Hi!
It's 5am here in SE Michigan on this Saturday morning.
In the quiet I think about the day ahead and the myriad tasks that await.
And wait they must. Because in this quiet moment my heart and my thoughts go to the songs that remind me to be grateful for the beauty of creation that surrounds me.
One of my plans for 2024 is to continue the Favorite Hymns series.
I've turned a few of my favorite phrases into paintings by creating the artwork first and then deciding which phrase seem to fit.
"In The Rustling Grass" (above) is one such example.
Now I want to take the opposite approach; think on a phrase and come up with a mental image, and then gather photo references or paint on location.
Below are the lyrics to a song that inspired the painting above.
Some phrases are underlined. These will become the titles of future paintings in the series. Verse 1 is a treasure trove of possibility.
If you have a moment to visualize along with me, two wonderful things may happen. Your stress level my improve and I may get some new ideas for future paintings.
Here we go!
"This Is My Father's World" Lyrics by Maltbie Babcock (1901)
This is my Father's world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings
and round me rings
The music of the spheres
This is my Father's world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees
Of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought
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What images came to mind as you read each underlined phrase?
Now that you've gotten inside my head a little, feel free to reply with some of your own thoughts.
......and I can almost bet that you imagined a little birdsong in there somewhere.
Jan
P.S The Shirleygig Workshop is now full. A huge thank you to those who replied.
