Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 96
June 27, 2022
Sketch Rain In The Sahara
Something to begin your day with a smile
June 25, 2022
iPainting Rozi And Daisy
Inspired by The Cincinnati Zoo’s own Rozi And Daisy.
June 24, 2022
Art Unboxed Paying Attention
This week my wife, our son, and I were at the doctor. We had a scare with Nicholas regarding his vision, but thank The Lord it turned out okay. While there I saw an elephant lamp, interesting and unusual. Though I finally noticed it, I almost missed it. Thankfully I listened to the voice that said take a photo.
I took a picture. When things were better, I did a pencil sketch, and a digital painting. Because I was paying attention to interesting things around me, even in a stressful situation, it gave me something to relieve the built up stress later. At the time we first saw it, the last thing on my mind was art. When it was all over, the process helped me to wind down.
This wouldn’t have happened quite this way, if I hadn’t been A paying attention, and B present enough to take a quick photo. Lastly, C, I had a good camera with me in the form of my iPhone. Because all of these worked together, I had the opportunity to take a photo. Previously, other than the thousands of pictures of my family, I was not generally a huge picture taker.
Some of my best friends are brilliant photographers, I usually cut heads off. However, since art became more important to me, I’ve taken more pictures. I will admit I completely see the rationale that photos wash out compared to the original, but I also feel that a bad photo for future drawing is better than a forgotten memory.
Have you ever wondered why we call it paying attention? While the origins are not cut and dry, it does indicate an investment. I believe it means you must be present, actively engaged, and noticing things around you. It’s certainly vital in life, whether taking about relationships, faith, or business. Paying attention is also important in art. That’s how I noticed an elephant lamp I might have previously missed.
Paying attention artistically can mean we are being mindful of our composition, our draftsmanship, and our colors. One brush of a variant of color in a painting can change the entire scene for the better. Today scientists x-ray classic paintings, and it’s common for the x-ray to reveal differences underneath the top layer.
Renowned artists from different countries and centuries paid attention to how a slight compositional change might turn a project from a painting to a masterpiece. While I would not call my elephant painting a masterpiece, I was able to improve it. By correcting the areas that were weak, it was stronger at the end than the beginning, all because I was paying attention.
June 23, 2022
Disguised Opportunities
Pastor Denny Livingston sparked something in my spirit through last night’s Message at Point Of Mercy on The Pursuit Of Better. Then Pastor Jason and Brittany Pitter have added to it on their broadcast The Morning Show. Along these lines, I began to think of the last time we took Nick to the doctor. I thought of how for ten years we would trade wherever we were, to be with our child.
Nick is okay, but he did not want to be there. I didn’t want him to be sick, but I was thankful to be able to have a child to take to the doctor. It’s a wonderful reminder to resist the temptation to view blessings as problems.
We may at times have a challenge in our work, or with our vehicle, etc, but this means we have a job or a car. Challenges are real, yet often these opportunities occur because we have been blessed. We can face more today than we could have handled even a few months ago.
I don’t know who said it originally but opportunities arrive cloaked in adversity. Today don’t view your obstacle as an adversary but just as with an obstacle course, view it as a way to train to be better. I’m far from where I need to be, but I’m blessed with this knowledge, and because I know this, I can strive to be the better version of me.
June 22, 2022
Sketch Yoda Planning For Tomorrow
If you’re on Dagobah don’t worry, a New Hope will land soon!
