Two More Pics :)

The latest two people I painted are named Ock W. and Lazarro.  I love how the red just seems to pop off of the page :)  I spent my Friday afternoon down at Heartside again, and had a wonderful time!  I started to read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo this week, and was reading it while I was down there.  One of the young men was pretty interested in reading it, so after I finish it, I am going to lend it to him.  I also spoke to the director of the Art Program, Sara, and have found out that they can use the extra items that I had donated at the start of this project, so next week I will be taking down a large tote of things....further blessings! :)  Thanks for looking, and don't forget to pray for these men and the many others that are our neighbors!

Newest Portraits

     So today I bring to you Stan and Walter.......look at the joy in their faces :)  Stan is another that I just simply cannot look at without smiling, and Walter has that slow smile going on!  I am so very thankful that it has been such a mild winter in comparison to recent ones.  Last week as I walked the two blocks from my car to Heartside, I was reminded of just how mild it has been!
     I am up to sixteen portraits done, and while that seems like A LOT, I then realize that means I have 36 left to go!  WOW!  It has been a really great experience so far, and I still have so far to go.  The thing that is so amazing is that I am not tired of it yet!  Me, who is borderline ADD, isn't tired of this at all!  I will be working on two more yet this week, and also start drafting the letters to secure the rights to use the song lyrics and to start approaching venues.  Please keep me in your prayers as I start this next phase of the piece.....these are two VERY important steps to getting this to it's final stage of showing it!  Wow, when I think of actually seeing this done, and seeing others able to see and take something from this it is quite overwhelming!  Please pray for Stan and Walter, and if you think about it, say a small prayer for my next steps going as smoothly as the rest has so far!  Thanks for being a part of this!!!!

Scott

     So last Friday I went down to Heartside again!  I almost didn't get to go, due to car issues, but boy am I sure glad that I did!!!!  I had so much fun!  There is a CD player that was playing a jazzy cd, and each time that it started back up, there was a man who would just start to dance!!!  He started out just dancing by himself, but after a few minutes he must have decided it better to dance with a partner, because he asked me to dance with him.  Of course I accepted :)  So there we were, dancing around the art studio :)       It really could not have been a better day!
     I also got to know a wonderful woman who has a very similar style to mine.  She is currently making vintage collages on blocks of wood.  I showed her my copy of Somerset Studios magazine, and that was all it took to break the ice.  We chatted for about an hour, and I am looking forward to seeing her again this week!
     Anyway, here is Scott!  He has really pretty blue eyes, hence the color I chose for him :)  I will be back later this week with a few more pictures!  Until then, keep Scott in your thoughts and prayers!

This is Mark.  He looks sad to me, and while most of the others whom I photographed were happy and silly, Mark's expression looks honest to me.  It looks like he has seen much more in this life than I have.  But you know what?  He is still here to tell about it.  The question is, is anyone listening?  One thing that is really telling to me is that as I sit in the Art Studio at Heartside, people don't need me to get them supplies, they need fellowship.  They need someone to talk to, and to listen to them....really listen.  I don't have much money, but I do have a great ear for listening :)  I am really glad that I am seeing the value in that simple act!  If you think about it, say a prayer for Mark tonight!  

Short and Sweet

We had an amazing speaker at our church today!  His name is Todd Burpo, and he has been the NY Times Bestselling author for the past 62 weeks.  He and his wife almost lost their then 3 year old son, and instead, when he came back to them he told them all about Heaven!  What an amazing testimony he shared with us today!
The thing that struck me most, was when he said that we need to start praying for God to use us instead of being selfish in our prayers.  He then went on to say that if we pray this prayer, we need to be ready for when He answers it...and He will!  I have, in fact, prayed this exact prayer two times.  The first time landed me in Africa, and the most recent led me downtown to bless and take photos of the Homeless right here in Grand Rapids.
I am ready for where God is leading me in this, for I truly believe that this is from Him.  I also pray that I can be humble in my talents, the ones that He has given me, and do everything in my power to make this about these amazing people whom I am honoring with these paintings.  ArtPrize is merely the venue that I get to use to make this statement.  I am merely God's instrument in speaking to both the homeless and to the rest of us to notice them!  God, keep me humble!  Use my hand to speak your message!
I hope that you will be brave and pray this prayer.....be ready for where He will lead you....and DO NOT FEAR, for wherever He leads you, He will be with you!

I realize this pic is larger than most, but I really wanted to highlight the eyes....love love love how they turned out!  This is Dimmarowe, when we took the photos, he was a little hesitant to have his taken, but after we explained in more detail what it was for, he decided to be a part of this...and am I ever glad, because his face is awesome!  I have seen him once since starting at Heartside, but haven't had the chance to talk to him yet.  I am loving going down there though.  Last week I took a journal and did some sketching while I was there.  I also chatted with a man, James, who looks JUST LIKE Snoop Dogg....I am not even kidding!!  He was working on drawing portraits.  I also met a very gifted seamstress who was working on these adorable stuffed animals that she does quite well selling!  If anyone is interested in finding a unique gift, check out the studio at Heartside....not only will you score some one of a kind artwork, but you will be helping a wonderful artist more than you know!

Really Cool People!

     So last week Friday I was finally able to start volunteering at Heartside, in the art studio.  I LOVED IT!!!  I cannot wait to go back this week :)  At first I was feeling a little awkward, I didn't really know what to do or what I was meant to be doing.  After about an hour I just started to wander among the artists and chat with them....that was when it really started to become great!  There was a woman sitting next to me all afternoon, named Kathy.  She wasn't feeling too well and seemed stuck in her artwork....and she didn't seem to want to talk at all.  She left for a few minutes, and when she returned she had some mail (apparently they can have their mail delivered there).  She opened it and spent some time reading it and all of a sudden, without a word, she handed over her new Driver's License for me to see.  I admired her picture on it and asked to see her old one.  She showed it to me, and I commented on her different hairstyle between the two.  Then I noticed there was a watermark on her new one.....right under her lip.  So I said if she tilted it just right, it looked like she had a mustache.....SHE BUSTED UP LAUGHING!!!  That was all it took, the next two hours she and I talked like we were old friends :) :) :)  Love, love, love!  I also met a man named David and heard his story.....art really has been his healing!  I also met Walter....Walter was something else :)  He told me about a ton of different documentaries he has seen, what a great guy!  Our conversation was very informative...I learned quite a bit!  Like I said, I cannot wait to go back this week :)
     Anyway, here is Yakie.  He was a little shy about having his photo taken, he was even biting his lip :)  I know just how he feels....I, too, hate having my picture taken!  Thank you Yakie, for letting me share your image with everyone....I am praying that you have a warm place to sleep tonight....it sure is cold out there!