A Penelope In My Pocket Christmas Party

You are invited...

Penelope In My Pocket is having a Christmas Party!

Saturday December 18, 2010 2-4 pm at

Penelope’s Workshop

15960 Santa Fe Trail Leavenworth, KS 66048

All guests attending will automatically be entered in a drawing to win this original watercolor painting titled: "

Matthew 25"

This painting is presented in a beautiful 8x10" frame.

You are invited to come do some last minute shopping in the artist's studio (my kitchen/living room, that is) before the Big Day. (Meaning Christmas Day!)
Enjoy some lovely refreshments with some equally lovely company. Yeah, I am talking about ladies who love art and love pretty things made from art! (Of course, guys can come too.)

Tons of goodies... bookmarks, coffee mugs, earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces in all sizes and shapes, hair clips, ornaments, paper flowers, original paintings and much more!!! All starting as low as $2! And all made from whimsical and colorful artwork!

I really hesitate to try to market myself to my friends... I mean, I don't want to come across like I am using my friendships to sell stuff.

Can I share a few secrets with you?

I don't know what the future holds but in the next few years I hope to enlarge my art business to be able to fully support my family. Right now, I am only able to bring in part of what we need to supplement my income. I am not sure what God wants me to do but I know it will have to do with art. That is why I am exploring all the different ways I am able to market this thing that I do. I want to be faithful to what He has given me to do. It is an exciting journey and I invite you to join me!

Anyway, we will see how it goes!

Another thing that I am passionate about is the biblical call to put into action what we believe. That being to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, visit the sick, stand up for justice, care for the widow & orphan, and be a voice for those with no voice. My church has really caught this vision.

As Christ-Followers there is no way we can represent Jesus if these things aren't what moves us. I know I can't do much by myself. But I can do what I can to be a part of something bigger than myself! Last week at church there was this awesome speech by our missions pastor about what Westside Family Church is doing to fulfill these needs. I need to get re-fired up every once in a while. This was exactly the pep talk I needed to be reminded of what I can personally do to ease the suffering of people in the world.

Our pastor showed a picture of a baby with full blown AIDS. She didn't even look human. More like a baby animal. My heart broke! The baby could have been saved with a $5 dose of medicine. But $5 was a month's wages for the baby's mother. The baby died. All I could think about was how that little life mattered. And how that child deserved someone to notice the color of her eyes, the way she lit up when she did her favorite thing, someone to see her worth in the world. The same way I cherish the special things about my kids. But somehow, there are baby's thrown away in the world like they are not as important as even an animal. I am not saying this particular baby was not loved, but I know it is true that many children are not. There are so many more heartbreaking things I could tell you. The fact that humans in America are being sold into slavery. Mainly, children. Sexual Slavery. And it is not on the west and east coast. Kansas City is the hub for sex trafficking in the U.S. I can't even believe or imagine the horrors that are going on behind closed doors in our city. These hurting children need a voice. Well, I am so relieved to say that there are people joining together to stop these tragedies. My church Westside Family (based in Lenexa, KS) is launching an initiative to share God's love with those in need. It is called Impact 2011. I plan to raise all the support I can to give to this organized response toward solutions for suffering. The giving supports these specific causes: justice, orphan care, spiritual restoration, education, poverty, and health.

You are probably wondering what all this has to do with Penelope In My Pocket's Christmas Party! It has a lot to do with it, because 20% of every purchase will be going to this Impact 2011 program.

Many people wonder how God can sit back and let suffering go on in the world. Why doesn't he DO SOMETHING about it? Well, have you ever thought that maybe WE are His answer? He is using His body of Christ-Followers to be a solution.

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." - Matthew 25

So if you like art and you also have a passion to help the hurting: here is a fun thing you can do!

Come to Penelope's Christmas Party on Saturday December 18, 2010 at 2 pm!

Recent Wall Murals

I thought I would share a few recent wall murals I have done.

This first one of the tree is in a nutrition shake shop in

downtown Leavenworth, KS...

The next mural is on a wall in a loft, also in downtown Leavenworth.

It is really fun getting to stretch my creativity and do some things other than kids room walls. I love to do colorful whimsical but I am discovering I like new challenges too!

I think I am finding my niche!

This is a collection of five paintings inspired by

Song of Solomon chapter 2

~ acrylic paintings on canvas ~

The Season

^{(featured above)}

^{Song of Solomon 2:13}

The fig trees are producing their early fruit.

The flowers on the vines are giving off their sweet smell.

Rise up and come, my love.

Come with me, my beautiful one.

size: 24 x 36"

$225

Singing

^{(featured above)}

^{Song of Solomon 2:11 & 12}

Look! The winter is past.
The rains are over and gone.
Flowers are appearing on the earth.
The season for singing has come.

size: 17 x 23"

$200

Hiding Place

^{(featured above)}

^{Song of Solomon 2:14}

The king says,
'You are like a dove in an opening in the rocks.
You are like a dove in a hiding place on a mountainside.'

size: 16 x 20"

$150

Little Fox

^{(featured above)}

^{Song of Solomon 2:15}

Let me hear your voice.

Your voice is so sweet.

Your face is so lovely.

Catch the foxes for us.

Catch the little foxes.

They destroy our vineyard,

The vineyards are in bloom.

size: 11 x 14"

$50

Threads

^{(featured above)}

^{Song of Solomon 2:4}

Your banner of love is lifted high above me.

size: 9 x 12"

$25

If you are interested in purchasing these original works of art,

feel free to contact me.

Curls, Spurls, Solar Systems, and Inspiration

Curly Cues sure are popular. You see them everywhere. I just now looked around to notice all the things around me that have them. On my dresser is an earring rack in the shape of a tree with curlies for branches. Next to it, a candle holder with sprawling arms holding perfect votive perches. Underwear print, lotion container, imprint on soap. But even more personal is these curls and spurls are happening in my sketch book, on my wall, and now officially in my logo design. They are just so fun to make. I find myself automatically twirling the tip of my pen around letters every time I hold a writing instrument between my fingers. I could do it for hours. I think if I was born in Baltimore and somehow stumbled upon the opportunity to apply my skill to Charm City Cakes, I would pipe icing. Anyway, if there is anything in this design that is me -is it the joy I get out of the pure entertainment of creating it. And normally that is not the case. Normally, I am an impatient artist. I want to hurry up and get the sketch done so I can get to the color and then the outline and I just want to be done so I can see it already!

.... BUT not with curls.
I created the logo for a client who sent me these photos as inspiration. Not only did she send me photos to look at but she was full of explanation of the vision she wanted:

Key words to include somewhere: "redemption" & "miracles happen". A foundational verse: "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (John 1:5). The themes of light breaking through darkness and overcoming it, the war and how God always wins, and God's passionate, relentless, unyielding, unmatched and never ending love for mankind in spite of their sin, and His power to pull them out of it if their hearts are willing. Included in those themes, are the characteristics of God that I love to focus on, including His power to heal, save, deliver, and do creative miracles. I like seeing the contrast of light and darkness and watching light shatter the darkness - deliverance, really. A Logo that looks like healing, miracles, and revival. Ezekiel 47 is my key Biblical chapter that I want the logo to look like. There is fish in the water - stands for salvation of the lost, and wherever the river flows, it brings life and healing - miracles, raising the dead, etc.

I wish I could tell you more about the ministry I am creating the logo for but I am not sure if the client will choose it yet. I would love to get some feedback. The logo was made from a 6x8" acrylic painting that I did. It was computer enhanced a small bit. But for the most part this is hand done. I enjoy the challenge of trying to catch someone else's vision, capture their imagination and make it come to life. Sometimes I am successful and other times people just try to be polite. Either way, I can take it as long as it is couched in love.

I love to try new ideas, I do it all the time. I know this style of art is not the norm for me. Usually I like more simple things. But I do love to illustrate and that is definitely the direction I have going here. I thrive upon detail and personal customized touches. In the recent past my art has leaned toward the abstract; sloppy, but always seemingly intentional. I can't really ever be haphazard with my art. I wish I could because I tend to overwork certain aspects of things instead of let them appear effortless.

I don't know if my Friday-night-at-10:30 pm-ramblings are going to be interesting to anyone, but I don't always share what is going on behind the thought process of how I create. So hopefully someone will be getting a bit of entertainment out of it!

And for that person, I now conclude. Thanks for listening! Tune in for more next time!

Heaven is the Face

16x20" Acrylic on Canvas

One of my childhood friends wrote me when she was 24 weeks pregnant with her little girl. (At the time of this posting she is very close to her due date and will be delivering in a couple of weeks!) She told me about how last year in February she had lost her son at 20 weeks of pregnancy. Her husband had taken the loss of the baby boy particularly hard. My friend told me how her husband heard the song 'Heaven is the Face' by Steven Curtis Chapman and it touched him deeply. If you have never heard the song just turn the radio on to K-Love (97.3 FM in KC) and you will eventually hear it. She asked me to paint a picture featuring the lyrics for her husband in memory of their little boy and in honor of their new baby girl. A beautiful combination, if you ask me. Here is the song in it's fullness:

Steven Curtis Chapman's "Heaven is the Face"

Heaven is the Face

Heaven is the face of a little girl

With dark brown eyes

That disappear when she smiles

Heaven is the place

Where she calls my name

Says, "Daddy please come play with me for awhile"

God, I know, it's all of this and so much more

But God, You know, that this is what I'm aching for

God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door

So right now

Heaven is the sound of her breathing deep

Lying on my chest, falling fast asleep while I sing

And Heaven is the weight of her in my arms

Being there to keep her safe from harm while she dreams

(If you did not know the songwriter lost his daughter in an accident.) Needless to say, the whole time I painted I was on the verge of tears! For some reason, I have ended up doing several custom art projects for similar occasions. For instance, my last painting was a watercolor illustration as a gift for a little blond-haired, blue-eyed baby girl who was undergoing chemotherapy and last summer I painted a memorial for a little boy who drowned at the age of 2. I don't know why I have been chosen for these things, but I see it as an opportunity to bring healing in a special way through something beautiful. Anyway, back to the present...

My friend also asked me to include a tree in the background. She said when they were ready to let go, they planned to place their sweet son's ashes with a tree so that he is forever growing. The tree became significant to her because her husband gave her a silver ring with a whimsical tree on it.

She mailed me the ring and a fabric sample matching her new baby's nursery and I got to work. At the time I had a waiting list of about 5 projects to do. One of them was for another baby of a friend in which the request was to include a stuffed lamb. Many times I work simultaneously on several projects. I started on the lamb painting first. After I finished the lamb I looked over my order forms to see which project I would start next while it dried. Immediately, I saw the fabric sample and tree from the first project and I was amazed at the color tones: the lamb painting matched the fabric perfectly. I switched projects. The lamb was an 'accident', not meant to be featured in the first friend's painting. But I added the tree, the lyrics and even used the print of the fabric sample as the pattern in the green hills. It turned out to be a really thoughtful and special piece for me to create. The brown eyes in the lamb were childlike and full of peace... and heaven is a place with no more tears - only complete healing and fulness of Life!

This is the letter I received after I mailed it:

It arrived today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GRAVY!!!!!! Beth, I couldn't wait to give it to him so I ran out and got a frame this afternoon and I just got done showing it to him.

He is a tough guy and this knocked him off his feet! Overwhelmed with emotion doesn't even begin to describe his reaction. I didn't have to explain anything (he recognized the tree right away!) and the lamb in the picture is even more touching than you could have realized....he carried a tiny lamb around when he was a little guy and it now sits on a shelf in our baby girl's room!!!! Unbelievable!! (And LOTS of tears!)

I wish I knew how to thank you properly!!! I'm so humbled by your talent!!!!! When we get it hanging, I'll take a picture so you can see how well it fits! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!

Signed,

ALicia

A special thanks to Alicia for letting me work on this project for you. Your grace has touched me. You are a sensitive and thoughtful wife. AS I am sure your husband Brian would agree! I am honored to have been able to dedicate this painting to your little Liam. May God bless your family and give you many opportunities to share your story for continued healing and restoration.

Live Painting # 2 at WFC

It has been a couple of weeks since I finished my second live painting at Westside Church. It was July 25, 2010. All proceeds from the auction (I did not get a grand total but I am guessing around $2000) went to an inner city mission organization in KCK.

I didn't get many pictures of this one but the ones I did get were of the paintings I did back stage - something that I overlooked last time. I painted these paintings all in a row: 1 hour for each of them. I chose to do different colors because I really don't enjoy doing something so repetitive as painting the exact same thing all day long.

I searched long and hard for an image I felt would match the topic of Jesus the Teacher. I chose this photo to work from because I wanted to represent the relationship between Jesus and His closest disciples Peter, James and John - who were fishermen by trade.

Matthew 4:18-20 (New International Version)

The Calling of the First Disciples

¹⁸As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him.

A lot of preparation went in to doing this. It may look simple but the practice was a full time job! A lot of sketching, trial and error... I am just glad to have accomplished it for the second time in the same month. Pretty much my entire summer went to getting ready for these projects.

I had a lot of hours poured in to planning how to start this 3'x4' creation from a blank canvas. I decided to start out painting the background for the first 30 minutes and then I switched it out with a pre-painted background so that I could work with a dry surface. Then I used the rest of the next half hour filling in the silhouettes and details. I repeated this process using the painted background I had finished in the previous service for the rest of the day.

The result was an image that is very relaxing to look at. I like to imagine that Jesus jumped right in to life with these guys and offered a helping hand. Even after they were called to follow Him the Bible tells of times where they experienced Jesus' miracles on the water... walking on the water, casting their nets and getting so many fish they didn't know what to do, campfires on the beach... I think that the real learning goes on when you experience life with someone who is teaching you through practical ways. I hope to share what I do with others so that the time I spend with people makes an impact for eternity and not only for a fleeting moment.

Jesus set the best example of that when he took these men who the world thought to be mediocre blue collar workers and used them to change the world!

That reminds me of an awesome quote from a song by Matt Maher:

"I met a man who walked on water, who wore his crown like a blue collar..."

3'x4' Acrylic on Canvas

Jesus and the Fishers of Men

$300

If you are interested in owning this piece of hand-painted art, please contact me

(either through the contact tab at the top of the page or Facebook).

I have one painting left to sell!

Live Painting at Westside Family Church

I have been preparing for this moment for about 2 months.  I put all of my custom art projects on hold and focused on this day July 4, 2010.  Four 3'x4' paintings in one day, 1 hour to finish each of them!  This live painting was done for the worship services at Westside Family Church in Lenexa, Kansas - located at Highway 7 and 83rd St. It also happens to be the church I attend, although I go to the Speedway Westside Campus located in the Legends Theaters on Parallel Parkway.

Westside is having a month long series entitled "The Jesus Exhibition" in which I will be painting live the first and last Sundays and another artist will be painting the other two.  The series is focused on the gospel of John in which the personal aspects of Jesus will be highlighted. This is the first time I actually attended a service at the Lenexa location - and I painted live on stage during the music and the pastor's sermon!  

As I woke up in the morning I realized that in my excitement (and anxiety) that I forgot to remove my disposable contacts and I slept in them all night!  As I peeled them out of my eyes at 5:30 a.m. all I could think was: "Why did I volunteer for this?  Why did I willingly sign up for this?!"  It was as if I just boarded a roller coaster and as it was pulling toward the tallest point I wished I could be anywhere else but in the position I was in!  After a healthy breakfast of Kashi cereal, it took me about 45 minutes to get to Westside Church.  During the car trip I drank 1 bottle of water, a cup of coffee, and half a bottle of green goodness in attempt to fill myself with energy... later I would kind of regret supplying myself with so much fluid.   Once I got there I was greeted by the church staff getting the stage ready for the worship set.  I checked to see that my station was still as I left it a few days earlier when I came to practice painting for the last time.  My best time that day was 1 hour and 40 minutes.  That fact was not a comforting thought to me.  Instead, I worried that I would not even finish in the 60 minutes or less I was expected to.  

As I stood on stage watching the band get ready to rehearse their songs Maria Morris walked out and beckoned me to the green room behind the stage.   Maria is the artist scheduled to paint for the next two weeks during the services at Westside.  The dates are July 11 & July 18.  She is an amazing watercolor artist but she will be painting acrylic on canvas.  I got to know her through the process of preparing because she shopped for all the supplies.  She also was kind enough to provide her wisdom in art as well as help me learn some new skills.  The prep process was interesting because we ran into such problems as the paint not drying within the time constraints.  It is a challenge to produce a quality piece of art that you would be proud to sign your name to at all in only an hour!  

Maria prayed with me.  Her words reminded me that my nervousness really didn't matter because I was doing it for my Lord.  This was a personal form of worship just as the musicians were performing on stage.  I really clung to the fact that if I was consumed with nerves it would be because my focus was on myself and my own abilities.  This was a gift from the Lord that I was privileged and humbled to give back to him.  

Soon after I took one last restroom break I headed onto stage, that is right after I texted everyone in my phone: "Going onstage!"  My hands were trembling.  I started painting with my back to the audience.  Some time went by and the first song was over.  I realized I failed to start my timer. I had no idea how long I had left.  Normally I can gauge these things but all sense of time was lost.  So I kept on painting.  The song choices were perfect.  Instead of lifting my hands, as I normally would during music, it was as if each brush stroke was a demonstration of love for Who I was singing to and Who it was that I was painting!  I had the boy finished at the end of the worship music: about 2/3 of the painting was left to be done.  I didn't know if I could get it finished!  As I painted the bread in the basket I heard Pastor Dan talk about how the boy's lunch was only about the size of a Chick-fil-A take out meal, not bad on the timing!  Then as he talked about how he had personally prayed to see other people the way the Lord sees them, through the eyes of Jesus I finished painting Jesus' face and eyes.  It was if we had practiced this way!  As Pastor Dan encouraged all of us to feed someone's stomach so that they can hear God's word I signed my name and stood to the side.  Something he said really stuck with me: According to statistics 2 Billion of the world's 6 Billion population is suffering from hunger and starvation.  Also, studies reveal that 2 Billion people claim Christianity as their faith. This is not a coincidence.  We are here to be the body of Christ to feed the hungry!  

Each service, as I became more comfortable I prayed that God would not let me become over-confident and that he would take over for me, guiding my hand.  

The paintings were sold in a silent auction at the end of each service. The money went to begin a soup kitchen to feed the hungry in South Africa.  The bidding was only open for about 20 minutes after each service.  

The first painting sold in 15 minutes for $1500!  Second service $1200!  Third $500 and fourth $400.  I had prepared a 5th painting ahead of time for the Speedway location and that sold for $750.  In addition I received a commissioned piece for $1000.  The total money received was $5,350*!  

I was so glad to take part in this innovative worship service.  At the beginning of the day I was promising myself I would not do this again. But now... who knows what God can do?! 

* Numbers are not yet official, there may have been more donated and less actually goes to the soup kitchen after art supply costs.