Days 36-39: Lady In Waiting

Okay, I've been working hard, I promise.  I've been in a zone.  However, I've been slow documenting the process and blogging about it so I'm sorry to keep you waiting.  Over the next few days, I'm going to catch you up with the wonderful projects that I have been working on in no particular order.  In keeping with the waiting theme, I'd like to show you my latest painting that I've been working on.  It's called "Lady In Waiting".  This is just the under painting so far, done in oils on wood. 

I took this picture outside and the sun rays hit it so beautifully, I am thinking about keeping them in the final painting.  It's as if God is smiling on her.

The idea started with this sketch that I did of a pic I found on line of this young woman with these beautiful long, thick, flat locs.  I can't wait till my hair grows this long.

Day One

After I finished drawing her, she looked like she was waiting for someone so I started calling her the "lady in waiting" while I was finishing up the sketch.  After I finished drawing, I started to think about that phrase "lady in waiting" and it turned into a word study.  I wanted to know what it really meant.  In my research I found this poem by John Milton and realized what the term really meant to me and wanted to capture that feeling visually.

On His Blindness

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."

John Milton

I can relate to the sense of frustration in Milton's poem.  He was this talented man that had gone blind and had to get his daughters to dictate his poems for him because of his impediment.  I feel like I have so much that I want to do with the gifts that I've been given, and it's hard to wait patiently for the moment when my dreams come into fruition, sometimes I feel useless because of my circumstances.  However, I know that God has a purpose for me, that I am His vessel, and that in His time, that purpose will be revealed to me and the world.  Until then, I just have to trust that He knows what He's doing and try to be patient until He finishes His masterpiece.  

So I'm painting the "Lady In Waiting".  Although uncomfortable with her position, she still anticipates that what ever it is that she's waiting for is right around the corner.  She's determined and has been waiting a long time, so long that she's grown roots as vines flourish around her.  She's cried rivers and collected tears that rush through her and feed her desires, reminding her that she is alive and thriving.  She rests in knowing where her help and strength comes from.  

 

 

Day Two

 Day Three

 

Day Four

Yes, someone is waiting behind that water fall.  Where do you think all those tears came from? 

I tend to fall in love with my paintings after I finish the under painting, and am often hesitant to carry on with the over painting, so I'm gonna have to really push myself to figure out the color scheme and get it right.  I have one more drawn element that I want to add to the piece before I start working on the finished painting, but that's a surprise.  So the next time you see her, she'll be finished.  I'm going to try my best not to let so much time go by in between blogs, but thanks for waiting patiently.