Song of the Bride

This is one of my rare digital media works. It is based on my earlier Soft Pastel drawing 'Torch Bringer'. The special effects have been achieved with GIMP which I find to be a brilliant tool and great fun to work with. 

This image is based on a close up of the bride as she is found in the original picture. It seeks to give a stronger expression to the flow of her longing. As she draws closer to her bridegroom something new and fresh springs from the depth of her being like a new song - the song of the bride.

Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;

All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.

 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;

And His song will be with me in the night,

A prayer to the God of my life. 

Psalms 42:6,7 NASV

Season of Change

There is this feeling of change in the air, a change of colours and a change of the light. Its an early autumn, so they say.  So I set out to catch this season of change.

The picture you see here - Feather Fall - is based on the special flavour of the Quantock Hills area in Somerset, its unusual colours and beautiful rolling hills. 

One of the things that have come to my mind as I worked on this picture is that change sometimes happens like the fall of a feather - as light and soft - but come it will. And it comes with all the challenges and opportunities that changes bring. With the falling feather the expression of the drawing transitioned. What had been an idyllic landscape displaying summer turning to fall developed a different dynamic. It now holds the movement of the feather in time - the unfolding change. 

During the flow of my work the appearance of the falling feather brought a sense of expectancy to me. The promise that there is the One who will walk by my side through all the seasons of my live, through all the changes. In the flow of change there is one safe haven - knowing Him - Jesus.

To all things there is an appointed time, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1, GNV

He will cover you with his hand and 
under his wings you will find refuge.
His Truth is your shield and armour.

Psalm 91:4, GW 

~ Feather Fall - detail ~

Giving Life

~ Giving Life ~

This is the latest drawing in my current series. Very similar to the 'Woman at the Well', which I have done some time ago, I have tried to capture in this picture the lasting transformation that a spiritual encounter brings. With this drawing I carry this theme further to illustrate the changes in our personal world when the divine invades the ordinary. The dry places, the wilderness - and that may well be the wilderness of our hearts - are changed into a landscape full of signs of a living hope and wonder at the simple beauty of God's creation. The title ~ Giving Life ~ seeks to express the perpetual flow of life first received as the true fountain of life from Jesus - the true life. It also points to the overflowing abundance of the divine gift which transforms all that it touches. 

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

 Revelation 22:17 NIV

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.

From Psalm 139, NASB