Notes to Treasure

Gilding another layer... because you can never have enough GOLD 🌟

I've not posted properly in aaaages!

It's not for being idol... I've been spending a lot of time with St Francis - and yes, he is pixelated because he is an exciting commission, and will stay blurred until he is finished (very nearly there) and in his owners possession.

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I thought I'd share a quick pic of the studio and the current Saints in residence ❤️🎨

It's good to just sit

Finally, the sign is up - minus the spanner but with the additional paint brushes (had to be done) 😃

The biggest thanks and love to my sister from another Mister Sarah Grace Dye - Artist, Curator, Educator for the whole kit and cabudel (you know what I'm saying)... but most of all, for always believing in me, cheering me on, and loving me regardless ❤️

Love you ❤️

Playing about with digital sketches

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It's not my talent, but it's a handy way to work out if changes will work to an overall image that you're happy with.

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Edges ❤️🤎✨️

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Pentecost Sunday 🔥

It only seems right to share this Painter's Praise piece called

"GLORY"
Mixed media

May His Glory come down on us, as it did on that first Pentecost day, filling us afresh! 🔥

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I'm not used to painting men! 😀

New things to learn for this commission ❤️🎨

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St. Photini
The Samaritan Woman at the Well

She's looking so much prettier now her halo has been replaced! ✨️

Speaking of colours...

The colours I use have significance. It may be significant to the story in a literal way, or the colours may represent part of the spiritual story.

First and foremost, I chose to paint St. Photini wearing a white dress and veil. Why?

Because her meeting with Jesus was at Jacobs Well, a well that was dug on one of the first plots of the Promised Land given by God.

Wells were places synonymous with betrothal in the Bible; Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 24) Jacob and Rachel (Genesis 29) Moses and Zipporah (Exodus 2).

And then Jesus met a woman in John 4, directly after John the Baptist foretold of the coming Bridegroom (in chapter 3)

The woman at the well had been already rejected by five husbands (women couldn't seek divorce) and lived with a sixth man who wouldn't even marry her! Then she met Jesus at a well. The Bridegroom, her perfect seventh spiritual Bridegroom.

The colour white represents the Bride of Christ (a Biblical metaphor for believers or the Church), surrender, light, righteousness, and completion.

I think you'll agree, it's a perfect colour for St. Photini to be wearing 🤍

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I had the pleasure to take my three beauties to our Sanctuary, creative worship evening at Countess Free Church, Ely , alongside other religious paintings and icons to explore how they can be used in prayer.

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We also had a painting station, Bible meditation station, Chris Duffett Art Lectio Visio station, and a quiet lay down and soak station. All alongside some lovely sung worship lead by Douglas, Dawn and Liz and a spoken meditation that I led.

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Safe to say, we all floated out of the church 😃😂

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The full painting process and Poem can be found on YouTube
Enjoy
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St Photini. Samaritan woman at the well. The inspiration for this painting came from doing an Exegesis of the text in the Bible in John 4 for my degree. Most teaching focuses on her perceived sin (i...

When you realise you tarnished your gold leaf by using the wrong brush 🙈

It doesn't always go right first time! 😂

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In the scorching desert, He sat by Jacob’s well,

Waiting for a woman, with a story to tell.

Her name we don’t know, but her soul was bold,

The first female preacher, He’d already foretold.



She came to draw water, her daily chore,

But found a stranger, who would adore.

Jesus, the teacher, with a message so great

He spoke to her with communication so straight.

He saw beyond her rejection, and questions so deep,

And offered her hope, that her spirit could keep.

He showed her the love, that she had sought,

And in her eyes, a new life He brought forth.



In the scorching desert, He sat by Jacob’s well,

Waiting for a woman, with a story to tell.

Her name we don’t know, but her soul was bold,

The first female preacher, He’d already foretold.



He spoke of living water, a well so true,

That would quench her thirst, and see her through.

He offered her eternity, a gift so pure,

An end to the life that she’d had to endure.

She listened with wonder. Her soul so bright

As Jesus spoke of a love so right

She saw the truth, in His shining eyes,

And knew that she was not alone, but alive.



In the scorching desert, He sat by Jacob’s well,

Waiting for a woman, with a story to tell.

Her name we don’t know, but her soul was bold,

The first female preacher, He’d already foretold.



Her life was transformed, her heart so light,

As she told of Jesus love, through day and night.

She’d left her water jar, in the dust so grey,

And found a new path, no divisions from that day.

Jesus’ message she retold, with a heart so true,

That all who heard her tell, believed and knew.

An end to partition, boundaries no more,

For all who believe in Christ, Him to adore.



In the scorching desert, He’d sat by Jacob’s well,

Waiting for a woman, with a story to tell.

Her name we don’t know, but her soul was bold,

The first female preacher, He’d already foretold.

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Colour can mean so many things, and it's especially symbolic in my stylised modern iconastasis paintings. ❤️🌈

It's important to find colours that represent the faith stories of those I'm painting ❤️🌈

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The girls are together for the first time and watching over me while I work on St Photini, the Samaritan Woman at the Well.

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I'm borrowing St Audrey (Etheldreda) for a week from her usual home at conference centre, where she normally hangs in the learning department.

It's good to have them at HQ, particularly while I'm painting those ugly base layers!! It's a reminder that I can do this 😂

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"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did. "
‭John 4:39 NIV‬

Scripture shows us a woman who preaches, teaches, evangelises, and works as an Apostle. Reaching her whole community - the community that previously rejected her.

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🌟 GOLD 🌟

Halo, or nimbus, in art, is the depicting of a radiant circle or disk surrounding the head of a holy person, representing the spirituality of a character through the symbolism of light.

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Originally used in Hellenistic and Roman art for the sun-god Helios and Roman emperors who often appear with a crown of rays. Because of this, it was originally avoided in Christian art.

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It began to be used, however, from the middle of the 4th century, when Christ was shown with a halo, alongside his symbol, the Lamb of God.

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Other depictions show Christ with the traditional halo with the adition of the cross, quartering through the circle.

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Living spiritual people would often be depicted with a square about their head with two rays of light on either side.

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Having a finished piece in the corner does help when you're building the more ugly bottom layers! ❤️🎨

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Every day should have a sprinkle of Gold in! 💛

Unveiling her face 💛✝️

Raising her status 💛♀️

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Unveiling her face ❤️✝️

Raising her status ❤️♀️

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When study includes raising the status of a woman of faith in the form of another painting and retelling of her story through a different lens, can only be a privilege and blessing to execute ❤️✝️❤️♀️❤️🎨

Watch this space ❤️

Privileged to "Painter's Praise" at church this morning.

'He is Risen'
'Hallelujah'
'Go tell'
'Power, Healing, His name is Life'

Finally, I have an hour to sit in my studio and start sketching! ❤️🎨

Funky St Francis, here I come!

Hello, old friend 👋 ❤️🎨

It's been at least 12 years since I had space for this beauty to be up and usable! I'm so excited to have her back, unfolded, ready, and waiting for her new canvas ❤️🎨

Not long now,

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I love stories ❤️

I love women's stories ❤️♀️

Our stories are the map someone else needs to hear to help navigate them through the stuff they're going through today.

When we share our stories with each other, it's a spiritual thing, hallowed ground 🙌

Who could you sit with this week and ask what their story is?

Don't forget to listen 👂

Really listen ❤️👂❤️

I promise, when you do this, magical, spiritual stuff starts to happen ❤️♀️

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Pic 1. Me at approx 7, painting at my Nanna and Granddad Bill's house in Lincoln at Christmas time. Their house was amazing, as was part of the front building of Lincoln prison. Their front door was the next door along from the prison gates ❤️

Pic 2. An approx 18 year old painting that I painted after being a tourist in Ely, the city I now live in! Inspired by the Virgin Mary statue in the Lady Chapel in - who knew I would end up living in this beautiful city and that the Cathedral would end up being such an inspiration to my art and spiritual journey ❤️

Pic 3. St Audrey, Julian of Norwich, and my worshipping Virgin Mary, sitting in the studio I could never have dreamed of having. This is a reminder that all I do and paint is an act of worship to God ❤️✝️🙌

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Happy Happy Sunday to you and yours

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Mucky art table is in... but it's my mucky art table 😍

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.. and I can walk all the way around it!!!!! ❤️🎨

I've not posted in ages as I've been so busy building my new studio (I hope you've seen the stories)

This week, I have some really exciting news to share with you...

I had a meeting with two wonderful ladies (Katherine and ) from the St. Francis Leprosy Guild, who have asked me to paint them one of my modern iconastasis style paintings of St Francis ❤️🎨

If, like me, you're like... "Leprosy! Is that still a thing?!" Then I can assure you it is, and it's a heartbreaking illness. I encourage you to pop over to their page and follow to learn more. And if you feel able, maybe even go to their webpage and find a way to donate to their work.

So, in honour of this exciting new commission, I'm posting a photograph of the oldest surviving depiction of St. Francis. A fresco near the entrance of the Benedictine abbey of Subiaco, painted between 1228 and 1229. He is depicted without the stigmata, which he is said to have suffered.

Happy Happy Christmas to you all . May you have a blessed, restful, and fun time with those you love, and may you know the true hope behind this season. ❤️

With love to you and yours ❤️
See you in the New Year! 🕛

Picture 1 by Morrey, my son ❤️ painting iconastasis may be running in the family ❤️

Picture 2. Painted on the ceiling (my favourite place) ❤️

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Baubles 🎄

I'll be taking these, my original art jewellery, a selection of original art, prints, and cards this Saturday.

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Creative Christian Fair

9th December (this Saturday
11am-3pm

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Making pretty little things ❤️

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Original art pendants

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