Savannah Sunset - it’s rawness, reality, and amazing beauty
“Children of the World”
September 1, 2024
What do you think of when you hear that term? Our family sponsors and corresponds with children from various countries around the world through Compassion International.. Both my husband and I have spent significant time in other countries prior to marriage like: Russia, Canada, Mongolia, and Cambodia. There is something very strong in my heart when it comes to the nations of the world. What is it?
Maybe part of it, is because God has created every nation unique and even in heaven, in the last book of the Bible, it talks about how the Lamb is the Light of the New Jerusalem, (heaven), and that the glory and the honor of the nations will be brought into it. (Rev. 21) Earlier in Revelation 7, it talks about all nations, tribes, all races and languages, standing before the Throne, bringing glory to the Lamb. So there is something eternal in nature about cultures and nations and tribes. I am not sure, but it seems there is a certain glory and beauty of individual cultures and nations, that when redeemed through the blood of Jesus, reflect the glory and beauty of Christ in very unique ways - that remain even in heaven. Fascinating to think about.
And so it is, that my true heart’s desire is to paint people from other nations and tribes and in a limited fashion perhaps portray some of the uniqueness of their culture and beauty. What better way than to capture it with children, as through the eyes of a child, there is a certain innocence and fascination with the world around them.
This painting was finished in a matter of 2 weeks. It portrays a boy who is dressed in an outfit similar to a little boy we sponsor in Rwanda. I wanted the painting to show a very specific country in Africa and chose Rwanda. Doing research on some of the plants and insects of Rwanda, I tried to include them here as well. If you zoom up closely on this painting, you will find all kinds of hidden gems - such as the look of giraffe markings in the sky, to some symbols looking a bit like tribal symbols hidden here and there, to a poem tucked in the corner, to unusual colors on the elephants, to the intricate details on the dragonfly’s wings.
In what is becoming a signature style of mine, I have left the child’s face to look a bit “raw” and “chiseled” bringing out the nuances of different colors and patterns of the human face in a way that is a bit unusual, yet meaningful. I am hoping this piece brings wonder to your heart and home. It certainly was a pleasure creating it! Available in giclee professional prints of many sizes. Ready to frame.
Reymond in Rwanda
STARLA, WHAT DRIVES YOU TO PAINT?
If you were to ask me the question as to WHY I love to create and paint, the answer is not the easiest. But here are some thoughts.
August 14, 2024
***There is something very unexplainable about how the mind and heart feels things deeply. Combine that with hands and materials and limited abilities, but creative work happens. Perhaps in a small way, what I do can portray some of God’s heart. Music and art both come from the heart, but they show themselves in different ways. The first words in the Bible are that God created. The last chapter in the Bible is about the new heavens and place that God has created and is creating…. If God is such a Creator, and we are made in His image, does it surprise us that we are creators as well?!
In the midst of a world that is full of suffering and the ugliness of the consequences of sin, paintings that portray beauty for our homes can be a reminder of Who is really in control and of His great kindness..
Part of my story……
God has chosen to reveal His heart to us often through a lot of stories. The Bible is absolutely filled with stories and Jesus often taught using parables. Finished paintings tell a story. It might be a captured moment in time, but nevertheless, they are stories.
When I first picked up a paintbrush at 40 years of age, (prior to that it was 7th grade art class) it brought such joy and satisfaction. As learning more and more and practicing practicing happened, it became a part of me. I couldn’t explain it, I just loved to do it.
The strong desire to paint people too came to me off and on throughout the years, but deep down, I just “knew” there was no way that THAT could ever happen. So didn’t even try…..for years and years. Finally after painting more flowers than I ever wanted to and so tired of it, my heart cried out, “Lord, I just want to paint people!” And it’s as if He whispered, “Then do it.” And as the first attempt was made, there was this extreme rush of joy that struck me right in the gut. Would my Jesus give this ordinary Starla Dawn, grace and ability to paint - even people?
So, I took trembling baby steps forward and started learning. Trying, crumpling up drawings and paintings and throwing them in the trash, but trying and trying and then more of try try again. Still, I “try”. That’s what I call the finished products of portraits. Just “trying”. But God blesses and somehow, the paintings come out with meaning. They might not end up how I envisioned in my mind to start off with, in fact they never do. But I can only acknowledge that the hand of God has graced and touched the work of my hands……and to Him I give all the glory.
So why do I do what I do? No simple answer, except that God has given me the heart to paint, the ability to paint, and great joy in doing so. Truly there is no greater joy than to walk in the pathway that God sets before us.
First attempt at putting a person in a scene.
The making of a painting
Sometimes in the middle or end of a very detailed painting, the exactness and particulars wear on me. Its at those times, I quickly grab a completely empty canvas and without much thought begin to paint some basic colors for backgrounds, tear up some printed paper and tissue paper for collaging and using special glue meant for collage, just start gluing it down - just however. It feels so good - just to throw down the colors, the papers, the paint. Therepeutic. Releasing. Forget the details on the other painting for a bit. Let the creative juices flow. Often, there will be two paintings going at the same time. One a detailed one, and one more of an abstract.
After getting some color on, I look at it, and all of a sudden, it “looks like something” to me, and I begin to build on the piece. This 9 x 12 canvas is just such a one. The “wall” was printed collage, parts of the bushes on either side, as well as the lower right flowers, and on each of them I painted more, added some inks and tissue paper. The “sun’s core” was taken from an outdated poetry book, picked up from a thrift store. Over the entire piece, there are bits of colored tissue paper that adds depth and changes of perception, that I can’t get with paints alone. But there is a lot of detailed painting added to it as well. All in all, this was a delightful piece to paint, and it just “came together” beautifully. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The original and fine art giclee prints available in my shop now. PS - The original has now sold.
June 22, 2024
April 25, 2024
Who? Me??? An artist???
In the early 1970’s. Hanging out with my younger sister.
Growing up, the 7th of 10 kids, in a family of a logger/farmer/pastor father and a stay at home mom, I recall my dad often telling us, “Those who compare themselves among themselves are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12.
When I would play the piano and then hear someone much more accomplished, the negative thoughts of being a “bad piano player” would echo in my head. When my teammates in volleyball could serve a more wicked serve than me, it was easy to compare and say, “wow….I guess I’m terrible”, not really seeing the unique blend of who I was as a person as being special from God. You would think as an adult, I would have learned, but even as I began taking steps in learning how to apply brushstrokes, how to add shadows, how to mix colors, how to use different art mediums and so many other steps involved in painting, it STILL was and is a temptation to look at others’ finished art pieces and compare.
This painting is a bit of a place marker in my art journey; no longer trying to be like other artists, but rather discovering that experimenting is fun. I began trying new things, finding that I liked a bit of unpredictability in painting, and just letting things “happen”. Here, it was a new venture, of dropping watered-down acrylic paints on top of each other and seeing shapes and colors emerge, almost like they had a mind of their own.
Time passed, and discovering the absolute joy and beauty of working with acrylic inks, I fell in love with painting all over again. Letting go of perfection, the colors could flow on their own, making amazing designs and shapes for backgrounds
Exploring a different way to paint
This beginning of abstracts flowing….
…turned into this - a painting full of unknowns at every turn. Her face became somewhat chiseled as I decided not to blend the various colors and not be so “polished’ and “blendy blendy, smoothy smoothy” in strokes.
Through experimentation and discovery with art products, I have found the following to begin to take the forefront most recently:
***Bright colors,
***acrylic inks, (that make unexpected bold colors that have a mind of their own),
***carandache crayons, (goes on like a crayon, but can be brushed out like watercolor),
***mark making, (scribbles, patterns, designs, words, “marks”),
***collaging especially with tissue paper, but other papers as well,
***abstract backgrounds combined with people and botanicals.
All of the above blended together is what makes Quiet River Creations have it’s distinct look. It’s different than other artists, and there’s something beautiful about embracing a person’s uniqueness.
My husband made a statement the other day. “My wife is an artist.” which hit straight to the heart.
If YOU are creative – in any art form – and you are learning, practicing, and creating on a regular basis, then go look at yourself in the mirror, and say, “Yes, I am an artist.” For truly, you are.
