A Light in the Darkness

"A Light in the Darkness"

This small painting is my interpretation of Christmas. Using a brush and palette knife on a 5" by 7" canvass panel, depicts what happened the day Jesus came into the world. Before Jesus came, the whole world lived in spiritual darkness. But on that day, a light came to this world, and it's been shining brighter and brighter ever since. What a glorious thing that God has done! To purchase this painting, go to my website at couturierstudio.com

The Intent of the Heart

Much of today's art reflects a gloominess, a darkness that is hard to explain, but only felt. It's the same type of gloominess that I felt as I walked the streets of Los Angeles at night. I felt a darkness there that I've never felt anywhere else. Satanic posters and grotesque artwork were the normal in downtown Hollywood. I thought Hollywood was full of glitz and glamour. What I found were fading dreams, shattered visions, and those who had lost all hope sleeping on the streets. Perhaps they were aspiring actors and actresses at one time.

My goal has always been to counter all that negative with something good. Art can be used for evil or for good. It can be used to build or destroy. It can be used to encourage or discourage. And while "yes" we as artists don't want to be dishonest in what we do, we also don't want to enforce those negative feelings in our lives. Many times we punish ourselves by reliving the negative over and over again. Only through grace and forgiveness are we able to move forward in our lives. I want my art to be honest, but always with hope somewhere, something to look forward to. My prayer is that somehow I can achieve something good with my art.

All Blogs Start Somewhere

Even though I've been pursuing artistic endeavors for most of my life, I'm very new at putting my art out into the public, except for my greeting cards that I've sold for about six years now. And so I thought it would be fun to chronicle my journey so people can watch me as my art evolves into something unique and special. Right now, I have so many different styles and things I like, I just can't seem to settle in on one thing. And even when I do seem to reach something I am comfortable with, then I venture out into something else. To me, that's the joy of art. It's not doing the same thing over and over, but rather it's a reflection of my reaching into new areas, some may be successful, some of them may flop. But the joy is in the journey, as God leads me. Most of all, I want my art to be real, a true reflection of what I'm going through in my life. For though my life has been very frustrating at times, depressing, and troubling, it has always been filled with hope for a bright future. I am an optimist for the most part. I like to look at the bright side of things. But then again, sometimes I have to fight to keep that optimism, because at times it seems like my whole life is falling apart. But then I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that God is still in control, and that everything will work out in the end.