melaniestokesart.com – Page 2 – Melanie Stokes Art

May 2, 2023May 2, 2023

First Spring

The new calf walks awkwardly, trying to get used to the way her legs work. And the mama cow, (we call her Red), walks along beside Little Red Pepper, casting a shadow of protection over her, as she experiences her first spring.

I enjoy watching cow behaviors! Sometimes Red walks beside, sometimes leading in front, and sometimes nudging her calf along from the back. But I can see patterns of protectiveness and guidance from the mother figure. And when she needs to graze further away, she leaves the little one in the care of the black angus that we call “Karen” (because Karen seems to be in everyone’s business).

Painted from my photo reference and experience, I enjoyed depicting this promise of spring. Red Pepper has been peppy from those first days. She is old enough now to run around the pasture, venture further from Mom, and is looking very healthy.

The warmth of spring light, the excitement of blossoms and flowers budding and blooming, and new life on the prairie always bring hope for days ahead. Walk forward in the light, little one, but come back near the herd when you need them.

February 23, 2023February 23, 2023

New Every Morning

melaniestokesart.com — New Every Morning
24×30 oil

This view: this huge expanse of a sky, with only a few distant wind turbines breaking the horizon, is what I see each morning when I walk out on my front porch. The colors, the shapes, the atmosphere, the smells or sounds may vary from day to day. But one thing I know for sure is that the view is going to be there. It will be new to me, every morning.

And it reminds me of an Old Testament Bible verse,

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Written at a time when God’s people had truly messed up, the prophet Jeremiah was lamenting all that was wrong. Yet, he doesn’t give up hope in the steadfast love of God and His faithfulness. He believed that God would not turn his back, would not grow weary of their shortcomings, would not hold back His love from them. New beginnings are welcomed by the God who provides a way for us to give up and start over. His mercies are new every morning!

And when I walk to the door, with my morning coffee, the sunrise reminds me that it is a new day, a new beginning, a new grace, an opportunity to be better than the day before, with God’s strength and through His love.

February 21, 2023February 22, 2023

Breakthrough!

I woke up early. It was a cold, cobalt blue kind of morning sky. I wasn’t sure if the sun was going to appear to warm the earth, or not. But when it did…WOW…the yellows and oranges spilled out, breaking through the shadows of blues, until the sky was brilliant with a breakthrough of color!

Can you remember times in your life when you had breakthroughs? For example, when someone helped explain something in Math that just seemed impossible to comprehend and then suddenly, you said, “Oh, now I get it!!” Now, that was a breakthrough. (hypothetically speaking, of course)

This painting reminds me that breakthroughs are good. Searching for truth and understanding is good. Looking for guidance with wisdom is good. Breakthroughs may change the way we look at the day ahead, as we are reminded of the Presence of God.

February 11, 2023February 11, 2023

Is the Grass Really Greener?

Usually, when I walk along the fence line of our property, the neighbor’s cows will turn their backs and move away from me. At first, one or two will leave, and then, the others will notice and begin a trot to move the entire group to safety in herd fashion.

On this day, they stayed, crowded together, and stared at the lady with the phone camera pointed toward them.

I liked the composition of their heads bunched together, the large interesting shape that they created standing in one dark mass, the “expressions” on their faces as they peered across the fence.

I imagined they were thinking (if cows think), “Is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence?” Is it?

Is that what we look like as we peer into the lives of others on social media? As we turn our backs to reality on our side of the fence? As we imagine “what ifs” and “wish I hads” until it becomes discontentment? Maybe so.

I snapped a few photos from which to paint, but it wasn’t long until the cows scattered and moved away. They bowed their heads toward the grass they already had and munched contently on the plenty.

September 22, 2022September 22, 2022

Separation Day

The Mama Cows gathered at the corral gate, wondering why the calves were being herded into the trailer, not knowing that the young ones were about to be taken away.

This was the scene I captured with my camera on the day that the year old calves were taken to another place. (We won’t speculate as to whether they were going to another grazing area or to market. The cows on our property belong to someone else, who leases the pasture from us.) We get attached to the cows, watch them from birth, give them names, feed them by hand (well, my husband does that.) And we are glad to have them on our acreage.

Being the novice rancher that I am, I did not expect what came next… As the truck and trailer rattled away with five calves, the cows began to bellow! And they bellowed and bellowed for about two days. They knew those babies were missing. They thought if they kept calling, they would come back. They knew they were supposed to be checking on them and keeping them safe.

As the wails went on, my “mama heart” hurt for their pain. Can cows have emotional pain? They wanted to care for their young, but the new distance was making that impossible. I thought about the times I’ve had physical and emotional distance from my own children. I thought about women who lose children through custody battles, illnesses, adoptions, and miscarriages. I thought about mothers and children and the heartaches that come with the joys. And then, I remembered… for goodness sake, we are talking about cows, here!

The stark contrast of the darks and lights drew me into the scene. The barricade of the gate seemed so final against their faces. The cows’ attention toward those leaving was a shared experience for the ones left behind. Their wails of mourning subsided after a few days. And, once again, the remaining cows became content to stroll from back to front pasture, searching for the perfect blade of grass.

October 28, 2021October 28, 2021

The Beauty of an Old Barn

This old barn is deserted, but still standing, beside County Line Road #939, near Mart, Texas. It grabs my attention each time I travel by. With the goal of painting its stately beauty, I stopped recently for a few photos in good light.

The gambrel style shape of the rusted tin roof may be the first thing that caught my attention. It’s red patina is smooth and beautiful, against a blue sky. But, the unique advantage of being able to see light coming through a window on the back side of the barn captured my emotion. The left side of the barn is whole, complete with a closed door. When one walks to the other side, the open wall reveals the darkness of the hollowed out void inside the deserted barn. Weathered wood and weeds winding inward guard the edges. Yet, there is that small window of hope where the light of the sky enters and shines through to the front.

And somehow, I identify. We have sides of us that are protected, closed up to risks and leery of dangers. But, every now and then, someone walks around to the other side and sees our soul; bare, raw, and open, allowing light to enter and come through the hollow spaces. There is beauty in aging gracefully against the wind. And strength in allowing light to shine through.

September 4, 2021August 21, 2023

Rest and Unrest

I have struggled with this painting for a few weeks in my studio. There were moments when I thought I was finished. And I let it rest… only to come back to it a few days later, pick up the brush, and continue to struggle with it more.

It was a peaceful painting when I began. The hay bales at rest in the freshly cut field, the soft clouds floating along with a breeze, and the muted colors described the peace I wanted to convey. But, then those Caracaras floated by… They are also called Mexican Eagles. Beautiful as they are, there is something foreboding about their presence. They are predators (for which I am grateful, for they eat the field mice). Yet, something about that one sitting on the hay bale, as if he rules the roost, just added a touch of unrest to my painting that brought the struggle.

Then, I began to see the message. The Rest and Unrest of Our World these days is the topic we can’t ignore. We are divided on opinions. We struggle with what is true. We are encouraged one minute and disappointed the next. The peace that we know is invaded by predators that we are not sure about.

I decided to leave the Yin and Yang feeling in my painting. I can’t ignore it in reality. I have to learn to make peace with it, just as I have learned to make peace with my environment. My peace comes from an eternal God who reaches down and offers his Peace to us through accepting that Jesus is our Savior from this fallen world. God’s Peace is bigger, brighter, and more lasting than the predators of this world. I will continue to rest in that thought. (And I’m laying down the paintbrush on this one.)

April 21, 2021August 21, 2023

It’s Bluebonnet Season!

It’s Bluebonnet Season in Texas! And that means plein air painters are traveling the back roads, looking for the perfect scene to paint their annual bluebonnet painting! I haven’t found a field of bluebonnets in a good location yet. But the close up studies have been really fun. And from that, painting the larger 20×20 reminded me of painting hydrangeas in Georgia! (Some of my GA friends may recognize the same style.)

Those of us in Central Texas are glad to see the bluebonnets blooming! It’s another sign that spring is here – new life, longer days, sunshine and brighter colors!

If you’ve got the winter blues, maybe a bluebonnet painting would take care of that:

…or a walk through the bluebonnets…that’s a sure cure for the blues, too! Happy Spring!

December 15, 2020

Winter Comes

Winter blows in and the earth is enshrouded with a cloak of clouds, dropping temperatures to freezing points that hinder or stop all growth below. Colors cool, greens fade to pale, and hay grass gives in to the wind and falls softly in submission to the season.

The mighty winds are the only ones moving, as they howl and billow over the earth. Plants retreat into dormancy, creatures burrow down to hide from the cold.

And all the while, we watch and listen and wait and hope that life will be restored in the promise of spring.

August 22, 2020August 21, 2023

Clouds and Hay Bales

On a windy day in central Texas, one will notice the fluidity of clouds, the constant change in the sky, the light and dark, the subtle shifts of color and shape, the strong gusts, the temperature rising, and the temperature drop, which happens when the sun goes down. When I go outside, I never know what kinds of clouds will appear that day. It’s entertaining, brings beauty, but can be frightening when the winds come on us too strong!

I’ve been thinking about how I rather like the constant state of the hay bales. The weighty strength of just sitting there in a tidy package, unbothered, immoveable, seemingly content. They shine like gold in the heat of sun. They have promise of being useful one day.

I have begun to compare myself to these bales, when I ponder the state of flux in my world in 2020. When I look at news, scroll Facebook, and listen to conversations around me, I can get swept up in a gust or two, I can jump on a bandwagon and spin around, or I can change from light to dark in a matter of minutes, just like clouds. But thinking about these hay bales… I find more peace in just hiding under them, just staying grounded in who I am and the God in whom I trust. He is grander than hay bales or clouds of confusion.

I pray the winds of change, discord, frustration, and confusion will become calm when the temperature drops. I have never seen this country so divided and volatile, so explosive and angry, so hurtful and selfish. I am ready for the winds to blow over, in God’s timing and God’s ultimate will. Until then, I will hide under these mighty hay bales and look for beauty.