Tag Archives: Oil Paintings

Grateful for A Miracle!

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Recently a local business in our community held a Arts Explosion. From November through the month of February local artists were invited to display their work. The business is involved with educating the public about agriculture and has a lot of public events at its facility. During this time people were asked to look at the paintings and vote for their favorite artist.

I entered one of my paintings. A very pleasant surprise when I won runner-up in the contest.

While I am grateful to have won this honor, what really makes it special is that this is the first painting I did after returning home from emergency surgery for a brain bleed. On a Thursday I had fallen in my art gallery in the basement of my condo. I hit my head on the concrete floor. Covid-19 had just started and I was reluctant to go to the hospital. By Sunday I was having a terrible headache and realized I should seek medical help.

After a CT scan at the local hospital they rushed me by ambulance to the hospital in our state capital about 20 miles away. Emergency surgery was required and I was in ICU for several days.

The doctor told my wife that I would need long-term rehabilitation. He listed several problems I might face including difficulty in communication, in swallowing, in walking.

But God had other plans. Within a matter of a few weeks I was walking without a walker and my communication improved almost immediately.

My wife and I are Scrabble addicts and she was worried that I might not be competitive with her any more. But I’m still able to beat her butt in the game. 🙂

Just a couple of weeks after coming home my son-in-love brought my art supplies up to the dining room table as I was still a little unsure about using the stairs to my art studio. I sat down at the table and painted this picture. I was inspired for this painting by a trip my wife and I had made a few years ago to Maine.

So – while I am thankful for winning second place out of over 40 artists who competed, I am even more thankful that I am alive and in good health.

Truly, God has been good to me.

Art Explosion

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So happy to have some of my art work display at the IQHub Art Explosion in St Johns Michigan.

This one is one of the first I did when I started painting again after several years absence.

The Edge of the Stream
Rocky Shoals
Storm at Sea

My wife loves this one. She loves storms and loves the rain coming down through the heavy dark cloud.

My wife is my inspiration for many of my paintings. She loves birch trees and asked me to paint some since our new home does not have the trees we had back in Illinois.

Watching the sun come up one morning I sat down and painted this old barn with the sun rising.

Sunrise at the Farm

In The Beginning (in art form)

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Studying the Creation story in Genesis I wanted to somehow capture the first verse where the earth is dark and void and the Spirit of God is hovering over the face of the waters. How to do that?

Here is my interpretation in art form. I pictured the Holy Spirit as a flame of fire. Often in the Bible fire has represented the presence of God. Remember Moses and the burning bush. Also on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire on the people gathered in the Upper Room.

I was privileged to show my entire collection of the Creation Story last year at a local art gallery.

Since then I have painted this picture of the beginning of Creation for two others who have requested a copy.

I love painting seascapes and lighthouses but this series of Creation is probably my favorite.

You can check out more of my paintings at https://www.facebook.com/PaulWLaneArtGallery/

Hope in the Storm

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I recently painted a picture of a rainbow. To me the rainbow is a reminder of God’s promise to Noah after the flood recorded in Genesis.

Hope in the Storm

When I see a rainbow in the sky, I think of the hope we have in Jesus Christ – even in times of difficulty.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Psalm 46:1

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

As I have learned of family/friends/acquaintances that are going through a difficult time – (death of a loved one, serious illness, loss of job) I have painted a smaller version of this painting and sent to them. It has been a joy to me to hear that these paintings have encouraged them.

As a retired minister my opportunities to serve the Lord have changed. I no longer speak in a pulpit, pastor a church or do evangelistic speaking, but I am thankful that God has opened another door for me to still help others.

I agree with the Psalmist who wrote:

O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,
    and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.
Now that I am old and gray,
    do not abandon me, O God.
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation,
    your mighty miracles to all who come after me.