I just found a wonderful free resource for Picture Study and wanted to share it with you....

Charlotte Mason Picture Study - A Humble Place.

For the joy of beautiful art! 

Mary Jane Q Cross - Comforting Hands

I can't help but be moved when I view Mary Jane Q Cross' paintings.  I feel the warmth and connection and identify with and experience the emotions portrayed.  These two lovely Young women make me think of my seven lovely daughters and the love we all share and the comfort we find in one another.  

Evening at Claude's and Tranquil Companion by Mary Jane Q Cross

Sorry, it's been awhile since I've posted paintings,  I have a couple more for you by our wonderful poet/painter, Mary Jane Q Cross.  Most of the paintings I've featured so far are people, but the two today are nature - both lovely and peaceful scenes.  Also an announcement for those of you from Northern Minnesota following the poems.

Claude's Lullaby

The scent of your lilies is the fragrance of time
That once swirled around you but now is mine.

You hold on your brush the fragrance of lilies,
I hold on my brush the fragrance of time.

Hocks of holly, roses of red,
Lilies swarm on a gliding wet bed.

Under the road, up into the light,
Lilies moan in soft delight.

It is a world both rich and soft--
Wisteria draping softly aloft.

Scent of lilies, scent of paint,
Mix in the soul to make one faint.

Tranquil Companion

Affection, affection, my love does seek--
Days in and out we meet and peak

Genuine happiness amid the crush
Savoring moments despite the rush

At what this day does true present
Gliding along in hours well spent

Back and forth among the waves
Relishing the plan of the Ancient of Days.


And for those of you in Northern Minnesota, my friend, Delight, and I are hosting a Charlotte Mason Video Seminar presented by Sonya Shafer of Simply Charlotte Mason, titled, "How to Teach Each School Subject Using Charlotte Mason Methods".... You are invited to join us. This seminar is a great introduction if you want to know more about the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling but is also great for those who have already been using her methods. There's always more to learn and Sonya Shafer is a good communicator and gives practical applications and demonstrations. The final session of the seminar is "Laying Down the Rails" - a session on the basic principles and practical tips of instilling good habits.

 The seminar will be held Saturday April 29, 2017 from 10 am to 4 pm. It will be held at the Lofgren home in Bemidji, MN or if there are a large number of attendees it will be held at Kitchi Pines Church in Pennington. We will be having Delight's wonderful scones and tea and a carry-in lunch of salads (bring your favorite salad).   Contact Patti for more details or to make a reservation at 218-444-6705 or pattilofgren@gmail.com.  Please respond by Monday the 24th of April (sooner is better).  Feel free to invite friends or husbands. 

Mary Jane Q Cross - Sovereign Lord I trust and Depend on Thee

Another painting with Mary Jane Q Cross' doves - the spiritual meaning of doves, the connection with the Spirit and the gentleness of these birds comes through.  The accompanying poem is also beautiful. 

Sovereign Lord I Trust and Depend on Thee

Councilor Lord of life and times

Cast in stars where love is defined

Seeking serving evermore

Beckons me through opened  door

Flexing wings no timid dart

Comfort found close to Your heart

Quiet beat the fluttering breast

As home is You and I Thy guest

My fragile heart is in Your Hands

Willing, content with no demands

Loving breath surrounds my face

As I am bathed in Sovereign’s grace

Fragrant wind of perfect rest

Beneath God’s wing I build this nest

Trusting Comforted I live this life

Protect this soul from worldly  strife.

Sovereign Lord I trust in Thee

However can it possibly be

That dependence is so safe a place

Where every moment beholds Thy face

Mary Jane Q Cross -- Upstream Years Downstream Life

 I love the colors and play of light in this lovely painting by Mary Jane Q Cross! Makes me long for Spring.... It's a peaceful, happy scene, note the interest and intent on the girl's face and the light reflected back from the water. 

 

Upstream Years Downstream Life - Mary Jane Q Cross

 

 

“Upstream Years Downstream Life”

On this pleasant day I pray

The seeds set deep, not blown away

Heart and soul within the seed

Oh Father King…I beg no weed.

Float my dreams down to the sea

Go before so I might see

A swift look back, upstream in years

From where I come with all it’s tears

Of  little dreams of who I be

Set adrift on inland sea.

Washing downstream headlong life

Seek momentum sans the strife

To broader wider vision keep

Hope unfurled cool and deep

Wave on wave and yet again

My years ahead dear God do send

What you make inside Godhead

That I must be…hope or dread

My eye downstream yearns to see

Blueprint for that which I may be

Within your breath blow me home

From backwash stalled, perchance I roam

Draw me timidly gentle out

That I might float, tall and stout

To the seas in journeys home

Ride high wave in airy foam

I love thee soul dear gentle boat

Eternity bring me home to float

To nourish, abide, colonize, dwell

That I may do this life ..and well

By Mary Jane Q Cross   copyrighted 2006

Blessed are the Merciful For They Shall Obtain Mercy by Mary Jane Q Cross

Two more lovely paintings with lambs this week and titles from the Sermon on the Mount by our artist Mary Jane Q Cross.  Here is the same sweet little girl we featured two weeks ago. This painting is full of meaning.  Jesus compares us to sheep and calls himself our shepherd!  He promises that the meek will inherit the earth...

The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth

And this wonderful painting too with a child and sheep -   Its accompanying poem follows:

Blessed Are the Merciful For They Shall Obtain Mercy

“Blessed are the Merciful….For They Shall Obtain Mercy”

Mercy with truth go hand in hand

like grains piling up in hourglass sand.

One pile melding one into another

As done for a friend as soothing a brother.

Mercy without truth is death to a soul

Without sincere gospel, severity would be bold.

Both must link, long, firm and fast

so righteousness and peace will kiss at last. (Psalm 85:10)

So, Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain

Mercy… so sweet, in millennial reign. (Mathew 5:7)

By Mary Jane Q Cross

Copyright 2016

Mary Jane paints with her fingertips.   Q Cross: The Painter Behind the Portraits is a documentary video about her work that I recommend you watch  with your children.  It's just under a half hour.

And here is a link to a website where you can view her artist's statement and paintings.   I also recommend her lovely book of poetry and paintings,  Poems of a Painter, Paintings of a Prayer.  It has full page paintings with the corresponding poems. 

Consider My Meditation by Mary Jane Q Cross

Mary Jane Q Cross' paintings always raise emotion and wonder for me.  Worship would be a word that seems to fit many of her paintings.  An awareness of the spiritual is present in her work.  Today's painting, titled "Consider My Meditation", is no exception.  Psalm 3:3 says, "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." KJV.   ESV says it this way -- "But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head." .  I've been pondering how Jesus gently lifts our head.  When you're talking to a child and they hang their head or hide their eyes either out of guilt or out of shy fear, you gently lift their chin until they can see the love in your eyes and want to look at you.  I think this is how the LORD Jesus is with us, taking our guilt, longing to look into our eyes and assure us of His love.  So many of Mary Jane's paintings have women and girls with their heads tipped up to Heaven and the light.  They have countenances that are cleansed and radiant, filled with joy and worship for their incomparable Lord. 

Consider My Meditation

Morning Mists rise all around

Lapping gently its watery sound

Against this vessel unafraid

Pushing along whom He has made

Again and tomorrow I’ll meditate

His finger writing on soul I wait

Directing this path quietly He bade

With hand held out, as timidly I wade

This water too deep to comfortably abide

Content I am to in His boat ride

Rest my soul and body breathe deep

Spirit be faithful until I sleep.

Copyright 2009

by  Mary Jane Q Cross

Two songs follow based on Psalm 3 Lifter of my Head  and A Shield About Me