Texas Prairie – Page 2 – Melanie Stokes Art

January 12, 2022January 13, 2022

His Mercies Are New Every Morning

Each morning, when I open window blinds, I look toward this row of trees in my yard. It is a morning refreshment to see the rising sunlight shower its brilliance on the leaves of the oak tree. As the sun rises, the color of light on these trees often gives a foreshadowing of what kind of weather we can expect.

On this particular morning, stormy weather was on its way out and breezes were blowing clouds across the sky to dust away dreariness. A couple of bucks had rested for the night and were stretching toward nourishment for another day.

Sunlight has a deep impact upon my ability to feel refreshed and energized. There is much to be said about a good dose of natural Vitamin D! Even on cloudy days, we know the light of the sun is still there. But when the sun shines bright, it refreshes my soul!

Morning refreshment for me also includes having a few cups of coffee, while reading Scripture and devotional thoughts (before I jump into social media.) This painting makes me think of the phrase, “His mercies are new every morning,” so I pulled it up from the Bible:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.'”

Lamentations 3:22-24ESV

December 14, 2021December 14, 2021

In Green Pastures

“He makes me lie down in green pastures…”

The words of Psalm 23 came to me as I painted.

One day last winter, I stopped and took a photo of neighboring cows. The scene caught my attention because in a landscape of bare winter trees, the cows were resting contently on the verdant green grass; lush grass that seemed out of place in winter on the Blackland Prairie soil.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures…” Are there times when God does help us slow down, stop, or lie down long enough to look at the green pastures of provision he gives amidst the harshness of life? Maybe so.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.” Psalm 23. Surely, He does, … with goodness and mercy.

October 9, 2021October 9, 2021

More Cows!

melaniestokesart.com — She’s Got That Look 20×20 oil $425

Friends who know me know that with this move to Texas, I have become acquainted with cows for the first time. I paint cows because I watch them daily on our central Texas property. The sunlight on their hides create planes of color that interest me. They parade by several times a day, based on their whims of grazing. These “girls” have been together for about a year and seem to have a hierarchy of their own personalities. (Well, they do in my imaginative mind, anyway.)

The one with “the look,”is most easily spooked by us when we walk in the pasture. She is always the first one to pop her head up from grazing. She gives me that spooky look, like she doesn’t trust me, and it is a reciprocal feeling. I am spooked by getting too close to her. We call her “Spooky.”

We lease the land to a young man who has all the responsibility of the ownership of the six cows. We get the benefits of having them entertain us as we share their space… and step over their fertilizer. (!)

These paintings were an experiment in complementary colors. I began with Venetian Red and used Burnt Sienna and Black to create the various red shades. Ivory Black (or maybe some Mars Black, depending on which one I picked up) and Yellow Ochre gave the greens for the complementary background. Both Titanium and Warm White were used. And maybe you can spot a bit of Radiant Red (pink) in a few spots. All the mixing and smudging and wiping made it fun.

As I watch cows move slowly through each day, I wonder if they are bored. I wonder if they wish the boundaries would take them further. I wonder if they plan where they are going to sleep each night. I know. I wonder too much and need to get out more! But, that’s the Story Behind the Cow Paintings.

August 22, 2021August 22, 2021

Fences and Freedom

On a day when I feel the particular sadness of this 2021 World so heavy in my soul, I happen to be painting the barbed wire of a fence. This fence is overgrown with vines, choking and holding something in or out, dividing the acreage by imposing restrictions on its natural order. It is an image that contrasts against the beauty and freedom of the vast sky behind it. The painting was started days ago without any of these thoughts. I’m getting back to it on this day, just when I need the revelation it brings.

I am downcast, carrying pain, both the deep pains I feel for others, and concerns of my own. I know that pain and worry need to be cast away. Some days it is difficult to shake off. Some days it seems I am begging God all day in my prayers. Sometimes I think I empathize too much.

But today, as I paint, my Creator God reminds me that He is there in the beauty of the background. He is always there in power and strength, always offering His Spirit to guide, always providing assurance of life that cannot be choked out by the evil in this world. His love, given through Jesus Christ, can never be choked out.

In this politically divided climate of 2021, my soul longs for a way for us all to reconcile and live in peace with each other, agreeing to disagree, respecting opinions as opinions. That is what freedom in America has looked like in my lifetime. I’m still hopeful. But, if it doesn’t look that way anymore, I can cling to the freedom I have in heaven.

I’m reminded of a song: “Gonna lay down my burdens, down by the riverside, down by the riverside, down by the riverside…and study war no more. Gonna lay down my sword and shield, down by the riverside…and study war no more.”

I pray for a healthy balance between fences and freedom for all of us.

March 23, 2021September 29, 2022

Gentle Nudges

Gentle nudges, whispers of wind, light plays with shadow, fresh air inflates the lungs, sounds of birds are singing for miles, smells of spring grasses rise from the earth…breathe again.

It’s been a winter. A time of illness, sadness, cold. But with this painting, I feel the gentle nudges of a vast God, who reminds me that He is always there.

December 26, 2020August 21, 2023

O Holy Night!

Recently, we stood outside, gazing up at the night sky, feeling the cold wind, sniffing the smells of the prairie as smoke wafted from the fire pit. We saw the brightest stars, the planet alignment, the bright lights of the city on the horizon. And we worshipped in our souls. We cried from weary places. We looked up and remembered. We bowed with humble hearts. A divine night.

O Holy Night – (a song by Placide Cappeau and Adolphe Adam)

O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

December 3, 2020

With A Swish…

Caught By Surprise
16×20 oil on gallery wrapped canvas
$225

We hunt with cameras – my husband and I. (Not that we are against guns, or have not had venison in the freezer many times.) But, when we walk together, we hunt with cameras. One such adventure is the Story Behind the Painting, Caught By Surprise!

For several days we had spotted ducks in our pond, only to see them fly away before we got very close. Steve devised a plan to sneak up on them. The next morning, we left the path and swung wide to walk through high grass to the back side of the dam. Quietly making our way up the grassy hill to come out behind mesquite for camouflage, we peeked out to see, not 10 or 20, but 75 to 100 assorted types of ducks enjoying our pond! As the clicks of our cameras alerted them, they began leaving in groups, rising up over us in a swish of wind, wings and whistling sounds. It was a magical moment!

I watched them take flight. It seemed like chaos with their first lift-off, but they quickly retreated into line formations and soared in sync to the next body of water. Some small groups lingered a little longer in our waterhole, but then left together, following the path of the others. And then the pond was empty. The water stilled. The sky was open. And the moment was gone.

Photographs and Paintings — our way to hold on to the magical moment, just a little while longer!

October 25, 2020September 18, 2022

Higher Than Our Ways

I feel very small at times, living on this Texas Prairie. The skies, the clouds, the distant views, the ever-changing wind and even the tall windows in my home, take my line of vision upwards. In this world of big open space, I often feel small.

As I painted this skyscape, I was reminded of words from Isaiah 55:8 (I looked it up.) Basically, God tells us that his ways and thoughts are higher than ours, just like the heavens are higher than the earth. Whether or not it is figurative language, I think he means that there is no way I’m ever going to understand all His ways. And somehow that is comforting. It was always comforting in childhood to know that my parents knew things I didn’t, that they had my best interest in mind, that I didn’t have to worry about it. It’s kinda like that with God. His ways and thoughts are so beyond my finite mind.

When I think of God’s ways and thoughts compared to mine, again, I feel small. And I’m reminded that it’s not about me. But that the Heavenly Father, who loves me, has it under control.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ” Psalm 19:1

April 14, 2020April 14, 2020

Hunker Down at Home!

The Coronavirus of 2020 – Time stood still while we all hunkered down in our homes until further notice was given.

This painting is of our home. It is a solid, roomy structure for both my husband and me, with more than necessities inside. It sits on flat land, surrounded by pastures and the movement of cattle and birds. The sky is ever-changing! The wind blows at varied speeds. Even the ground changes when it rains! But the home is solid, stable, and constant in the midst of motion. For that, I am grateful.

As I paint and think about Sheltering in Place, I wonder about those who have no home, those who have a transient lifestyle, and those whose homes were recently destroyed by storms. I wonder about those who are packed into crowded quarters, and those who are used to different schedules in different places, and now, all together in one place. I wonder about those who live with abusers, addicts, alcoholics with raging tempers, and hate. I wonder about those who are bored with each other, finding new ways of ignoring each other. I wonder about the dynamics of strained relationships and quirky personalities. I wonder about the children. I wonder…and pray.

September 4, 2019September 6, 2019

Running Low

I’ve been watching the water level in the pond get lower and lower with the summer heat. The edges now show yellowed grasses that were once rooted deeply in the water. The fish fins pop up and I wonder if they are getting crowded as the water shrinks in August weather.

This morning I woke before sunrise and went out on the porch to drink coffee. I studied colors as I watched the peachy pink sky become lined with lavender and explode into orange, as the bright ball of sun said, “I’m back! And ready to heat things up and soak up all the moisture I can find!”

It’s been a while since I had an opportunity to paint outside. I’ve been working on a commission, (which is a great plan for days when air conditioned studios are preferred.) But I was missing my interaction with nature and my communication with the Creator, as painting outside is my favorite form of worship.

I knew if I only drank one cup of coffee and grabbed my paint gear, I could get out there before the heat became miserable. But I sat and stared. I was running low, as low as that water level dipping below the reeds. My mind had been overloaded with this thing we call life; too much going on, too many decisions to make, too much noise and too many interruptions. Can you identify? I needed to be alone with God and paint, to see the things He wants me to see, both visual and spiritual. So I picked up my backpack and easel and drove to the other side of the pond.

I saw the beauty of the water’s edge, the light and shadow in the surroundings, the cool yellows of morning light, and the white and purple blooms of the wildflowers produced by the August heat. And I began to feel reassured that I’m surrounded and supported by God’s love and goodness, His direction and provision. Thus, my spirit soared and was renewed.

By 9:30 a.m. the sun had made its way over me and pushed me indoors. I packed up as I chuckled about the irony of someone naming an August wildflower “Snow on the Prairie,” despite the August heat! It must have been due to wishful thinking.

Here’s to the days we are “running low” and praying for the desire to overcome it. My wishful thinking has something to do with hoping my energy level will rise.

Isaiah 40:31 says “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings of eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

Oh yes! I am hanging on to that. Maybe you needed to hear that, too.