Melanie Stokes – Page 9 – Melanie Stokes Art

January 18, 2019January 20, 2019

Promises

“Broken promises are worse than rain clouds that don’t bring rain.” Proverbs 25:14 CEV

This painting, presently on my easel, came to my mind when I read these words from the Bible. The imagery of rain clouds just teasing dry land is understood in this environment. The painting seems to illustrate the verse.

I’ve been painting this scene from a photo I had taken of what will become our new back yard. The 29 acres are fifteen minutes from Waco TX, between Mart, Axtell, and Hallsburg…what I like to call “in the middle of nowhere.”

We bought this property because it is only six miles from our son and his family. While looking for about five acres, we ended up with twenty nine! But a lease to pasture cows came with it. We love having the open spaces, and the front yard has seven big oak trees!!

I was the first one who saw the promise of a house in the steel barn on the property. Maybe it was because I had binge-watched “Fixer Upper” in preparation for moving to Waco! Maybe it was because I am a creative person and can see how to make things out of leftovers. We bought this place with the idea that it would be pretty simple to expand the 720 square foot apartment into about 2000 square feet of living space under the metal roof. Things are never as simple as they seem.

My “can do anything” husband drew up some house plans. For over a month we have researched, contacted and met with contractors to obtain bids for the project. Steve is presently doing demolition on the existing structure to get it ready to build into our vision.

I know there is a promise of a house here. (There is light at the end of this barn!) But, it seems like it is taking too long to see it fulfilled. Yet, I am grateful for a comfortable place to stay in the meantime (30 minutes away), which has wonderful scenes to paint, and trying to be patient about not having “my stuff” that is all stored away.

How many times do we find ourselves in the middle of a journey, only to feel that things are taking too long, going too slow, coming to dead ends? And then, we remind ourselves that if we are on this journey with God, we have His promise that He will never leave us, or forsake us, or break promises.

“With all my heart, I am waiting, Lord, for you! I trust your promises.” Psalm 130: 5

There is so much for which to be grateful! But that will be another blog entry.

December 31, 2018December 31, 2018

The Jumping Off Place!

…is not as scary as it appears to be.

When I paint, I often have realizations which I feel come from God, as He uses visual imagery to clarify direction for me. And sometimes, those images are solidified by phrases popping into my head that I may, or may not, have heard before.

As I painted this scene, I thought of my Mama saying, “It looks like you are going to the jumping off place!” Now, where in the world was the Jumping Off Place? When I was a little girl, she would use this comment if we were on a treacherous road, unable to see beyond the horizon line, or moving into unknown territory. As a child, I pictured the Jumping Off Place as the very depths of hell!

This composition caught my attention because I like the way the yellow grass of a road is highlighted, yet appears to be leading, who knows where, against the vast Texas sky…perhaps, leading to the Jumping Off Place! The clouds are a bit ominous in the foreground but there is light ahead, even though one can’t see where it leads!

We have recently moved four states over from Georgia to Texas. My husband and I packed and pulled our remaining possessions over the highways to land here in the Waco area. Some thought we were going to the Jumping Off Place! We are excited about a new chapter in life. We are pleased as punch to live in the same area as our oldest son and his family! We are tickled to death to get to sit by our two grandsons in “big church”! I am giddy with joy to have a daughter-in-law nearby who enjoys art shows!

But, when I look out the window at the yellow path, I can hear Mama say, “Looks like you are going to the Jumping Off Place!” And I smile. Because, though it is has had some scary moments, there is something a bit exciting about the unknown of the Jumping Off Place.

After painting this, I found out that this old road leads to a gate, which opens to a state highway. And the state highway leads, in both directions, to interesting places filled with interesting people! For you see, every road leads somewhere! Often we need to stop and wait for direction, maybe paint a picture or two, as God speaks about what to do next. We will approach with caution, but anticipation, to see what lies ahead.

December 13, 2018

The Month of the Move!

Well, November has been our month of journeys. Moving from Thomson, Georgia to Waco, Texas has included three trips westward with trucks and loads, one plane ride back to pick up a second vehicle, and more miles in GA than it takes to get to Waco, in order to take care of business, and the Thanksgiving Goodbye Tour! We stayed in nine different places in two weeks in five states. We have settled in as Texans just in time for Christmas!

Our oldest son and family live in Waco, and asked us to move “before we get too old.” Things began to fall into place, and here we are, beginning a new chapter in our journey. We are buying 29 acres and the beginnings of a house that we will renovate. Meanwhile, we have been given a place to stay as long as needed on an 80 acre ranch, through the hospitality of a kind and generous friend. I look forward to painting this peaceful setting and sharing it with you in the months ahead.

In November…

Painting on Peter’s Point – Amelia Island, FL
After weeks of packing, rather than painting, I was thrilled to have time to paint en plein air during a visit with family.

First Show in Texas!

I’m excited to begin this new chapter with an acceptance into a December Art Show at Cultivate712 Art Gallery in Downtown Waco! The theme “Sacred Reflections” seemed the right time to submit these two paintings. They will hang there for the month of December.

No matter if you are moving across the country, or travelling the same route every day, we all go through potholes, have flat tires, and get stuck at times. But we follow a Savior who knows the way and makes the path straight.

It’s all about the journey, remember. …And who travels with you on the way.

May our Christmas season reflect the path of Peace, available to us all year long, through Jesus Christ, our Savior!

Change of Address:
Steve and Melanie Stokes
PO Box 24062
Waco, TX 76702

Email addresses and cell phone numbers will stay the same.

October 19, 2018

Walking Through Wildflowers

Are you old enough to remember the opening scene of the Little House on the Prairie television series? You know, the one where Laura and her sisters are running happily through the waving prairie grass and swaying wildflowers?

Well, that’s the flashback I had when I was recently walking through wildflowers on a prairie near Waco, Texas. Two grandsons ran ahead, following the curving path their father had mowed. (I know Laura had to blaze the trail herself. It looks real picturesque on tv, but those grasses can cut and who knows what danger lies deep beneath them?) With the help of the pathway, we could enjoy the aesthetic, sensory experience in safety!

White flowers bloom for acres in August on the prairie. “Snow on the Prairie” is a fitting name. This day the storm clouds were beginning to bank themselves in the distance, providing a violet colored backdrop for the greens and white. The rain would be welcomed to give enough moisture for the next variety of flowers, waiting to spring forth from the cracked earth.

As we walked through the wildflowers, the boys ran ahead, delighting in finding trails that forked in two directions. The dog zig-zagged around in the tall grass, looking for whatever dogs look for. Our son and daughter-in-law walked and talked with us, as we explored and dreamed about the future. Eventually the boys came back around, the dog was called from his wanderings off the path, and all of us went back to the house to rest.

Walking through Wildflowers … if you lose your way, you simply follow the path toward home.

October 4, 2018

It’s A Dirty Job…

_________________________________________________________

“It’s a dirty job, but someone has got to do it.”

There is a lot of truth in that statement. Mike Rowe has proved that! I’m sure you can think of some dirty jobs you have had to do — like parenting, cleaning up after others, caring for your own house and family, packing to move! (don’t get me started.) Even if your vocation doesn’t involve dirt, there are times we all have to get our own hands dirty to get the job done.

We were at Bedford Greenhouses this past Wednesday, a place known for beautiful blooms and shafts of variegated green. And, there is a lot of dirt involved in a greenhouse setting! As I looked for something to paint, the yellow light at the end of the dirt alley caught my eye.

As I studied light and shadows, angles of rooflines and doors, I painted for a few hours. Several workers walked in and out of the greenhouses, carrying tools of a gardener, wearing gloves or not. As the day warmed, I noticed several wiping their faces of sweat. And I thought about the work that goes on behind the scenes to make those beautiful pots of flowers.

Isn’t that the way it is with anything that turns out beautiful, turns out finished, turns out worthwhile? A lot of hard work and sweat is behind any good project.

Think of recent successes in your life. How hard did you have to work to achieve it? Who were the people who got down to the nitty gritty of the project? Who were the ones who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, the ones who put the sweat equity into it? It may be hard to notice people behind the scenes. But if we take our eyes off the glamour of the moment, the fancy Facebook photos, the instant Instagram pictures, we will notice this reality of Real Life — anything worth accomplishing takes dirty, hard work, and time.

And, finally, as the flowers burst into bloom after the work is done, our lives bloom with blessings and light after a job well done!

melaniestokesart.com

September 13, 2018September 27, 2018

Even In A Storm

This post is for me, but you may read over my shoulder if you want to…

The day began with a flurry and a storm of activity! I was vacuuming my floor at 7:30 a.m., anticipating prospective buyers to come through the house in the afternoon. (Getting a house ready for realtors and sellers is not on my top favorites list. But now the house was clean and orderly, to the point of me becoming obsessive about it. ) My husband was checking off items on the Honey-Do list I had given him. The Weather Channel was stirring up panic in the minds of America about a hurricane that was predicted to run in forty directions and cause evacuations in three or four states. I received a text inquiring if our house could be used for evacuation while we were gone, if needed. And we were discussing our 1000 mile road trip with a UHaul, coming up in two days.

I could feel the tension in my neck. (Or maybe it was the barometric pressure from the storms brewing.) But I knew for my sanity, and my husband’s sanity, that I needed to keep my Wednesday appointment to paint!

When I arrived at Sacred Heart Cultural Center in Augusta, the “Women on Paper” group I paint with, was already scattered around in places. And they were all looking up!? So I did, too.

As I watched the billowy September clouds circling around the spires of the building, I relaxed. I painted. I pondered. “Keep looking up.” The words seemed to form in my head. “Keep looking up, even when your world is unsettled with all the factors spinning this way and that.” “Keep looking up, even in a storm. God is so much bigger than you, your house, your life. He is your Peace.”

I found my mind moving from myself to all the friends who are in the predicted path of this Hurricane. I wondered who might need to evacuate to our house that would be empty while we were away. I listened to the angry sounds of busy traffic just on the outside of the hedge behind me. I noticed the individuals who walked past on the sidewalks, with backpacks, a cup of coffee, and hungry eyes. And I prayed. I prayed, not that my house would sell, but that people would be safe, be fed, know Christ’s Peace.

I finished painting and left the group of women. They had listened and responded with encouragement when I whisked into place with all my morning drama. Friendships are gifts. And now, with a renewed peace and attitude adjustment, I went about the rest of the day.

May I keep looking up, fixing my eyes on Him, who is steadfast and stable, my Strength in all storms.

August 16, 2018

Daily Provision

I know hummingbirds don’t eat bread! But, when I see them each morning outside the window, fluttering around as if they are afraid there will not be enough to eat, this phrase of a prayer pops in my head: “Give Us This Day…”

My husband feeds these hummingbirds every day. They have been showing up every summer for about ten years. And each year they bring their friends to the buffet! This year the count is up to about forty at a time! (give or take a few blurs as you count) They found the provision in these feeders yesterday, and they expect to find it again.

“Give us this day, our daily bread…” This is the prayer Jesus taught his followers. Day by day, God provides what we need. (Note to self – I said, what we need, as opposed to what we can store up in our homes and then have to clean out when it is time to move!) God sent daily “manna” from heaven to His People in the wilderness. Remember how it rotted when they tried to store it and save it? God promised to send just enough for each day. Day after day, we go back to the One whom we know will provide… and we bring our friends!

July 14, 2018

Looking Toward Texas

This painting came about after a recent visit with my son’s family in Axtell (outside of Waco), Texas. I needed to paint it as confirmation that I could enjoy painting the landscapes there. For you see, we are looking toward moving to Texas. Yes, you read that right!

We are at the stage of life where one thinks about the future as one of the last chapters of one’s story (but hopefully a long chapter full of lots of action!). Both retired from our careers, we have been searching for where God would lead us next. So, without all the questions answered, we are remembering what Abraham did when God said, “Go.”

In the next months, we will be cleaning out, packing, selling, searching, settling and looking toward Texas. Yes, we will miss Georgia. Yes, we hate to say goodbye. But adventure beckons and you can still follow me on Facebook!

I hope to be involved quickly in the Waco arts community. There is a lot happening downtown with all the new energy created by Chip and Joanna Gaines, including new art galleries!

Steve, who always wanted to be a cowboy when he grew up, is looking forward to using all those woodworking tools he has collected for years, in a western setting. And we are both looking forward to being near Luke and his family, who have been Texans for over a decade.

If you need a painting from me before I leave Georgia, now would be the time! I would rather sell it to you than try to pack them all. Look on my webpage and give me a call.

Watch for updates as we look toward Texas!

June 30, 2018June 30, 2018

From the Heart

Most days I paint from life,

Many days I paint from photos,

Some days I paint from memory,

But, today, I painted from the heart!

Recently, I was in a discussion about “skill vs. talent.” As an art educator, I’m all for training and acquiring skill! We need to work at our skills to make them better. Even talented people need to understand why they innately make art a certain way and how they can use that knowledge. But talent is more about the way you are bent, the amazing things you do just because you are you. While developing skill to make art is important, if there is no passion or emotion involved, skill doesn’t always speak. And Art needs to speak!

You have heard musicians who are highly skilled. They never miss a note, but their rhythm is so steady and notes so exact that it sounds like a robot is playing the piano! But when you listen to a musician who slows down, or speeds up, or gets louder, or gets so quiet that you can hardly breathe… you could be moved to tears and whisper, “Now, that is talent!”

Maybe “talent” and “skill” are not the words you use to describe this phenomena. Maybe it is the “art evokes emotion” theory. However you describe it, I agree that if art does not elicit a response from others, it is in need of improvement. (Notice I didn’t say to throw it away. You can always learn how to improve!)

Painting from the heart happens best when there is no pressure to perform. This “Painting from the Heart” began on a landscape that had been sitting in the corner of my studio. It had made the gallery rounds and was a peaceful landscape, but did not really say anything. No one was moved to tears. So, to keep from wasting a perfectly good 24×30 canvas, I turned it vertical and spread Gesso over the middle. Suddenly a vase of hydrangeas began forming in my head. I got excited. This was a day, after several days, when I needed to paint something to process my emotions.

And as I painted, these words formed:

Most days I paint from life,

Many days I paint from photos,

Some days I paint from memory,

But, today, I painted from the heart!

This painting has served its expressive purpose for me as I painted. Now, I would love to hear the reactions it may bring from you!

June 15, 2018June 15, 2018

Stop and Smell the Gardenias!

Some days you just need to “stop and smell” the gardenias!!

I know, I know, I’m supposed to be focused on readying for ten kids in Art Camp on Monday. My studio shows evidence of that. I know, this painting hasn’t been commissioned and maybe no one will want to buy it. So, what?

Some days you just need to “stop and smell”… “be quiet and listen”…”be still and know.”

Every time I walk past the gardenia bush, I find myself slowing down, inhaling deep, and studying the soft petals. I ponder what color is really in that white…how dark are the shadows?…are they tinted warm or cool? And I thank the Creator God for his marvelous creation of gardenias. And I feel happy and loved. So today, I needed to paint that, as I spent a few hours in the quietness of worship in my studio.

Perhaps your avenue of “stopping and smelling” is not with paint. It might be in playing with a child, reading a book, writing your thoughts, petting a cat, watching birds, going for a walk, sewing or baking, maybe even taking a nap… As it says in Ephesians, “in all things, give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus to God.” We do.

In November…

Painting on Peter’s Point – Amelia Island, FLAfter weeks of packing, rather than painting, I was thrilled to have time to paint en plein air during a visit with family.

First Show in Texas!

This post is for me, but you may read over my shoulder if you want to…

Some days you just need to “stop and smell” the gardenias!!

Painting on Peter’s Point – Amelia Island, FL
After weeks of packing, rather than painting, I was thrilled to have time to paint en plein air during a visit with family.