) making progress toward making myself a pair of “palazzo pants”. I love that the new style is wide leg pants. So, I am taking a pattern for pajama pants and making them even wider in the leg and using some heavy drapey fabric that I have had for a long, long time and going for it. LOL! We shall see what happens…

I will let you know when I get the date for my piano performance at the Von Braun Civic Center here in Huntsville. It may be a while. Patience, patience…

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Every time I see a piano, I have this urge to play it. — Margot Robbie

This is from John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible: “Oil used to be poured on the heads of persons at entertainments and festivals, and at times of rejoicing; and so is opposed to the state of mourners, who might not be anointed, as the Jewish commentators observe; the grace of the Spirit without measure, with which Christ was anointed, is called “the oil of gladness”, and of the same nature, though not of the same measure, is the grace which saints have from Christ; the effect of which is joy and gladness, even joy unspeakable, and full of glory; which is had in believing in Christ, and through a hope of eternal life by him; hence we read of the joy of faith, and of the rejoicing of hope: this oil is Christ’s gift, and not to be bought with money; this holy unction comes from him; this golden oil is conveyed from him, through the golden pipes of the word and ordinances; is very valuable, of great price, and to be desired; and, being had, cannot be lost; it is the anointing that abides.” — John Gill (1697-1771)

I struggle against depression, anxiety, and general melancholy. As far as I know, it has always been so in my life. But, there have been times, since becoming a Christian in 1986, where I have rejoiced in the oil of joy. I will put this picture up, with the first in this series, Beauty from Ashes, and the next one that I will do, Garment of Praise, on my wall and remind myself that there is every reason to rejoice in the beauty of the Lord, to be joyful, and to praise the Lord at all times and in all seasons.

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and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

— Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)

I have no idea what to call this. I really enjoyed doing it and I love it now that it is done. I just don’t know what it is. LOL! I started it with a definite plan in mind, but it did not turn out like I was imagining, so I need help in figuring it out and naming it. What do you see? What does it make you think of? When Ron first saw it, he said it made him think of weather map isobars. I see cheese doodles.

As he studied it more, Ron said it looked like maybe a river of radiation. LOL! Help! Anyone got any thoughts? Any?

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There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality. — Pablo Picasso

This is from a photo of Mom sneaking a kiss in front of all of us and Dad quite enjoying it. They have been married for 62 years now and I chose the background colors to represent the highs and lows of all those married years. The highs were much more prominent and they are represented by the yellows and blues. We all have lows, represented by the greys and browns, but they can be beautiful, depending on how you deal with them.

This is colored pencils, alcohol markers, and sharpie on white 9×12 smooth bristol board.

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There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends. — Homer

A friend of mine showed me a photo of her granddaughter, also known as “Sweet Baby Girl”. I immediately saw this painting in my mind and asked her to text the photo to me. I love how it turned out and her mother and grandmother said that they think it is “awesome”.

It is colored pencils, sharpie, and alcohol markers on 9×12 smooth white bristol board.

Yes, I know that Telly Savalas was wrong, but it is still a funny quote…

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We’re all born bald, baby. — Telly Savalas

I found a photo of a nifty little froggy on some junk mail. I don’t know what made me do this with watercolor pencils, but I did and I like it. I am not all that skillful with watercolors, but the pencils help. I draw with it and then use a watercolor brush to wet it and make it wonderful. He looks like he is laughing at me. LOL! Or maybe struggling not to…

Hello, Froggy! Watercolor pencils on 9×12 smooth white bristol board.

You know, as I look at that froggy again, he looks like Gollum from Lord of the Rings (but a lot prettier). LOL!

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I went into a French restaurant and asked the waiter, ‘Have you got frog’s legs?’ He said, ‘Yes,’ so I said, ‘Well hop into the kitchen and get me a cheese sandwich.’ — Tommy Cooper