RIDING RUBY and a wonderful weekend.

Today, I returned back to my studio after spending a wonderful weekend with our dear friend, Don. He is like a brother to me and he has really been helping me grow in the Lord. The Christian walk is truly a pilgrimage and I am forever greatful that I have a brother who has helped me when I've stumbled. Don is also the creater of the "Tales Now Told" stories, which can be found here

On another note, I have another painting to share with you and I really enjoyed painting this one. It is called, "Riding Ruby". Enjoy and God Bless! James

Hinkle was a wee little lad, who was so small it took him days to cross the flowered meadow. One day, while resting upon a leaf, a beautiful hummingbird hovered nearby. Little Hinkle noticed something very strange about this hummingbird. Around its neck was a golden collar with two bells hanging from it. Hinkle yelled out, "What is your name beautiful one with the bells?" When the hummingbird heard this, it drew nearer to him and said, "My name is Ruby and my bells make noise so the other creatures can hear me. I am so fast and so small, that no one ever notices me". Hinkle replied, "Well, I noticed you and you are the prettiest creature that I have ever seen." Ruby suddenly became still in mid-air and said, "May I help you get across this meadow today, my kind friend? I've noticed that it takes you quite some time to make this trek and I have been given a gift of speedy flight. You are a kind heart and your gift is seeing the beauty from within." Hinkle climbed onto to little Ruby's back and together they soared through the meadow. As they were flying over a glorious patch of pink flowers, Hinkle noticed a glowing light that was traveling beside them. He suddenly realized that all true gifts are from above and that the Giver is the most precious gift of ALL.

This original was created using watercolor on Arches hot press paper. It measures 5x7 and is a
vailable here

TRIFFLES FOR TRUFFLES

Once there was a little troll named Truffles. He lived on the side of a rocky mountain, a land where not many would roam. It was a peaceful place, especially by the crystal clear waterfall. Truffles would often find rest in this place, for he needed rest from his long days of netting his most beloved meal....the blue dragonfly. "They are delicious and they are a plenty!" , he would often say, but little did he know that because of his "eating a plenty", there were only three blue dragonflies remaining on this mountain side, merely a triffle.

This original was created using watercolor on Arches hot press paper. It measures 5x7 and is available here

DIGGER'S SPECIAL DAY

It was a special day for Digger, it was his birthday. Although, he was a sweet little mole with a great heart and an even greater giggle, there was no one to spend time with him on his special day. The problem was that he lived underground and not one of his friends liked it in the tunnels that he dug. He was sad and just before he shed a tear a little light filled his heart with joy. This special light was was truly a gift for the little mole and starred and starred into it for the rest of the day.

This original was created using watercolor on Arches hot press paper. It measures 5x7 and is available here

I missed a couple of days of a "Painting a Day", I was busy with my other work, but I hope you like this little guy. I'll have more tomorrow...God Bless, James

A HELPING HAND

Another day of painting today, a few thunderstorms, but all in all a peaceful day. I love to paint when it rains. The raindrops pitty pattering on the studio roof is music to my ear and an inspiration to the child within me. I think of things when I paint, but when the rain falls it puts me into even deeper thought. I'm thankful for the memories in my life and I'm thankful that God gave ua a memory to remember them. Today, I was thinking of Lady Darby, our wonderful Bassett Hound, as she is getting older, the thought has crossed our mind wether she will need a little red wagon. Here is my painting for today, it is called "A Helping Hand" and it is available here

Gilbert, the Gnome, is often seen lending a helping hand to the forest folk. Prickles, the little hedgehog, is no exception. Little Prickles had stubbed his toe weeks ago, but not realizing that his toe was all healed up, Gilbert pulled him along anyway in his little red wagon. Little Prickles didn't seem to mind at all.

TINY TUCKER

I just returned from a wonderful art's festival in Buffalo where I met some great people. Nadine and I left on last friday and made a 6 1/2 hr trip in the heat and pouring rain (heavy downpours!), we arrived to the hotel and awoke to two beautiful cooler days with not a cloud in the sky.....and thousands of people came flooded the street for the show. I was hoping to get some painting done while doing the show but we were so busy. I've been doing shows for about 15 yrs now and I have to say that I never get tired of seeing the reaction of people who walk into the booth, sure I may get "hey look!, it's James Brown!, Hughhh!...I feeeeellll goood!, nananana!" but the smiles and the comments about the art itself is truly inspiring. I am very thankful for my gift and I know that I must use it the way God meant for me to use it. Yes, a smile on the face of one who views it....that's priceless.

Anyway, I did however, find time today to create a new painting and here it is, "TINY TUCKER" has come out tonight. The original is 5x7 and is available here

Good night for now my friends, James

Inspired by Grace.

"It was beyond the moon in which she seeked her heart's desire, it was He who filled her heart with His Love."

I was inspired by God's Love today and I was in a special place when I was painting this image. I thought about how much God's Love has changed my heart. It was from the heart that I painted it. Many blessings to you all this day. ~James

"Beyond the Moon", (today's painting a day). The original is availabe here

Painting a Day #2

Today was a great day! I woke up early and a new painting was in my head. I right away went to studio and didn't leave until I walked out with this.....


































I painted this one in just under 4 hours and it is my 2nd "Painting a Day" piece. Mr. Browbark needed some grooming and this little elf was nearby to help out. The original watercolor is available here

*Some of you may have had trouble subscibing to this blog, there was an error and now it is fixed. So feel free to join! Thank you for all the wonderful comments. Take care, James

A Painting A Day!

I have now started the "Painting A Day" challange. This should be a perfect place each painting I do each day. I finished the first one, so that's a start....right? It took me 2 hours to do and it is called "You've Come Back to Me". This poor old tree has been alone for some time and now his dear friend, the swallow, has returned to him. It's a beautiful thing to have friendships that last through time, that pick up where they last left off. Yes, friendship is everything. I hope you enjoy this little watercolor about friendship. It measures 5x7 and it is available if anyone is interested here

That's all for now. God Bless, James

One of my favorite paintings.

Before I go off to bed I thought I would share with you one of my favorite paintings that I created in Germany last summer. It is a place I would love to be as the heat of summer approaches. My dear friend, Don wrote a beautiful story about this painting here. It is called "Afternoon Tea". Good night!

My first post.

Hello Everyone! I'm new here and I thought that this would be a nice place to share a little about myself. I am an artist and I enjoy every chance I get to create paintings. This will be a place that I will share with you what I am working on. See you soon!