Art – Page 2 – Rebekah Lyn Books

Writing Life~Using Prompts for Inspiration

Do you ever sit down to write or to paint — and draw a blank—no thoughts, no feelings, no imagination about what you can do with the precious minutes you have set aside to practice your arts?

Do you ever sit down to write or to paint — and draw a blank—no thoughts, no feelings, no imagination about what you can do with the precious minutes you have set aside to practice your arts? Or have you ever needed to prepare a meal and tried to think of something that sounded good to eat — and failed?

I’ve been cooking meals for more years than most people have been alive. I do get jaded sometimes. When that happens, I pick up a cookbook or look at the Internet for an idea. When it comes, I do something similar to what I’ve found, but I never use the exact recipe.

This morning I had time for my quiet time, but I didn’t know what to do, so I took out my pack of Healing Scriptures from New Creation Gifts (www.newcreationgifts.org) and selected the first card on the pile. I wanted to paint or draw a small picture for the day, too, so I brought out a mat and drew a frame with it in my journal/sketchbook. I read the scripture reference and looked into my Message Bible to see how it was translated there. I also have cards from The Artist’s Muse that give suggestions for an art project. Since I had no preconceived ideas, I used the top one.

That card suggested drawing a tree like no tree you’d never seen. It said use a word and some numbers. I wrote EASTER up the trunk and wrote numbers in the shape of fronds. Then came a sea and a beach. Starting with the verse on the card, I read several others. It was a kind of wandering, where one scripture reminded me of another one. Then I saw my tree again and the water that washed up behind it reminded me of one of my favorite scriptures. By the time I’d finished I had a satisfying (to me, at least) page in my journal/sketchbook.

Here’s the tree and water, and here’s what I wrote, thinking and hoping that my Heavenly Father was guiding me.

Writing prompt tree. — DiVoran Lites~Artist

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Dearly Beloved, (personalizing the scriptures as if my Abba were speaking to me.)

I am always the same. I never change. I am always drawing you into a sure thing, as I am teaching you to follow me, and to trust me.

You are a tree planted by water. Your roots never die because they have gone into my Spirit and are sustained by my waters. Your leaves will never wither or dry up. You will constantly bear fruit for me at the right time and in the right way even when you may not believe you are capable of bearing fruit. You succeed in everything you do. (I would debate that last, but I feel that the Lord wants me to accept it).

The scriptures came from Hebrews 13 and Psalm 1.

And by the way, I’m re-reading a wonderful book you might like by Richard J. Foster. He’s a Quaker minister and he has written many high quality books that can help us in our spiritual walk. This one is Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home.

Letters

I have re-read the letters Bill wrote me while he was stationed aboard ship in the Navy in 1958. They are pretty much the same as the ones Dad sent Mother in 1945 during World War II. I suppose a service person’s life can be full of monotony even in wartime.

Receiving messages from home or from loved ones far away is by far the most wonderful, the most exciting, and the most fulfilling thing that can happen for most people in a day or a week. Nowadays it is easier and takes less time than it ever has. I love paper letters, but even more, I love modern technology that makes communicating so quick and easy. Besides being where you can hold hands, what’s your favorite style of communication these days?

I enjoy letters so much I designed some note cards.

Indie BookFest 2013

August 3, 2013 I will be attending Indie BookFest 2013 in Orlando, Fl. I am very excited about the event. I also plan to donate a book or two for a special charity drawing. I have provided a brief description of Indie BookFest 2013. Whether you are a reader, author or long to be an author, you are sure to find this event interesting and fun.

What’s It All About
Indie BookFest 2013 is all day long event (starting at 8:00 AM and ending with a cocktail reception in the evening) celebrating Indie Authors and Artists and their freedom of expression. Join some of your favorite Indie Authors for a day filled with book signings, sessions, and lots of good food and great fun! You won’t want to miss the sessions throughout the day, where several panelists will be speaking on a variety of topics relevant to writing, publishing, promoting your books, and all things indie.

To learn more about this ground breaking and exciting event click HERE

Recently, I participated in One Spark which was held in Jacksonsville, Fl April 17-21 2013. It was a celebration of creators, inventors, artist and authors.

A Handwritten Card

When I was younger, I decided not to fall into the trap so many older people live in, with several dates a month marked for the purpose of going to the doctor. However, you know what Robert Burns said, “The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglay.” Last week I visited three doctors with a member of the family in two days and this week, for various reasons I will have been in waiting rooms every day except Monday and Wednesday (twice on Thursday).

I get tired of passive things like reading, listening to audio stories, watching TV. (I never do that anyway), but I don’t knit or crochet, so I’m coming up with a new plan. I will take a small packet of paper; pens, maybe watercolor crayons and either write notes or draw a bit.

Emails are a big thing now, but writing notes and letters on paper has been part of my life since I was a child and I still get the urge to do it when I’m waiting. Mother and I wrote to each other every week. I still have all her letters and she kept mine up to her last days. When I was twelve and moved away, my best friend and I wrote each other every day. Recently, we wrote our schooldays memoirs together, but that was by computer. Out of habit, I hurry to the mailbox every day expecting something, but usually it contains only commercial mail, so I take that in, sort it out, and throw most of it away.

On my last run to the SPCA store, I got a thin book that reminds me of Alexander Stoddard’s beautiful, Gift of a Letter. It’s called, The Art of the Handwritten Note: A Guide to Reclaiming Civilized Communication
, this one by Margaret Shepherd.

Realizing how happy it made me to read another book about the subject, I realized I missed writing and receiving handwritten notes more than I knew and decided there was no reason not to take it up again.

Ms. Shepherd says, “Writing by hand makes you look good on paper and feel good inside. Even an ordinary handwritten note is better than the best email, and a good handwritten note on the right occasion is a work of art.”

One thing I’ve always loved about notes is that you can save them and re-read them. I know you can do that with emails, and I do have a file, but for some reason, once they’re out of sight, I never take the time to look at them.

“Art Has Always Survived Technology,” says Margaret Shepherd. I agree. It takes about a minute to write a note, so I’ve put a small pad of paper in my purse and some cards in the door pocket of my car. Last Tuesday I wrote a note to my son, (who, because he lives in another town, always sends a handwritten note on birthdays and mother’s days) and one to our pastor’s wife who did my family a big favor. She is also a card-sender and note writer, so it was a pleasure.

Don’t get me wrong I like to get emails, and I enjoy writing them. It isn’t one or the other, for me, but both. It’s something I’ve missed for many years. Are you missing it too?