A Sunday Blessing: 'As the Crow Flies'

phew... As the Crow flies is finally done!
She and they are here to stay.

You can see the humble beginnings started at Art Fest 

and the transformation here.

So this painting was a milestone for me.  

I took risks that I don't usually take and painted out parts I did not like.

The size of it is 'huge' which is new for me

and most importantly I stopped thinking about what might sell

and just painted for me.

Since I don't seem to be selling I can look at the positive spin -

I will just paint and eventually I will have enough for a show,

right?

This painting has different meanings to me - 

I adore Santos -

In Spanish-speaking cultures they were a religious symbol,

 a wooden representative of a saint.

Many are now being beautifully reproduced.

I got the following quote from Isa's amazing blog.

"This style of doll has been used for centuries in processions of importance - 

such as weddings, funerals or religious ceremonies - 

The cage of the body was lovingly filled with flowers, mementos 

and treasures pertaining to the person of honor."

She sells several styles of santos -just click on the photo of santos 

on her right side bar to see more -

I want all of them to come live with me. 

So my santo must be a friend to crows.

Here she is lovingly giving them a place of refuge in her 'cage body'

tucked under her vintage gown.

I love the idiom 'as the crow flies'-

it reminds me of:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

 and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight. 

Proverbs 3:6

Sometimes our paths do not seem like a crow flies or straight at all,

but God's idea of straight is a little different (or a lot) than ours - 

(you can hear me chuckling here)

and finally I just had to add:

Just look at the birds of the air;

they do not sow or reap

or stow away in barns,

and yet (my favorite part - take a deep breath)

your heavenly Father feeds them.

Matthew 6:26

So I need to just chill and do my thing and 

that crazy, crooked path that I am on 

may eventually look 'straight' when I peer back on it.

and here are some closeups...

These birds just make me chuckle. 

I wish I could hold them on my lap

and pet them like my cat...

(except that my cat does not like to sit on my lap and be petted 

- that is my husband's job - 

seems only he has magic fingers).

Oh and then I had fun with buttons...

most donated from my mom and mother-in-law...

and some words...

and of course texture, stamps, stencils, 
and thingies glued on.

I think I will start another -
can already see it in my mind.