I Did It!

They are all monochromatic except for one 9 x 12 practice one. That one took 1.5 hours so I had to stick to a monochromatic coloring because of time. They all can be worked on more to make them look better...more finished, but I'm pooped for now.

That is fabulous congrats!

Yeah! I was hoping for an update with the finished pictures. God bless & Happy Easter. Thanks for doing this to honor The Lord!

A Big Congratulations Jani! Yay! They are great...Happy Easter!

Jani,

Nice going.

Dave

Thank you. :-)

Wow, seeing them all together is quite overwhelming.

I really think they all need a lot more work, but I had several people come up to me and offer to buy them as they are.

A wonderful way to display your talent, Jani... Happy Easter to you and your family.

Fantastic, Jani......great going. It is overwhelming, and absolutely stunning. What a great experience!! and Great outcomes, WOW.........kudos....

Thank you, Vivian and Clif. Happy Easter to you too.

I learned today that one family that comes to the third Sunday gathering lost their 2 year old child last week. He usually played quietly by the stage during the service while his mother sat in the front row. He and several other of his family members were shot in their home. He died at the scene.

The idea to do this image of Jesus carrying a child came to me suddenly last week. It was meant to mean a lot of things. How Jesus carries us through storms, clinging to Jesus like a child, etc.
I had no idea that a little boy died and his family would be at one of the gatherings...and their little boy...is now in the arms of Jesus.

Awesome Jani!! I knew you could do it!! Great concept for the composition!! I'm sure they all loved it. Very sad to hear about that young boy. I hope that your painting brought some comfort to his family!!

Truly inspired. Congratulations on creating a compelling image.

What a wonderful share, Jani! Thanks so much...you are an inspiration!

Me too, Shana.

Thank you, Vanessa and Marlene.

(and Jan below me) :-)

Beautiful and inspiring

Thats really cool. Amazing work. Give ya big applause for being able to stand and let people watch you paint. Im not a fan of being stared at so thats cool.

I'm not either...a fan of being stared at while I paint.
I had my back to everyone; which helped...a lot. So did not being able to see how many where watching. I had a spot light on me. It made the audience a silhouette and I just didn't look at them going on stage or leaving the stage.
My hand was shaky while doing finer details at first on the first painting. I had to tell myself to chill out and just work. Each one got easier.

That just cannot be a coincidence you went with that composition, with the tragedy of that family so recent. Think you may have been receptive to some guided inspiration. Finish them all up now and sell them! Except maybe one for that family if they want one? That is so so sad...

Absolutely, Melissa, on both thoughts. I was struggling to figure out what to paint after one idea I had didn't paint well. It worried me and the time to have an idea down pat was quickly approaching. It came to me quite suddenly after I prayed, "Lord, I have no ideas that will work in the time constraints I'm given that speak about what you are to me. How do I paint a feeling?" I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and then I saw a picture...that's it! That's what I'm going to paint! I had my husband and daughter pose for me and planned to do a girl being carried, but changed it to a boy because it made more sense to the composition to not have long hair on the child. I did three practice ones; each one confirming to me that I had the right image. I just needed to figure out how to do it within an hour...found out about the boy after setting up on stage.

Very inspirational, congratulations on your work. That is sad about the child who passed but maybe your work has helped to comfort the family.

Absolutely gorgeous and amazing work!!!

Very beautiful and inspiring, Jani. Thank you so much for the share.

congrats on your accomplishment!

Beautiful Jani! I had no doubts of your talent and abilities.

Wow...I think The Holy Spirit was working powerfully in you when he had you paint Jesus with a child....

Very well done Jani and all meant to be!

Jani. What an inspiration you are! What an amazing story!

Congratulations on your achievement.

GillBillingtonArt.com

Congratulations! Thanks for the update.

WOW! Absolutely fantastic on all counts.

How wonderful, Jani! Congratulations and that story about the little boy really made me tear up....Yeah, we get what we need if we're open to it, thus your inspiration for the image.

A new direction in your art Jani....

Thank you, everyone for your great comments.

I know, Mary. My heart goes out to them. It is a heavy, heavy burden they bear.

Rose, no doubt about it. Nothing like being empowered by the Holy Spirit. No earthly thing can touch the high that gives you and there is never a let down. It just keeps paying dividends...forever.

Glenn, I've done several pieces like this and do intend to do more. This type of art has been on my mind for years and years. I'm still learning how to do them. I want them to be powerful and full of movement.

This is one that I did a few years ago. I spent a lot more time on this one than those done on Sunday. This one personifies persecution in the form of cynicism, mocking, gossip, and anger.

Great Job!!!!

Incredible work, Jani! As a parent who has lost a child...there is nothing more comforting than to think of them in the arms of Jesus!! I believe that your work was very inspired! God bless you for being so sensitive to what the Lord would have you do...and, for having the courage to do it!!!

Those look great! Hard to believe you did them in an hour. Great job. Hats off to you.

Jani,You are a Faithful daughter of God,in more ways then one you are proclaiming the Gospel message! Keep on a-going !

Thanks for inspiring everyone! They look great. :-)

Congratulations! You did it!

Lynn, so sorry that happened to you. Thank you for confirming that point.

Fredrick, there were many times I thought to just tell them no. This whole experience was a huge sacrifice for me. I didn't get to enjoy spring break with my kids and gaining the courage to do it was excruciating. I'm someone who does well one on one, but a crowd of strangers is scary. I use to break into a sweat when I taught art to six-year-old students. I called in sick for oral book reports when I was a kid and told the teacher that I'd take an F. Many time through my life, I chickened out on challenges.

I told the pastor, jokingly, that I'd much rather be eaten by a whale like Jonah was. If I show up Sunday looking albino (Jonah was in the belly of a whale for 3 days. His skin was probably pale and peeling like someone half digested) you'll know where I've been. This task looked impossible, but there's part of me that knew I could do it. I could either do it kicking and screaming or do it with joy. At first, during the planning stages, I did the former more than the latter. Strangely, ordering the supplies was a turning point for me. Pressing the confirm your order button was very difficult. To me, it meant that I was all in. That I was committing to doing this no matter what.

There was truth in that Jonah joke. I wanted to say no, but something told me that doing this was an important act of obedience. It felt like I was sacrificing a lot during the weeks of planning, but now I'm so very glad I did it and feel a gain in my life not a loss.
I'm a better person for it and have grown as an artist and there is that being a blessing thing that is very rewarding too.
It now seems like another aha moment. A layer of inhibiting fear has been crushed.

You could work as a court sketch artist in high profile federal prosecutor cases. Big bucks!

I've thought of that before, Vincent. That is one of the things I've chickened out on. That and being a sketch artist for police.

But now...that sounds exciting actually.

Police artists are in demand. It is a talent rare to find!

Thanks for the idea. I'm going to check it out. I thought they do that digitally now.

I've seen many that are not good and wonder how the heck they find the guy from the sketch that's drawn. It is, however, drawn from someone's description. It can't be easy to do, but I think it would be fun.

You know, Jani, I believe that we are always exactly where we should be at any point in time.
Although you went into this project believing it would serve a specific purpose, I think the real reason was to comfort a grieving mother.

I knew a "forensic artist" who was the "authority" on Jesse James acclaimed photos. Police today use computer matching but sketching can get better looks into the person I have heard if the artist and the witness has a rare mental "connection".

Now in actual courtroom dramas where cameras are not allowed is where you will be most in demand. Like the Boston Bomber.

I agree, Marlene.
I am forever surprised by God's omniscience. He knows what I couldn't. He sees what I couldn't. My place is to be obedient. To respond in faith not fear and trust that His perfect love will cast out all fear. His plans are so much better than mine.
That was definitely the lesson to take away from this.

I am very interested in that type of job, Vincent. Now, how to talk to the right people, is the question on that.

Appreciating the update!

Such good news! Congrats on the success and the ease with which you went forward...

(Also glad that no watermelons were involved...a time to laugh!)

Thanks for the update.

The work is truly inspirational

A wonderful accomplishment

A pure Easter gift to all of us. Allowing us to partake in the process, right up to it's beautiful conclusion

Again, thanks,Jani

KL, no watermelons this time, lol.

Roger, thank you.

I am honored that you all find me or my work an inspiration. That was something I didn't expect.

Please remember to include that family in your prayers. They are going through a tough time and it will be tough for a while.