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To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

So many friends I met here...!

Friday, November 13, 2009

BIRDS MIGRATING and other Things, SUNDAY PART 3

On a Wednesday in July, still in the middle of moving boxes, an email came that the head of the music department had voiced, "Why not painting every time we play music, instead of only at conferences?"
I was excited, so I signed up for the first Sunday.

How do you Know What to Paint?
The rest of that week, whenever a quiet moment came, I saw birds in my mind, flying in migrating patterns. This didn't seem  a particularly spiritual subject to me, but I have learned to go with whatever keeps coming to my mind, because that is often the inspiration I should go with.

When starting  I painted  in big letters Supernatural Turn. I had never done that  before. When the pastor came by to look, he said, "Supernatural turn, huh? I like it already." I painted at this location before, but he had never looked at what I painted. So, I politely thanked him.






It turns out that he was so taken with the concept of the supernatural turn, 
for it applied to 60% or more to his congregation. 
This is in one of the posh beach cities in California. According to the news California is one of the 10 states shortest on cash.
This painting gave him an image to refer to (in advertisement they call it "branding". 
When one sees the box with the detergent "Tide". every American knows what it means.)


Since August the painting has been used as a visual image 
in the meeting for business people. He talked about it at other times, 
let me come to the front to talk about it. 
Not that I talked that much, because there were so many who gave their own 
version how that image applied to them, that at times I was a bit 
uncomfortable with all that attention. As you can see I changed,  placing the words on the right as part of the cloud pattern. It's not quite finished yet, but I'll do that later.



© 24 x 30, Oil, St.Germain
Is the Effect always so Dramatic?
This painting of the birds is actually the first one that has been
so widely recognized and used so many occasions as an illustration. Half of the time it speaks only to a few people.
One time I painted a diamond, and the painting was mainly blue. Someone came in and her jaw dropped, because she had a blue diamond which she had inherited,
and she had been wondering if she should sell it,
because she was in a real jam at the time.

Does it Always come this Easy?
One time my musings about what to paint were finally answered on Sunday morning while packing up my painting gear. I had the strange feeling I should paint a bride.
A bride?? I muttered under my breath that I didn't like to paint that mushy stuff.
But then, a bride would be a symbol of the bride of Christ - the church. Even though I was still cringing at the thought, an assurance came over me
that I would make someone's day with it.
No time to make a sketch, so I went purely on my intuition and  included the Bridegroom
(for the Protestants it is a symbol of Jesus Christ).


© 24 x 30 Oil, St.Germain

After painting this almost iconic looking painting, while I'm cleaning up my things,
someone comes running up the steps to the platform, asking me if she can take a pic of the painting with her cell phone. I do not know her, but I nod. It seemed important to her.
This is part of her paraphrased email a week later (I have her permission).
It really touched me.

The painting effected her greatly, because she was a twenty-something woman who had a shady past. At times she imagines that in heaven God's son would want to dance with her.
Because she had been addicted to porn and other immorality, she feels awkward and unclean, even though she knows that the bride is a symbol for the bride of Christ,
and he has forgiven her what she did in the past.
When she sees me painting the bride, suddenly all her doubts about being forgiven
vanish, and could see herself as washed clean, and being able to dance with the bridegroom.

This painting was never finished, because the next time I painted
something else.  Maybe this unusual subject was only for this one young woman, but thoroughly worth the effort.
Most of the  time I finish a painting at home, and put them on my art website http://www.stgermainart.com/  -  click here*) or on one of my blogs.
Up till now, I have received feedback on every  Sunday painting (since 2004).
Now you can imagine why I love to paint on Sunday.


* NB - website is NOT updated, so my new paintings are not on there and prices on web site are negotiable for my followers on this site

27 comments:

Beth Niquette said...

Indeed--a mystery. But isn't God sometimes a mystery? His ways certainly are. I love these paintings and your wonderful stories.

God bless you, my dear.

Angie Muresan said...

Simply beautiful! Your work is so uplifting to so many. Have a wonderful weekend Jeannette and God bless you.

Gaelyn said...

Wow Jeannette, this is very powerful! I'd say the Bridge painting is done. You obviously have empathic tendencies that show in your art form. Thank you for sharing this special treasure. Your work is amazing and speaks strongly.

Jeannette StG said...

Beth,
Oh yes, he is mysterious, so we'll go looking for Him. (What a smart guy:) -he know exactly how to get fish on a hook).

Jeannette StG said...

Angie,
the responsibility sometimes makes me nervous, but I also know he wouldn't give me something I couldn't carry LOL

you have a great weekend too!

Jeannette StG said...

Gaelyn,
Thank you, friend! Can only take credit for hard work, cause the gift comes from him! Happy that you mention the word "strong" - the last thing I want to come over is
wishy -washy (spelling?).

crochet lady said...

Thanks for sharing the rest of that story. That is a most wonderful thing to be able to do.

Unknown said...

For me , all my painting represent something spiritual, even if they are not obviously of a spiritual or Christian theme because they come from something within me that creates and that is what God is, A creator.

Jeannette StG said...

Jen,
If you would like to do something like that, go looking for a place where you're able to do that:) Especially when you're already involved in music, it's only one step away!

Jeannette StG said...

Joey,
Well said, my friend - I so agree with you! The paintings on Sunday are for others and for the audience as a whole, these p. are not for my own satisfaction (maybe I should have included that more clearly in my post).

Floss said...

Those are really inspiring paintings and stories - thanks. I loved reading how God has been using your art to speak to people.

Thanks for your comment on my Advent post, too.

Zuzana said...

I love the painting. It has a sense of freedom and it is simply spiritual to me. Anyone who looks at it can take their own interpretation from it.
Art is meant to effect and intrigue, it is suppose to make us think and feel. I do understand why you love your Sunday painting as that is exactly what you achieved.
xo

ANNA-LYS said...

Lovely and very M C Escher

Images works in Mysteries ways ;-)

Unknown said...

What an incredible concept, your supernatural turning! And I love that you moved the letters to wrap around the birds changing flight. Fantastic!

Jeannette StG said...

Flass
I didn't chose this path, because it's a very unknown one, but it is really worth the landscapes that I pass.
Your advent series is creative and inspiring since I have seen no one else do it!

Jeannette StG said...

Zuzanna,
Yes, that is what art is to me: it is freedom, and I hope to pull some people with me into it:) If that is what this series has done, I am jazzed!

Jeannette StG said...

Anna-Lys,
Haha, I love your play on words! So glad to have you back on Blogger, friend!

Jeannette StG said...

Jane,
After I faded the letters on top, a friend whose father is an art collector in Austria emailed me that he liked the letters. He has a pretty strong influence in my art,so this is the solution I found...happy you like it!

Reader Wil said...

When I saw the paintings of the birds I also thought of Escher! Very appropriate for autumn when birds are migrating in large groups.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed your inspiration on the supernatural turn. In it I see a group of light hearted beings turning away from the direction of the collective society of tension and taking a group of souls that are flying high into a new potential realm of freedom. We are leaving that which is dense and heavy and finding a path that is gentle and easy in togetherness.

Jeannette StG said...

Wil,
And in autumn of this year, so many are or have "migrated" to another living place. At least hear, many of my friends and acquaintances have.
Escher has a very special gift.
tot ziens.

Jeannette StG said...

Natural Moments,
You've shared your insight in a poetic way:) It often doesn't look like "freedom" when things being to change and shit - to many it's uncomfortable, not knowing what will come next.

But once they make the turn(not easy sometimes), the ones who are uncomfortable right now, will then begin to see their freedom!

Merisi said...

Your migrating birds reminded me instantly of the huge flock of birds I observed in Burgenland in September. I think they were starlings and they changed their flight patterns so often in mid-flight, it looked like they were performing an ancient rite. They left me breathless with wonder. So does your painting!

Jeannette StG said...

natural moments,
sorry for the type: I meant "shift" - hope you don't believe in pyscho-analytic slips of the tongue!

Jeannette StG said...

Merisi,
That must have been an experience never to forget! Then you must have instantly understood what this painting is about! Thank you for telling me this:)

young-eclectic-encounters said...

Inspiring post. Isn't wonderful when you follow your heart and your art touches someone elses heart. It is so wonderful that you have learned to follow your heart and soul. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, they are indeed inspiring.
Johnina :^D

Jeannette StG said...

Johnina,
Thank you- sometimes I need to hear that again (even though I know it) - this is one of the paintings that people are still talking about after a year! I'm so very thankful to help/encourage people -it makes my day!