exists to create art which reflects the beauty and the glory of God, to use art to comfort and encourage people, and to inspire others to pursue the arts.
I don’t know about you guys, but it is hard for me to do a selfie. LOL! In this case, I am trying to fulfill my husband’s request for a self portrait. I started this drawing, but it was so difficult, physically and emotionally, that I just quickly wrapped it up. I took a photo shoot of myself late one night in my studio. I was feeling naked before God, so that is what I did for the photo shoot. (Not totally naked, but the illusion of it. LOL!) And this was the best shot of them all. Which is not saying much. I never realize just how ugly I am until it is time to study my face. Boy! I don’t know how those magnificent artists, like Rembrandt, etc., did such wonderful self portraits. It is HARD!!!
Anyway, here is my mess:
He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” — Job 1:21
On August 22, 2023, I had issues which caused me to go to the emergency room. It was discovered that I had ovarian cancer and that it was metastasized into the bone. One of my worst fears had materialized and now it was up to me to rest in the Lord and carry on. I must confess that I was scared and Ron was scared. I was sent home with an appointment with an oncology doctor. After seeing him, I was scheduled for a D&C and radiology treatments. But, just a couple days later, I woke at three in the morning with a horrible headache in my sinus area. It peaked and then disappeared, but I started losing strength in my limbs and my body and head curled to the right. It seemed like I was having a stroke/seizure. Ron called 911 and they got there quickly and got me to the hospital. After many tests, it was found that I did not have a stroke, but a complex migraine. I had had one of those before, in Mount Vernon. In my case, it is related to the fact that I have had migraines since I was twelve years old and stress triggers them. I was definitely having stress. I was in the hospital for a few days. I got back home for one day and then had the D&C, which was supposed to be outpatient. However, due to uncontrollable hemorrhaging, I was admitted to the hospital. During that stay, the radiation treatments were started. I was discharged, radiation treatments were scheduled for every weekday until October 11. In the meantime, I had a PET scan and another appointment with the oncologist. The PET scan discovered that the cancer was in the lymph nodes in my lower torso, the bone that I sit on, my uterus, my left ovary, and my right lung. So, now the plan is to finish up the radiation this week and make plans for chemotherapy and, possibly, immunotherapy.
What has this to do with art? Art is part of life. Beauty is part of life. There is still beauty everywhere and I am enjoying it as much as I can. When we first heard that I had cancer, Ron said that he wanted me to make another self-portrait. I have been thinking on that and making plans. I don’t know how I will do it, but I must get going on it, soon. In the beginning, I lost all interest in art, but it is growing again. Please pray for me that I would rest in the Lord and rejoice in all things. Also, that I make a good portrait of myself and make good art that glorifies the Lord.
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. — Psalm 42:11
Mr. Michaeleen Og Flynn of Innisfree was never seen without his trusty pipe. It just wouldn’t be natural to do a portrait of him without it. And in this picture, he was obviously enjoying himself. Probably thinking about when he can next call at the pub. Yes, this is number three in my Quiet Man series. Ron is particularly enjoying this picture. It is 8.5 x 8.5 sharpie and colored pencils on brown pastel paper. I wanted to try a different paper and this one has more texture than the brown craft paper. I am always trying something different.
P. S. If anyone wants to commission an artwork for a Christmas gift, now is the time. The holidays will be here before you know it. Just get in touch with me (through the “Contact” link at the top of the page) and let me know what you want. Thanks!
There is nothing like being left alone again, to walk peacefully with oneself in the woods. To boil one’s coffee and fill one’s pipe, and to think idly and slowly as one does it. — Knut Hamsun
I was in the mood for flowers and I grabbed the sharpie and this happened. I have been hungering after making beautiful abstracts for a few years, now. I feel like I have finally stumbled upon my own style of beautiful abstracts. I am really enjoying these things. I hope you are, too.
This beauty is 8×10 sharpie and colored pencil on brown craft paper.
And the yellow sunflower by the brook, in autumn beauty stood. — William Cullen Bryant
This little drawing made me think of an Italian country kitchen as the sun was setting and slanting through the windows. So, I decided to name it “Evening in the Kitchen” in Italian.
I went to Publix the other day and as I was wandering around the produce section looking at all the little lovelies, I saw those tomatoes. I chose some particularly pretty ones and carefully took them to the cash register. I asked the cashier to be very careful, because I wanted them to stay attached to the vine. She laughed and turned to hand them to the bagger. I turned to the bagger and said to be careful because they were going to be in a still life painting. Suddenly his face got very serious and he handled them like they were gold. He wrapped them and placed them on the cart out of reach of the other groceries. He didn’t even ask me, he just automatically took my groceries out to the car for me. When we got to the car, he carefully lifted the bag with the tomatoes and handed them to me. I appreciated his appreciation for art.
I got home, set up a couple of still lifes, took photos, and took the tomatoes to the kitchen. Tonight I ate one. It was good.
The pitcher is one that Ron has had since before we were married. It is pewter and very heavy. It has sentimental value for Ron. Well, really for both of us, now.
This drawing was an experiment. I loved how the Trees turned out so much that I wanted to try other things. I like it. I like it a lot. I think I am going to do this style with lots of stuff. Fun, fun, fun!
Serata in Cucina is colored pencils and sharpie on 8×8 brown craft paper.
It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato. — Lewis Grizzard
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. I love them all. But, my favorite season is Autumn. I love the season and I love the word. Autumn. It sounds good. It looks good. It feels good rolling off the tongue. Autumnal. Even better… I so enjoyed doing these that I hated to see it end. I love trees. Don’t you?
These pictures are made with sharpie pens and colored pencils. They are approximately 7.5 x 10.5 on brown craft sketch paper.
Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore. There is always something to make you wonder in the shape of a tree, the trembling of a leaf. — Albert Schweitzer
I thought I would just do something quick and easy to just have a little fun. So, I got out one of my sketchbooks and decided to do a little tree. Well, I love it so much! I decided that I would make a series of trees for the four seasons.
This is mixed media (colored pencils and sharpie) on 9×12 tan-toned sketch paper. Next up? Winter, of course.
There is a time in the last few days of summer when the ripeness of autumn fills the air. — Rudolfo Anaya
The second in my Quiet Man series of drawings. If you have not seen the movie, you must. It is a wonderfully different kind of movie for John Wayne. Our family watches it regularly. Ron and I have even kicked around the idea of making a board game based on the movie. LOL! One of these days, maybe.
This is 11×12.5 graphite and white charcoal on blue-toned pastel paper.
He’s a nice, quiet, peace-lovin’ man, come home to Ireland to forget his troubles. Sure, yes, yes, he’s a millionaire, you know, like all the Yanks. But he’s eccentric – ooh, he’s eccentric! Wait ’til I show ya… his bag to sleep in – a sleeping bag, he calls it! Here, let me show you how it operates. — Michaeleen Og Flynn
We have a bunny that loves to come into our yard and just writhes in ecstasy when not eating the lovely weeds. He sits like a statue for a long time and then plops down and rolls. Every once in a great while he brings a companion and they frantically frolic. I could stand at the window forever and watch them.
This is oils on an 8×10 stretched canvas.
Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. — Hans Christian Andersen
This is the builder of the chicken tractor. He was hard at work building for several years while we were in Ohio. Those chickens were spoiled, that is for sure. The other day, I came across this photo and was struck with the colors, light, shadow, and just plain goodness, so I just had to paint it. It is oils on a 20×24 stretched canvas. We are done with chickens, but we talk about how we enjoyed them when we had them. We even play with the idea of getting some here… Nah.
If you know somethin’ well, you can always paint it, but people would be better off buyin’ chickens. — Grandma Moses
Virginia C. McCoy Fine Art 
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