Just down the road and around the corner is a yellow Nash Metropolitan. I don’t know what year model it is.
I don’t know how long it has sat there in the yard, but it’s been there a long time.
One day a few weeks ago I drove by it on the way out and thought to myself, “I ought to try to do a painting of that.” So, as you can see, I did!
I changed the background a little and left out personal things belonging to the homeowner, but the tree and the car are as they are, just there.
I can only imagine how many people over the years have knocked on the door of the house and inquired about purchasing the old Nash only to here, “Well, it’s not for sale. I plan on fixing it up one day.”
Yeah, right. Heard THAT before.
So, after doing this painting, I’m considering doing more of other kinds of automobiles.
Ah, Dory. Totally clueless for the most part, but totally and perpetually the optimistic swimmer. She barely had an idea where she was going, but she just kept “swimming, swimming, swimming.”
Sometimes that all I can do when it comes to painting. When I barely know what I’m doing, I just keep painting, painting, painting.
Every painting I start, doesn’t matter what it is, I have this gut feeling that I won’t be able to finish it. It’s like every project I set out to paint seems more than I should be able to do. I mean, I haven’t been painting all that long (less than 2 years), and already the expectations people have of me are far greater than I consider myself able.
But what do I do? I just keep painting. For eventually, with enough trial and error, I end up with a piece of art.
The painting I’m showing you today is one that I did yesterday for my brother-in-law, Carlos. My sister asked me if I could do a portrait of his late dog Cosmo (originally a Romanian stray, I think). At first I was excited to do so, but then I remembered how that I’ve done very little painting of animals, and they weren’t that good.
However, upon accepting the request, I decided to give it my best, take my time, and see what I could do. And to be honest, the moment I sat down in front of a photo of Cosmo, I was intimidated. Unlike static structures, living things have a lot more shades of color. On top of that, when you change something very minor, a familiar face can become a stranger. Therefore, I was nervous.
But then, once I got started, all I had to do was take one step at a time. The first thing was to do a preliminary pencil sketch, which included determining where colors would be divided. After that, I started with light washes of neutral colors on which I would add darker and darker shades. Then, when all that was done, I would start “fine tuning” the details like blending and edging. All it really took was time and patience.
Herein lies a lesson for life. When there are times we feel incapable of the task that has been set before us, most of the time, if we will just keep swimming, not only will we finish, but we will often learn something new along the way, something we can use next time to make the harder challenge attainable.
So, if you feel like you can’t do whatever it is you need to do, don’t give up. If God has called you for something specific, He’s already placed inside of you the talent. Trust Him, and just keep painting. It will turn out beautiful in time.
You know, it was just a year ago that I started painting in earnest. Up until then I only drew stuff for fun, other than when I illustrated the stories in my school bus book.
However, a recent painting I completed for a client (a commissioned work) has stirred a lot of response. On one Facebook page it’s garnered over 2,100 likes and 631 comments! It is a painting of an actual pond in Sandersville, Georgia, called Doolittle Pond. If you Google it you will find it on just about any Georgia map.
The painting is of the south side of the pond where a couple of old structures dating back to the 1800’s still stand. The actual property is a little more wooded and shady, but he wanted me to “clean up” the view so that the buildings could be seen clearly.
Instead of the cold-pressed paper I usually use for watercolor or Gouache, I went with a 12’x24″ stretched canvas made for watercolor. I am glad I did because the pond – the water part – was a real challenge! I had to “erase” it and redo it 3 times before I was happy!!
Needless to say, I put FAR more hours into this than I planned. The agreed price doesn’t even come close to what it’s worth, really. The owner is getting a steal of a deal 😉
But if you like it, you can contact me via email (pastoracbaker@yahoo.com) and I can provide options and pricing for prints. You can also follow me on Facebook at @AnthonyCBakerArt and/or my website (under development) WallHoleCoverings.com.
AND, if you’d like for me to paint something for you, I’m always willing to negotiate – especially for a watch 🙂
“Doolittle Pond” 12×24″ Watercolor & Gouache on stretched canvas
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. – Matt. 5:16
First things first, I’m cranking up the writing engine again! [Should there be an apostrophe before “again”?]
Anyway, yes, I’m knocking the rust off the old WordPress “publish” button. Time to get back in the fray with my fellow bloggers! I’ve missed you guys (and gals).
But this post is only going to be a quick commercial for my art. I would love for you to take a look. If you see anything that sparks your interest, let me know.
If you have something you’d like for me to paint, I’d be happy to consider it. I’ve already got a few houses and churches in the works, so jump now before the wait gets too long … now THAT would be a blessing!
Oh, and that white bucket truck is a painting, not a photo. 🙂
Last thing, try to go to church somewhere this Lord’s Day.
In Sandersville, Georgia, just a few miles south of me, is an old jailhouse. What makes it special is that up until the 1980’s it was one of the very few jailhouses where the Sheriff actually lived!
Now the jail is a museum and also houses the historical archives for the area. However, because of tourism being down, like with most places, they could use some extra funds to keep things up and going.
If you would like to purchase a print of the painting I did of the jail, click on the link below and 75% of the profit will go to the museum.
Greetings, my friends. Maybe you’ve noticed, but my writing here on the blog has been becoming more and more infrequent. I hate it, but it was bound to happen.
Unfortunately, I love to write, and because I have not been writing much lately, my soul feels like a wet sponge that hasn’t been wrung in a long time – a little sour. Honestly, that’s the whole reason I am writing at this moment. I need to wring some stuff out.Â
That just sounded gross.Â
I Love to Paint
But there is something else in my life, not to mention watches, that has taken up my free time: it’s painting. Not only do I love to write, but I also love to create things on paper with paint. And when people find joy in what I paint, like when they comment on how something I’ve written helped them, I feel a sense of accomplishment that few other things offer.
I say all that because one of the reasons I’ve not been writing much is my painting. When I get focused on my art (and writing is similar), I forget about other things and time tends to get away from me.Â
The Time Has Come
But speaking of time getting away, I’ve been putting off something for a long, long time, and it’s way past time to finish what I started.
For several years I have been chipping away at a doctoral degree. As a matter of fact, for the last 3 years, I have been so close to finishing it’s not even funny. But everything from surgery, moving a couple of times, deaths in the family, the daily work of ministry, two pastorates in four years, an empty nest, a mother with cancer, and not to mention all that had to be done to pastor a church through COVID-19… all of these things took precedent and my degree was placed on the back burner.
But now the time has come – I must finish my D.Min. requirements in order to graduate in July.
One reason the time has come is that the “time is up” for my mother. Hospice is now in charge of her health care and she has been given, at the most, 6 months to live. If the truth be known, she wasn’t expected to live this long with stage-4 pancreatic cancer.Â
I want to get my doctorate while my mother is still alive to see it. I told her, “OK, Mom, you’ve got to live until July.” She said, “OK.”Â
Because of this, I cannot guarantee that I’ll be around very much. Just think about me now and then when you haven’t heard from me and I’ll keep you updated on the progress – and my mother.
God bless, Anthony
P.S. I would always love it if you’d buy a painting or a print 🙂 Look me up at @AnthonyCBakerArt on Facebook!
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
James 4:2 (KJV)
I’m Just Asking
Maybe you’ve done all your shopping. Maybe you only plan to purchase a few small gifts for your dearest loved ones. Maybe it’s just you and your significant other – no kids, no relatives, nobody you like at work – and you’re only getting a single gift for each other.
Whatever your situation may be, unless you are out of work and broke, I am going to ask you to consider how you can gift me with some items I would like to have.
In the above verse, James said, “You have not, because you ask not.” Evidently, people will literally start wars and kill people over “stuff” they want. I don’t want that! I want peace! That’s why I’m asking 🙂
Let’s avoid that whole global conflict nonsense, shall we?
My List
So, if you have been looking for somebody to buy for, or if you have extra money in your investment accounts that you need to burn, please allow me to share with you some options. The following are items I would like for YOU to purchase and give to ME.
Ready?
As you can see, the Tudor looks pretty good on my wrist. It could even help me tell the time!
A Watch. It doesn’t have to be too expensive, nor does it have to be a specific style; I just like watches. But if you want me to ask for specifics, sure, I can do that!
Rolex Explorer (or pretty much any other model)
Tudor Black Bay 58 with the metal bracelet. But of course, I’d take pretty much any Tudor watch, within reason.
It’s early Sunday morning, like only 7 minutes in at the time of this writing. So what am I doing up so late?
Well, I’m an emotional wreck, for one thing. I’ll give you one guess why, and it has nothing to do with the price of Disney World season passes.
Regardless, I’ve got to live life and bring a little joy into people’s lives where I can. And where it’s possible, tell them about Jesus.
And one way that God has given me an open door to talk about His majesty and grace is through the gift and talent of art. That’s why I’m trying to waste no time taking my painting seriously.
I would love for you to check out my online store by clicking on the link below. There you will be able to order prints, even the original paintings, if you’d like.
I only started working on the store this afternoon, so it still needs a little tweaking. There are more paintings to add, but I’ll have to get to those a little later in a day or two.
The Recovering Legalist 