Day 10 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days: “Be Still and Know” watercolor & ink on Canson, 140 lb, 6×6

With tonight’s entry, we are one-third of the way through this challenge, and I decided to try something different. I wanted to embellish a Scripture verse with watercolors. My original idea was to put a few flowers around the verse, but while there was some room for that on the 6×6 card, there was no room at all on the bookmark, so instead I went with a color wash across the entire surface.

This was actually my second attempt at tonight’s paint project. The first attempt failed because the ink from the Micron pen bled badly, since I used significantly more water for the background than I have used to paint the flowers. It looked really bad, so it went in the trash and I started over. For the second time around, I used a Sharpie oil-based paint pen for all the lettering. To create the background, I used three colors: purple, dark blue, and dark green from a set of Dollar Tree watercolors belonging to my daughter.

For each of the colors, I loaded the brush up well, then spread paint randomly on the page. When the entire page was filled with color, I took a wet brush with no paint in it and blended the colors together. Then continually rinsing the brush, I started in the upper right corner and worked my way diagonally down the page to the lower left corner, making parallel strokes to create textured lines in the colors. Then I loaded the brush again with each color in turn and spattered some of it onto the page. As the paint dried, I noticed a haze on the letters, so I went over them a second time with the paint pen.

One thing I discerned in tonight’s trial-and-error session is that I need to practice different styles of lettering. I really wanted the words still and God to pop, but the only thing I was comfortable with was thickening the downward strokes. What I really need is to write those words in a different font. It would also be nice to have an oil-based pen with a finer point. Hobby Lobby, here I come….

6×6 card and matching 3×6 bookmark

Like last night, I listened to another message on the Beatitudes while working. Tonight’s message focused on  Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The preacher presented seven ways to know whether you are poor in spirit. I have taken those points and written a poem about them. You may ask, “What does this have to do with Psalm 46:10?” Well, when you are poor in spirit, you will desire more and more to be still and know that He is God, for you will understand that He is everything and you are nothing. My poem is a prayer to God to put such a spirit within me.

A Prayer for Poverty

Father, wean me of myself
That I depend no more on my achievements.
Let me lose myself in the wonder of You
So I may find that You are all I need.
Put a finger on my lips if they be tempted to complain,
For the best You owe me is the worst of hell.
May these eyes of mine see only strength in others
While viewing only weakness in myself.
Let not Your ears grow weary of my prayers,
For beggars only know to beg.
I take You on Your terms, not mine;
Please take from me whatever holds me back from loving You.
For this and more I thank You, precious Lord;
Your grace is all-sufficient—I cannot ask for more.

Copyright © 2018 Angela Umphers Rueger – All Rights Reserved

If you are interested in joining the challenge, you can sign up at Leslie Saeta’s 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge and then post and/or view the other entries at the linkup.