Nature Imitating Art

I have this wild climbing rose that I've threaded down the chain link fence. It's over 20 ft wide and requires weekly pruning to stay in check. So I'm out in my back yard yesterday just doing a little pruning when bird startles me by flying out of the bush just a foot or two from me. This sparks my curiosity. I look closer and part a few leaves to reveal a little nest with two eggs. You have got to be kidding me. How cool is this! I start snapping some photos on my phone and rush inside to bring Katie out to see this. 

You would think I'd never seen a bird's nest before. Or that I'm just excited to see a bird's nest in my favorite rose bush. But that's not the point. I DREW this exact thing THREE years ago because I was inspired by the kudzu like growth of this rose bush.  

So here's the side by side comparison for you. How crazy is that! Life imitating art. Art imitating life. Crazy coincidence or copyright infringement? I'll have to stop cutting the bush and disturbing the momma redbird. I can't wait to see some little baby birds!

My sketch "Overly Protective Heart" from 2010

The Cardinal nest I found in 2013

Chester Gets Married

Well, actually I got married but I did this series of Chester drawings for the announcements and invites (it was Katie's idea and I'm so glad we did it). I haven't had the time for any other art making  between all the wedding planning, honeymoon, wedding celebration, merging of households, and getting ready to sell a house. 

It was a lot of fun and a bit of a challenge to "Chester-ize" Katie and me for this series. Each illustration contains details from the real event. For example when I proposed, I hid the engagement ring box in the top of my cowboy boot. Since the wedding reception/celebration was small group of friends and family, I wanted to post the finished set for all of you that we couldn't invite.

The save the date

The invite to the post-wedding celebration

The thank you cards

Also I can't recommend Memories 'n More Photography enough. Teresa was incredibly helpful with the elopement planning and the images are more perfect than I have imagined. 

A new chapter at The Stirring Arts Ministry

 

 

 

Dear Stirring community, 

 

It has been a great honor, blessing, and pleasure to serve the past 9 years as the Art Director at the Stirring. As I start a new chapter in my life (I am getting married in March), I knew that I would be distracted with planning and therefore need to take an extended break from my responsibilities at the Stirring. I didn't feel that it would be fair to the Stirring for me to temporarily hand over my role to another artist. With the Stirring experiencing such obvious growth and energy since the move to the big sanctuary, I felt that a leave of absence would likely create stagnation and a loss of momentum in our arts ministry. I felt that a new leader could better serve the Stirring and keep things moving with new ideas and a fresh passion. 

 

Eli and I have asked Steven Smith to be the new Art Director at the Stirring. Although I will be taking a break, I'll still be around and available to help Steven in anyway that I can. I am extremely thankful to God for using me in ways I never would have imagined and for all the friends that I have made. You guys are like family.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Richard Fudge

 

PS: Please give Steven a warm welcome, pray for him, and give him plenty of support. Thanks. 

 

PSS: Special thanks to the following artists who have already signed up for painting at the Stirring for this year. It's going to be a huge help to Steven that the next six months are covered as he settles into the role.  

 

February  :  Alberto Cabrera  

 

March  :  Jayde Darnell  

Mar 28 MTh: Steven Smith  

April  :  Gail Wilkins  

 

May : Steven Smith 

 

June : Rhonda Test  

 

July :  Alstone Caillier

Make your own Chester card

"Chester Speaks" ©2012 Richard Fudge

So in addition to all the other Chester cards you can order, I've created a DIY Chester card. You just fill in the the speech bubble with your own note. I'm having a lot of fun with them and I hope you will too.

If you'd like to order a pack of five cards and envelopes, shoot me an email. I'm selling them for $10 a pack. Cards are 4.25"x5.5" when folded.

To kick things off, I'm offering a free pack of Chester Speaks. To enter, leave a comment on this blog post and leave your email address. The winner will be randomly selected on Wednesday, September 12th at 8 am.

AND THE WINNER IS..... comment #6 CcBuck

Writing 'I Love You' in 2.5ft tall letters

“Love Is a Journey” takes shape after one night at The Stirring

Inspiration:

This painting is based on a the sketch I gave to Katie. I'd post a photo of it, but Katie won't loan it back to me (lesson #1: always photograph your work). We just celebrated two years of dating and feels awesome to paint what is basically a huge "I Love You" sign on stage at The Stirring in front of a 1000 people. Also, I can't help but be reminded of my good friends Cheryl and Smith when reflecting on the message of this painting. They are an inspiring portrait of love to me.    
 
Artist Statement for “Love Is a Journey”

I grew up on a hilltop in the Ozarks. You could see downtown Fort Smith, Ark. from my house. When I was a Boy Scout, I loved to hike in the mountains. Now my favorite vacation trips are to the Great Smoky National Park. My heart and soul seem to breathe fresh life whenever I am there. The mountains in this painting are based on the view that I photographed from Newfound Gap. Mountains hold a very spiritual connection as well since it is here that God’s work as creator and master artist is lavishly on display.

In this painting, the mountain view is more than just a beautiful backdrop. The mountains are a metaphor for the journey of life with all of its ups and downs. In Boy Scouts, you are taught the importance of the buddy system. The buddy system is a way for scouts to look out for one another. If one person gets hurt, the other can provide first aid or go for help. Also, it is more difficult to get lost since two heads are better than one. Life is like that. It’s also better when you have a buddy to help you along the way and to share those mountain top moments with. Lastly, here are a couple of quotes I was reflecting on when creating this piece:

“Yea, though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” – Psalm 23
 
“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone. It has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
 
“Give us this day our daily bread” – Matthew 6:11





Going BIG:

This is my first time painting at The Stirring since we moved to the new sanctuary. I wanted to paint something BIG, but I also wanted to paint something for me. I don't get commissioned to do large works often nor I do sell large ones often. It feels like a fluke when one sells. They can end up at your house for a long, long time (I'm looking at you, Mary and Christ). So instead of crossing my fingers and hoping someone will buy it, this one is mine. I'm commissioning myself for a piece to go in my living room over my massive sofa. The wall space over my sofa has been a problem for the past 3 years. Art comes and goes as it displays at galleries. Half the time it's blank - which is a good thing for the art but a bad thing for my house.
 
When this is completed, it will be second largest Chester-themed painting I've ever done. And because I like to make lists...

Top 5 biggest paintings by Fudge:

1. "Not Alone" 2010 - 8ft x 6ft (two 4ft x 6ft panels) - 48 sq ft 
2. “The Light Shines in the Darkness” 2009 - 3ft x 9ft
   (three 3ft x 3ft panels) - 27 sq ft
3. "Silent Night" 2010 - 3.5ft x 5ft - 17.5 sq ft
4. “Love Is a Journey” 2012 - 2.5ft x 6.7ft (two 30"x40" panels) - 16.7 sq ft
5. “Virgin Mary and Christ” 2009 - 3ft x 4ft - 12 sq ft

I'm very excited. The subject excites me. Painting in the Big house excites me. Big paintings of Chester excite me. This painting almost fills my little 10'x10' studio. Look at that photo. It's nearly wall to wall. I had to stand in the doorway to photograph it. I also had to buy a bunch of paint (lesson #2: always restock before you paint on stage).

Steven Smith - Guest Artist for August

Guest artists Steven Smith and Ally Guscette

I've got a couple of announcements about the Stirring, our guest artist for August is Steven Smith. I'm really digging this photo that Katie took. A poignant moment was captured as Steven kneeled before Jesus, The Creator, while painting last Sunday. Steven is very talented and I know he's got some special artwork planned. You won't want to miss him.

Also, The Stirring will be making the move from the South Hall (our home for all these years) to the big sanctuary on Aug 19th. Here's a nice clip about the move by Eli Morris.



We'll reconfigure the stage, turn down the lights, turn up the sound, and hang a gigantic Stirring banner to make this new space our own on Sunday nights. We need your help. We need your prayers. We need your enthusiasm. We need you to join us on Aug. 19 and bring a friend. You don't want to miss what God's gonna do next.