When it's time to turn your easel around

Fora while now, I’ve followed a social media account of the prolific Birminghamartist, Miriam McClung. Getting on in years now, she has been painting forseventy-five years. Educated in the south, she also studied at the Art StudentsLeague in New York City and worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Herwebsite notes that she then returned to Alabama and painted landscapes of thestate and scenes around Birmingham. She has studied with some of the bestartists in the country.

Atthe age of fifty, she pivoted from the work she had previously done toespecially seeking God’s purposes in her work. Her son curates her account andduring the Lenten season, he posted many of her faith centered works including severalfrom her Stations of the Cross series.

Icould go on and on about how much I love the videos of her talking about herwork, the scenes she painted of her home where she cared for her husband, and one of my favorite paintings which is of her laundryroom. It reminds me of a quote I’ve shared here before from Camille Pissarro, “Blessedare those who see beautiful things in humble places where other people seenothing.”

Butthe painting I want to focus on today was posted a few days ago. It is one shedid while at an Atlanta workshop and is based on John 20:6-7. “Then Simon Petercame along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips oflinen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head.The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.”

Confrontedwith a model which didn’t interest her at the workshop, she decided in herwords to, “turn my easel around and did a pastel of a linen cloth … it remindedme of when Peter went to the tomb.”

Sheturned her easel around and focused on the reminder of Jesus’ resurrection.

Thisimage spoke volumes to me. At the time I saw it, a matter weighed heavily on myheart. It rose up in front of me trying to demand all my attention. But I hadanother choice, I could turn my easel around and instead give my attention tothe mighty work Jesus had done for me. That’s what I did, and that’s what Iintend to keep doing.

Somethink art should just be a pretty picture we buy to match the sofa, but for me,it is so much more. Art tells stories and has the power to change the lives ofothers. Miriam’s work touches me deeply and though I may never meet her, I amso thankful to have the opportunity to get to know her and her work through heraccount and be touched by these exquisite works of art. 

Ifyou’re facing a difficulty which threatens to overwhelm, maybe it’s time you turnedyour metaphorical easel as well and instead give your undivided attention towhat Jesus did through his death and resurrection on your behalf.

Ifyou haven’t seen her work, check Miriam McClung Art on insta. You will beblessed.

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023