Girl Picking Grapes Day 18 of the 30 day challenge

6" x 6"  watercolor    $60.00

Selecting succulent grapes from the vine for her family, in Tuscany, Italy, on the Pevina farm, she not only looks for that particular color and size, she checks the fragrance and taste.  How amazing that so much  ado has been made about grapes and healthy vines.  We all know that apart from the vine, our branches will not bear good fruit.  I am now finished with day 18.    I am happy.

All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Hands

10" x 14"  watercolor, collage, ink    $150.00

As often happens, one idea gets squelched and another emerges when painting.  When this painting looked sad and 

wimpy, I added the collage with used, shredded dryer sheets and glued them onto the lower part of my painting.  After it dried I added more color everywhere, brightening and darkening, introducing colored pencil.  This painting took on a whimsical life, so gold and silver specks and scripture were added.

 When I relax on my porch in the autumn evenings and the aspen tree leaves are quaking, they sound like thousands of little hands clapping.  I love that sound.  Often scripture from Isaiah 55:11 -12  comes to mind

…11So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 12"For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands