Call Him Ishmael

Lately I've been branching out in my subjects and trying to target certain aspects of painting that I'd like to learn better. I've also tried to be freer in pursuing ideas and following them through into paintings. It has been neat to combine the practical aspect of art with the theoretical and see my ideas come to life. 

This painting was inspired by the Genesis Bible study we're doing on Wednesday evenings. I love meditating on scripture by writing poetry that shows the parallels between modern life and Biblical stories. I wrote one of these after reading the story of Hagar fleeing into the desert and meeting "the God who sees." Lately I have been trying to increase my understanding of color, depth, and light, so I thought I would try to illustrate it. I'm not sure that it's done, but I'm enjoying working on it. 

Bruised, broken, and battered

I run, into a shattered wasteland,

My hand, tired of holding to the plow;

Stranded, left to die, unhanded,

To you I cry, abandoned,

The tears are all I have to offer now;

And you come down to me,

I can’t believe you would;

I am not of your kind,

You could remind me,

But you don’t think you should;

You are a God who sees,

You are a God who sees,

When I’m broken and on my knees,

You are a God who sees;

You say “Where are you going?“

I point the other way;

You say I will be with you,

Don’t try to run away;

And you tell me of plans,

That’s it’s not over now;

I’ll try to take your hand,

And follow you somehow.

You are a God who sees,

You are a God who sees,

When I’m broken and on my knees,

You are a God who sees.