Shadows and Light

A couple of days ago I took a course on how to draw with colored pencils. It was very interesting and enjoyable. The first thing we were taught was to establish shadows. This rounds out a picture so that the subject matter doesn't appear flat. So if you were to draw a pear and color it, it would look much like this:

Then your start adding color over the shadows....

And then more color...

Until you are finished.

With that principle in mind we were each given the shape of a log to color, and the assignment was to make it appear three dimensional with our shading. There were 17 people in the class. Some used blues, others used purples or browns. I used tones of gray, then started adding color with purples and browns. It was amazing how well they all turned out!

Well, with that much practice under our belts, we were given the task of drawing and coloring our own designs. I had a specific project in mind which I had already sketched out. The challenge was in seeing the shadows and dark places first, in recognizing them and defining the picture in those tones before using the color. I loved it, but it was hard to do. It took me over 6 hours to complete my drawing which was roughly 9x11 in size.

It is interesting to me how important those shadows are. Without them you have a very flat picture. Isn't it ironic, that sometimes we find ourselves in life resenting the shadows... the hard things we face? These difficulties shape us and help to define our character. These moments and experiences, as they are endured well, actually become beautiful to us, not for the difficulty they presented, but rather for the definition and color of the lessons we learned that shaped us. We are each magnificent pieces of art in God's hands. Sometimes it feels like there is nothing but shadow or even darkness, but it is our promise, that as we trust Him, the blessings of color, contrast, light and definition will become ours in the Masters hand. What a joy it is to catch a small glimpse, through a small art project, of Gods work - the work of perfecting and exalting each of us.