2019

This is a drawing of the Archangel Michael. I have seen him and I know many others have too. Five years ago as I was sitting holding my newborn daughter, I saw a very vivid image of a warrior. He had sandy blonde, curly hair, blue eyes (a lot like that shade of blue in the picture). I did not see wings, I did not know who he was. Up to that point I thought angels wore robes and blew trumpets.

The image lasted about 30 seconds, long enough for me to study the features of his face in 3D. His skin was like porcelain. His face was shorter, not long. His eyes were set wider, not narrow. His lips were full, not thin. He had a high and straight nose bridge. The proportions I would describe as Greek.... Slightly androgynous looking, his face was very beautiful.....but he was definitely male. He was wearing white, with blue stripes and golden accents. I can't remember exactly, but what he wore reminded me of Roman gladiator attire.

The next day I received a random email from Amazon.com suggesting that I buy a book titled "I am Your Guard". The image of the front was of a warrior with curly blond hair, the Archangel Michael.
After the vision, for the next few days I kept getting the idea that I need to paint him how I saw him. I've been ignoring that idea because I have no clue how I would accomplish something like that. That was years ago and I still don't have a clue. I am an abstract painter, not representational. I drew this sketch on October 26th 2011 at 11:30 pm. I grabbed my daughter's fat blue crayon and started sketching without thinking of what I was doing. It took me 5 minutes. The drawing does not look exactly like how I saw him, due to my limited drawing skills. But it's very close.

After I was done, I couldn't help but gaze at him. Then the idea came to me to paint him at life size....he is tall...about 8 feet. The challenge for me is to paint the rest of him....but I don't remember the other details well enough. I've also never painted a human figure before....and I currently have no desire to learn. But I have agreed (to myself) that I will do this when the time is right. It could be next month...it could be 20 years from now...I don't know. I don't plan to prepare in any way except to sleep on it.
I've googled him and have yet to see his image as beautiful as I have seen him. So here I am, putting it out there....that one day I will paint a 8 foot image of the Archangel Michael. (part of me is telling me I can't, another part is telling me.....let's wait and see).

Insights

I was painting today and although my art didn't turn out too stellar, I received some interesting insights. I don't think my mind could come up with these on it's own. When I paint, I'm in a flow that allows me to pick up on these ideas. It's one of the reasons I continue to paint. I have to write them down or they disappear, like a dream.

11/12/11
"Knowing versus Thinking"

Knowing is a feeling not a thought.
A belief is a very strong thought.
Feelings are always stronger than thoughts.
This is why miracles are possible.
Only good things can be known.
Because There is no such thing as bad, only lack of goodness.
Love is the only thing that is real.
Breathe love into these "bad" things, because they need it the most.
Think good things so your thoughts line up with your knowing.
This is where you find the center.
-JT

Does this make any sense???

Books I "Read"

I want this book

igami

Frida Kahlo, She Might be Looking for ME

I may not be as strange as her (or am I), I totally connected to these words:

reposted from http://ishouldlogout.tumblr.com

Just Finished Another Stone/Rock-Inspired Painting

Pin It

Who are your Favorite Artists?

My favorite living artists are:

Cy Twombly
Joan Bohn
John Palmer

Is it a coincidence all three are Houston artists? The legendary Cy is no longer with us, but I did get a chance to visit his works at the Menil Museum a while back. I met John at a book signing, he seems like a really great guy, very down to earth! I was surprised to find out we went to the same high school. Joan's work really draws me in...maybe I will meet her one day too. I saw one of her paintings in person some time ago....it was on 3 wooden panels and must have been 20 ft tall!

What I like about their work, and which I strive to put into my own paintings is the "freedom" of paint application. There is no judgement. They aren't thinking "oh, I don't like that mark" or "I shouldn't have done that". They just take whatever comes and take joy at all the discoveries and accidents on the canvas.

I highly recommend visiting art galleries to see what a painting "feels" like in person, especially if you are an artist.

Upcoming Posts

Pretty soon I will be posting pictures of my tiny art room, where I create huge art.....tips for other artists.....more about who I am..... more paintings.....and whatever else I decide to ramble on (art-related I promise). :)

Large Scale Paintings

Pin It

This blog will be made public soon. In the meantime, I just finished a large 52" painting...but for some reason can't upload to ebay. I have begun painting large format abstracts and they will be made available soon. I've always wanted to paint big, because the size alone makes it look really amazing on the wall. But it's difficult to pack and ship such a large painting on stretchers. So I will be shipping these rolled up.

"Rainy Seasons" 

"Origins" 

"Chasing Waterfalls" 

"Red Bird"  

I had a LOT of fun creating this one, pouring loads of paint on the canvas and watching how they react.

"Above the Clouds"

"Inner Voice" My inner voice was telling me to keep going, while another one was saying ,what in the world am I painting? It wasn't until I turned this painting upside down that I knew what it was, the inside of a lotus. I'll draw that in later.

These are my usual thoughts while I paint. My mind does not realize what it's creating until the end.

"Chameleon"

This one changed colors several times, hence the name. Do you also see a lizard?

"World Within" This one kinda creeps me out...in a cool way.

I don't know what this painting is about. Looks like a bridge.
"The Bridgemakers" SOLD

"Lady Slipper Orchid" 

one of my very first paintings. I didn't enjoy creating this one as much because I prefer abstract things. There is more freedom in the abstract.

"Eternal" sold

My favorite painting to date. It had the essence of a mother's embrace.