Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ~ 1 Peter 4:10

Monday, November 29, 2010

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!


Christmas Traditions
Mixed Media painting by Jennifer Snellings

I'm so excited; the holidays are here!!  I just love the Christmas Season!  I enjoy the anticipation of what is to come and try to fill the days with fun traditions, sweet memories and special moments all leading up to Christmas Day!  Each Christmas, using a shoestring budget, I try my best to make the holidays special and memorable for my family.  This season is especially streamlined due to my husband being between jobs.  I'm encouraged though because I know this holiday isn't about what I spend, but instead about family, special memories and traditions, and most importantly the birth of our Savior!! 

I hope to share throughout the season fun ideas and projects, simple and inexpensive, to cherish the season and the time we have with loved ones!  I hope you'll join me and share some of your great Christmas traditions and ideas as well!!

Happy Holidays!
Jennifer

Saturday, November 27, 2010

So Thankful...

Scooby Doo (Turkey in disguise)
by Savannah

Hope you had a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving holiday! We had a special visit with family from far away and it was a great time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for…
  • family and loved ones together from near and far
  • fun family traditions…parades, turkey and football
  • a warm cozy home on a blustery, cold and rainy day
  • hot chocolate and apple cider
  • pumpkin pie and chocolate chip cookies
  • sweetly scented candles
  • dear friends
  • good books to read
  • dedicated troops serving our country and keeping us safe
  • an amazing God who loves me and continues to always provide
“…that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!” ~ Psalm 30:12

Very thankful for you as well!
Happy creating,
Jennifer

Friday, November 12, 2010

In the Studio...

Paint Brushes

“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” — Henry Ward Beecher

The past few months I’ve had the wonderful privilege of taking another amazing class with one of my favorite artists, Wyanne Thompson. I’ve taken several classes with Wyanne over the past few years and each time I’ve learned so much from her! She has an amazingly unique gift of teaching, guiding, encouraging and challenging her students to take their work to new horizons. In her Paint Free class she has gently guided and pushed me to explore myself more deeply as an artist and helped me to dive through the multi-layers of who I am to further develop my own unique artistic style. It has been eye-opening, challenging, healing, inspiring and so revealing! I’ve loved it!! Here are a few of the pieces I’ve created through this class.

Loosely Free
by Jennifer Snellings



Lighthouse
by Jennifer Snellings


Purple Kitty
by Jennifer Snellings

These pieces are quite different for me.  I've been working to paint very intuitively, allowing the pieces to develop organically rather than forcing things.  I have a tendency to over think my process and I'm working to "let go" and just let my heart guide me! 

I’m still working on the two final projects, but hope to share them with you soon! :)

Happy creating,
Jennifer