My artwork has taken an unexpected journey this year. I have been drawing in pencil and graphite, and recently I have returned to oil painting after nearly 40 years.
Faraway Thoughts has been accepted into the Regional Fine Art Show at Lincoln Gallery.
Faraway Thoughts
I’ve been reading a lot of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien this year. These authors have a way of inspiring me to think beyond my own little world. Lewis and Tolkien were men of deep faith. They have given epic stories to the world, taking us beyond ourselves, on a great journey of good vs. evil.
In the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien takes me to Middle Earth, into a world of mystical magic, into the saga of good vs evil.
I’ve also been reading the Bible this year, as I have been reading it and listening to it daily for more than 20 years. The Bible is full of heroic battles of good vs evil, with fantastic, mystical, supernatural events. The Bible is corroborated by other ancient writings; it is an epic and true story. Each book of the Bible contributes to the overarching story, of the greatest Good which overcomes all evil.
Let Your Light Shine
The more I read the Bible, the greater my God is to me. The more I read the Bible, the more I hear His voice telling me who I am, and Who He is. The Bible shows me how deeply I am loved, and how my life is not about me. I am but one small hobbit in a much greater story.
In the Lord of the Rings, I would be a hobbit for sure. I am small. I like my cozy home in the shire, and enjoy my food, books, tea, and friends.
In the third book of the LOTR trilogy, hobbits Merry and Pippin realize that they no longer have the choice to simply return to their cozy home in the shire. They are in the middle of a great battle, which, if evil wins, will mean that the evil will spread, and there will be no more shire.
I feel like that is what is happening to the shire where I live. Maybe you feel it in your shire too? We have lived in Loveland for 25 years. Our little shire has grown, and many good things have happened. But evil has also crept in, bringing higher crime, homelessness, and a dysfunctional city council. My heart is grieved as I read our local news about crime and traffic deaths. Granted, it’s not all bad news. I also read encouraging stories about people in our city in our local paper.
This morning in my Bible, I read one of my favorite chapters, Romans 12. Romans 12 transforms my mind to see who I am, and what is my purpose. It reminds me that my gifts are serving and leading. I am so grateful to be able to serve and lead in the Thompson Valley Art League (TVAL). Our non-profit art league has 125+ members. I am encouraged and delighted to be a part of this organization that owns and operates Lincoln Gallery in downtown Loveland. We are a group of people with diverse talents and gifts. Because I see some of their Facebook posts, I know that we represent a broad spectrum political persuasions. And yet we do not let that divide us. We are united in our love for art, and for creating a better community through art.
Please support Lincoln Gallery and the Thompson Valley Art League by voting for us. We are in the running for 3 categories: Best Gallery, Best Gift Shop, and Best Jeweler. CLICK HERE TO VOTE
An Unexpected Journey
Recently, some of our artist friends have been evacuated from their homes in their shires in the mountains just west of Loveland. Some have even lost their homes and art studios in the Alexander Mountain fire. Like dwarves forced from their mountain home in LOTR, they must now enter a new chapter of their lives. Like The Hobbit, they are now on an unexpected journey.
There’s never a good time for a wildfire. And this one is no different. The wildfires in the Rocky Mountains have come during the height of tourist and art festival season. Next weekend (August 10-11) is the biggest art weekend of the year in Loveland. Art in the Park (AITP) is the longest-running outdoor arts festival in Colorado. It is TVAL’s biggest fundraiser of the year, held in North Lake Park (29th & Taft). We will have 250 artisan and fine art booths, live music, food trucks, and two beer/wine gardens. Entrance is free. Click here for more info about times and shuttles.
Each of our TVAL members contributes to making a huge art event happen. And we will make it happen, come rain, shine… or fire.
As we approach the biggest art weekend of the year, I feel the importance of the arts. Art is a weapon in the spiritual battle. It takes you to a place beyond yourself, helping you to see beauty. Art is essential, and Loveland knows it. Art has the power to bypass the walls around the human heart, piercing into the soft places. Art has the ability to transform you, to bring you hope, and to give you peace.
Art speaks into the life of one little hobbit who has a great responsibility, sometimes a heavy burden, and a great purpose. Art gives hope to the dwarf who lost his beloved mountain home. Art gives courage to the warrior who must fight the battle called life.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you and give you peace.
Keep creating. Keep loving. Be a light in the darkness. Release the fragrance of heaven. You are a masterpiece.
Comments