arts

Daily Drawing #196, Count It All As Joy

| Whitt’s End Art

If your life is like mine there are periods of time when life feels anything but joyful. Still God calls us in James 1:2 to, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” This means no matter what happens in life we are to call it joyful. Really? God says, yes. If you have an illness don’t dwell on it but look to God to give you comfort and peace throughout the trial. My joy and your joy comes from knowing God is always there for us and as 2 Corinthians 1:4 insures us God is the one, “who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Our joy in life comes from helping others who are going get through the same storms we are weathering. It is hard to look for joy in times of trouble or sorrow but it can be found when your heart is in the right place.

 

Daily Drawing #190, Create A Good Character, Read the Book

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As an artist one of my favorite things to do is create a character. In this one the goal was to create a fantasy portrait. I used an old magazine ad to get my characters hair and hat and then drew in the face. She is meant to be an half elf character from a rough novel I wrote years ago. While I like the picture I am also reminded in order to build our character we can either seek our many self help books on the topic at the library or else choose the one book which has character building advice throughout the pages. The book of course is the Bible. Just reading the book of Proverbs can offer you life advice for each area of your life and that is just one book in the Bible. So go and get your Bible, open it up and start reading. The best time for getting your character drawn is now.

Daily Drawing #186, Sun, Sand and Seashells…Uggh

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The challenge for today was to draw something that had to do with sand. The first thing which came to mind was the beach. The second was Moses and the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. I can’t fathom wandering in the desert for forty years. An hour on the beach and I am done. While my wife is basking in the sun I prefer to wander in and out of thrift stores or see the local sites.

The gist of today’s message is this, we are all different. We have different likes, tastes, and things we like. Instead of complaining and whining when we are asked to do something we don’t like, embrace the differences and realize there will be times when you want to do something another person won’t like. There will also be times when they are going to be called on to embrace and do something they don’t like, something which you want. I am not talking about immoral activities. I am talking about daily life. For instance I go to the beach, because my wife loves the beach. The Bible says a true friend, “loves at all times.”

Daily Drawing #184, Enjoying Your Time in The Cloud

| Whitt’s End Art

There are times when I just like to hang a simple cartoon out there for my daily drawing. This is one of those times with my drawing “Two Cats Caught in the Cloud.” I am not a big fan of the Cloud even though I use it from time to time to store some photos. Why? You may ask. The answer is simple, storing stuff on the Cloud, or in the Cloud, depending on what terminology you use, gives someone a false sense of security. All you need to do is read or watch the news once in a while and you will see any Cloud server is not immune to hackers.

A lot of personal information as well as incriminating photos have been leaked because people have put there trust in the wrong place.  So the next time you’re thinking about storing something on the cloud think to yourself, “Is this something I don’t want the wrong people to see?” In lieu of the Cloud I use one of those portable hard drives to backup my photos and docs. I think it is a little safer. There are times when it is better to keep your head out of the clouds.

 

 

 

Daily Drawing #183, Playin’ the Game of Four Square

| Whitt’s End Art

Remember the game of Four Square we used to play in gym class and on the playgrounds. The game was played with four people and the object was to pass a playground ball back and forth until you made a mistake and were out. My drawing today is entitled, “I Love 2 Draw,” and is an homage to the playground version of the game where the squares you drew had lines that were not perfectly square but still you persevered and played the game.

I can’t believe I am halfway through this years drawing challenge. I have drawn 183 illustrations. There are quite a few I am going to be offering soon as art prints. Some still need work and a few are going by the wayside. Some of things I’ve learned over the last six months is that in order to be a better artist you must try new things and attempt to draw those things which in your mind you would never be able to draw. Also I have found a style of art which is to my liking. You will see what I mean because in future drawings that style will show up more and more.

I am also contemplating changing my art group name to Whitty Arts. If you read this let me know about the name.

I started this blog for two purposes, one was to use my talents to honor God and further His message. The second was to develop my talents as an artist. I think I have so far done what I set out to do on the outset. I pray I can finish out the year with many more whimsical and colorful drawing. Check back each day to see what comes your way.

Daily Drawing #179, Ridin’ the Little Red Wagon

| Whitt’s End Art

One of my prize possessions from my childhood was my little red wagon. I would use that wagon for many things from hauling rocks to riding down hills. I got a lot of use out of that wagon and in the end when the wagon lost its wheels I used the wagon as a sled. There are days when I miss that old red wagon. Even to this day when I see an old red wagon in an antique store it brings back fond memories.

Red is the symbol of life. it is the color of the blood which flows through our veins. The blood which keeps us alive. Like the little red wagon blood is a prize possession given to us by God. The precious possession which Jesus shed on the cross for humanity. Even to this day when I think about what Jesus did for me it leaves me in a state if awe. It should be the same for anyone who calls themselves a follower of Jesus.

Daily Drawing #177, A Mountain Into A Molehill

| Whitt’s End Art

This drawing is kind of a piggy back from my drawing from yesterday. It is entitled, “Making A Molehill Out of Mountains.” It seems to me we live in a country where the smallest thing goes from being a little molehill into big mountain. Now I’m not talking about a true offense because they should never be dealt with appropriately. I am talking about when somebody offends you because they don’t like what you’re wearing or when something they’ve said something you’ve taken the wrong way.

These moments can become mountainous in our ears. In a huff we turn and walk away vowing to never to talk to the person again. More arguments start over small misunderstandings that blossom into big issues more than anything else. The Bible says in Proverbs 17:14 ESV,  “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.” In other words make sure all molehills stay that way. Don’t let them become mountains.

Daily Drawing #176, A Bad Hair Day

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The title of the drawing for today is, “Bad Hair Day.” Poor little Rapunzel has let down her hair right on top of her wayward hero. Each of us has a bad hair day, not in the literal sense but in a figurative way. I for one have no hair. Anyway, bad days are gonna come. it is how we deal with them. When the bad times come don’t invite them to take up long term residence in your heart. Instead talk about them with others, seeks out others to pray with you, make an appointment with a Biblical counselor. Do whatever it takes, but don’t dwell on the bad times.

Daily Drawing #175, Peace, Peace, Perfect Peace

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The title of my drawing today is, “Give Me A Little Peace.” When I was kid I knew a lot of people who were hippies. There favorite greeting was to say was, “Peace Man.” Wouldn’t it be great if we all knew real peace especially in the world we live in now. One of my favorite books of the Bible is James and one of my favorite verses is James 3:18 ESV, “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” I am not quarrelsome person I love to be at peace because to me to get peace from others you need to be a bearer of peace and love to others. Oh what our world be if our social media was filled with peaceful messages instead of full of barbs and hate.