Stepping Stones

                                                                            10 x 10

                                                                  Acrylic and Charcoal 

All of us make mistakes in our lives, so why is it so hard for us to extend grace to others? Why do we love to "share" with people a little bit of information about someone that they really didn't need to know? Is it because we like to be "in the know", or is it just to make ourselves look better? For whatever reason, it is simply unnecessary gossip and damaging. We can never get those words back. They will forever be branded in the mind of the person told. When they think or see the person talked about, it will always be in their mind, an unnecessary negative. It can just as easily happen to us. Something in our lives that we wish was buried or not made public.

So, next time when we feel the urge to share something negative or juicy about someone, let's ask ourselves, "is this really necessary for others to know, is it for the betterment of God's kingdom".

A New World

                                                                         20 x 24

                                                                     Mixed Media

                                                                         (Sold)

This is one of pieces I painted for my first art show on October 11th at the Mississippi Museum of Art celebrating Portico Magazine's 10 rising artist. I feel truly honored to be picked as one of these artist.

While painting this piece, I really wanted to focus on texture. My goal was to create a look of concrete. I think I accomplished it, although the photo does not do it justice. So, I guess you'll just have to come to the show and see for yourself!

One of the questions asked by Portico for their article was "what gives me inspiration". My answer was simply that my paintings are statements evolving from personal experiences in my life. I try to communicate through my work, my feelings, gratitude, faith and my past. I guess that is why I seem to gravitate towards white in a lot of my paintings. I try to express a sense of freedom, cleansing and a new life. I often want it to be soothing, without any of my past turmoil. As I have said before, my art is so healing for me. Thank you for letting me share it with you.

Summer Haze

                                                                          24 x 24

                                                                    Mixed Media

                                                                         ( Sold)                                              

Why are we always wanting validation from someone, be it a parent, sibling, friend, or social circle to be OK? Why can't we be comfortable in our own skin and not give a flip about what they think? When will we grow out of this and just not care? That is the question of the day.

It use to be my personality that I worried about, but I think for the most part I've just accepted that is how God made me, and He can use my openness, sometime volatile behavior, or even my Eeyore days for His glory. It is other areas in my life that I struggle with today. I know the answer is spiritual, but I am simply not there yet.

On a different note, for those who know my daughter Gwynn and the migraines that she suffers with usually during the Fall, and that continue for months, even to the point she has to be hospitalized, please pray that this cycle will be broken early. Thanks.

Homecoming

                                                                       Eric Nix

                                                               U.S. Marine Corps

My blog is a journal of everything I love, and since I love my friend Sue Nix, today I am celebrating the homecoming of her son Eric from Afghanistan. He will be arriving in San Diego today, and then from there he will be headed to Shreveport, but Sue is hoping for a few minutes with her precious son sometime in the next few days.   I, along with her many friends am so thankful for God's protection over her son while he was serving our country.

"I Love The Rain"

                                                I Love The Rain The Most...When IT Stops

                                                                          20 x 24

                                                                            Sold

I thought I would share the latest "Graceism". Last night on our way to dinner, Tommy was giving Grace (14) a life lesson. Her response was "Dad, you just need to listen to me. I've had more experience than you, so you just need to watch your tongue and listen to my words of wisdom!". His response was "sweetheart, you're a cocky little thing, so just remember, when you fall, we'll be here to catch you".

When she just saw what I was posting, she told me "no one understands my humor".

Summer's End

                                                                         48 x 36

                                                                          SOLD

Do you ever wonder why God put you in a particular place for a time? It could be a recent move, or a brief one in the past. That is how I felt about my two years in Oklahoma. After leaving North Carolina, why didn't He just send us straight to Mississippi where I have friends and family, instead of a place where I didn't know a soul, and was often very lonely. In hindsight, I know it was because I needed a place to be still and heal. I needed to learn the Truth again, before I went on to the next stage of the journey of my life.

One way God healed me was through my art. I remember one day feeling so beat down and hopeless, and while listening to "My Savior My God" by Aaron Shusts, I was struck by his words and felt the need to express what I was feeling onto a canvas. By no means was it a great piece of art, but I incorporated part of the lyrics into the painting, and it hangs in my house today, as a constant reminder of God's wonderful grace.
"I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned. I only know at His right hand, stands one who is my Savior...Yes, living, dying, let me bring my strength, my solace from this spring; that He who lives to be my King, once died to be my Savior".

September Morning

                                                                          24 x 30

                                                                     Mixed Media

                                                         Available at VIEW GALLERY

                                                                      (SOLD)

Recently, I read a story of a lady recounting how she once saw a man draw some black dots. She couldn't make rhyme or reason out of the irregular assemblage of the dots. The man drew a few lines, put in a few rests, then she realize they were musical notes. Sounding it out, they sang "Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below".

There are many black dots and black spots in our lives, and we cannot understand why they are there, or why God permitted them to come. But if we let God adjust the dots His own way and draw the lines He wants, then out of the black dots and spots in our lives, He will make a wonderful harmony.

Last week was hard at the Prewitt household. There were broken hearts, hurt feelings, and a concern, angry mom. Finally, after I quit trying to fix everything that was out of my control and turned things totally over to God, it was amazing how things started to fall into place yesterday. I had to let Him arrange the black spots His way, and as always, His arrangement was much better than mine.

Remembering 9/11

                                                           "Early Morning Haze"

                                                                       24 x 36

                                                     Available at VIEW GALLERY

Cissie Graham Lynch is the daughter of Franklin Graham and the grand daughter of Billy Graham. She is married to Cory Lynch, who is in the NFL and plays for Tampa Bay. Her family lived down the road from me when I lived in Boone, NC. She has become a beautiful young lady that is following in her family's footsteps. Today, I am giving you the link to her blog. What she says is everything I wish to say, but so much better than I could ever express..Can You Remember Where You Were? http://cissiegrahamlynch.com/2011/09/can-you-remember-where-you-were/.

Texting

                                                                     "Everlasting"

                                                                         24 x 24

                                                              Mixed Media on board

                                                                           Sold

Texting. I like it, yet hate it too. I confess, I text. I do it for convenience, to communicate something quick and short, but also when I don't want to talk to someone on the phone. However, I also believe it is inhibiting our children in learning the necessary skills of communication. They text to "get to know" someone, to ask someone out, to break up.... They text instead of talking. They are missing so much of the developmental process of becoming functioning individuals in society today. By not talking face to face, they are not learning to read different inflections in a voice or body language. Teens today will have an ongoing text for hours, instead of just dialing a number on their phone and have a normal chat with the person.

I also believe they often hide behind texting and often do not own up to the noncommittal, insinuated words because they were never spoken. It upsets me, and today because it has brought on heartache in my household, "I'm spitting mad about it" (as only a southerner would say). But, I have learned that I need to calm down and not spout off something I'll regret later, so that may just have to be a post from another day. So, for today, I DO NOT like texting, even though I have already done it 3 times this morning.

Someone Like You

                                                                          16 x 20

                                                               Acrylic and Charcoal

                                                                          (Sold)

Labor Day Weekend in Mississippi means opening day of dove season, Ole Miss football, and the official end of summer. (Even though it is usually still 98 degrees.) This year it included rain, rain, and more rain. Also, for me, it brought a lost kitty. Winnie has been a part of my family for about 10 years. She is an indoor cat that must have felt adventurous when a door was inadvertently left open. I am very, very sad because I know she must be scared out there somewhere in the rain. George, her soul mate, is roaming the house looking for her. (When the girls where young, they dressed them up and preformed a marriage.) I just pray that she finds her way home.

The weekend also brought an old friend to town along with his wife and son. My friends, the Garraway's, invited several of us that have been friends since the 7th grade, if not longer, to visit with Lyons and Kate. We stayed there almost to midnight, laughing and telling stories of the things the guys did through the years. Stories that my children will never hear! I believe I would rather them think their dad has lived a dull, boring life, never getting into trouble!!

Oh well, I hope you have had a nice holiday. I'm off to look for Winnie again.