25 years ago today... history inspires artwork...

Events in history are often inspiration for my paintings... but when history hits on a personal level sometimes I find myself captivated to paint a scene for reasons beyond mere aesthetics or nostalgia.

Such a historical event happened to our small community 25 years ago today. It was the first day that the war on terrorism began with the largest non-nuclear explosion since World War II... the Beirut bombing.

.

In the early morning of October 23, 1983, the First Battalion, 8th Marines Headquarters building was destroyed by a non-Lebanese, terrorist-driven truck, laden with compressed gas-enhanced explosives. This truck, like many others, had become a familiar sight at the airport and so did not raise any alarm on this morning. The resulting explosion and the collapse of the building killed 241 Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers.

Many of the victims of this atrocity were residents of Jacksonville, North Carolina. They were known as fathers, neighbors, fellow church members, and little league baseball and soccer coaches. The community was stunned over the loss of these fine men and donations began to flow to their memory. This became the "birth" of the Beirut Memorial where their names are engraved along side "They Came In Peace"...

This tragic event reminds us of how fragile life is, how costly freedom is, and how much our community appreciates the military! On a personal level I have included a couple paintings inspired by this day in history...

"They Came In Peace"... 24"x24" Oil on Textured Stretched Canvas, 2005.

.
.

"A Tribute to Gold Star Moms" ... 10x8" Oil on Linen, en plein aire, April 2008.

Read the story behind this painting HERE...

(click on image to enlarge)


Here is the painting my daughter Olivia (six years old at the time) did the same day...

"Honoring Marines"... 10x8" Acyclic on canvas

Here are some recent articles in our local newspaper... The Daily News... highlighting the event, memorial, and anniversary.

.
Tragedy forged community bond

.

Beirut Memorial draws visitors for many reasons

.

'No time to think': Survivors remember Beirut bombing

.

They Came In Peace

.

Let us always remember...

Bernie

911 remembered...

Drawing God....

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.

As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."

The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."


Thanks for sending this Barb...

Live painting demo in Sunday School Class...

This small painting was the result of a live demo in my Sunday School class. I had the students read "light" verses from the Bible as I painted. We talked about how light adds form to objects... in art and real life... let your light shine...

Click on image to see a larger view...


"Lone Granny Smith Apple #2"... 6x6" Oil on panel, alla prima from life, "Painting a Day" series, 7-2008.

Painting... a labor of love.

"Each day I go to my studio full of joy; in the evening when obliged to stop because of darkness I can scarcely wait for the morning to come...My work is not only a pleasure, it has become a necessity. No matter how many other things I have in my life, if I cannot give myself to my dear painting I am miserable." - William Bouguereau

I can surely identify with Bouguereau's quote above... I feel complete when painting. I must confess that many times it is a struggle and labor but always a labor of love.

William Bouguereau is one of favorite artists to study and cover. I love his timeless portraits of common folks as seen in their natural settings.

Original "Le Baiser" by Bouguereau 1863 (translation "The Kiss")

My version... "A Pondering Heart" after Bouguereau... 7x5" Oil on Canvas Board by Bernie Rosage Jr. (Click on image to enlarge)

I was inspired by his original painting, "Le Baiser" and Luke 2:19 to produce this cropped version as a head study.... "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart"...

Art is therapy...

Art is therapy for me at times...

times like this that is...

Click HERE...

An example has been set for us....

As an artist I study and glean from some of the old masters of art such as Bouguereau, Vermeer, Picasso, Durer, and Cezanne... and how their works have been an inspiration and learning tool to imitate. There is a master, above all, who sets an example before us worth imitating daily.... his name is Jesus. John 13:15 was the inspiration behind this charcoal drawing I did titled "Basin and Towel". The source was a photograph I took some time back for a dear friend as a tribute and celebration of his many years in ministry.

Jesus said... "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." (KJV)

"Basin and Towel"... 8"x10" Charcoal on Panel, 2003.

Jesus is the master artist and we are his masterpieces!
In Faith,
Bernie

We are SO small....

As Tami and I flew from Wilmington to Atlanta, and from Atlanta to Dublin I had a revelation. Now take into consideration... I am not a world traveler... in fact at age 46, this was only my 4th flight (first trans-Atlantic)... so I was as wide-eyed as a child when we took flight. The sky was full of those puffy white clouds reminding me of those "Jesus in the sky" paintings all over the internet... Heavenly to say the least. Two things I realized... #1... there are still a lot of trees left and... #2... we are small.



Most people, myself included, get caught up in our own world and often think the world revolves around us or at least around our small inner circle of friends, family, and acquaintances. Up in the clouds I realized just how small we are... a very humbling experience. Humbling yet uplifting... uplifting in the fact that as small as we are God knows the very number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:6-8). He not only knows us... He loves us! John 3:16...

Check out this short video that shows just how small we are....



"A man is tallest when he is on his knees praying..."

Jesus in Art

Jesus has been the central figure in the lives of many since his arrival... no wonder that he would be depicted in art for centuries. From the early religious iconic symbols, through the work of the Old Masters, to the present day... he has made a major impact on the art world.

Many different pictures of Jesus are shown to us in the world.

Which one is the right one?

Pictures of Jesus in Art
Artist depictions of Jesus are from much later than his time walking the earth. Therefore, we do not have any way of knowing exactly what he looked like. More importantly, the Bible seems to place no great importance on Jesus' physical appearance. Isaiah tells us: "He has no form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him" (Isaiah 53:2).

It doesn't matter what Jesus looked like, because the important thing is to believe in him. After he rose from the dead, Jesus told his disciple Thomas, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed" (John 20:29).

In art, we often see Jesus depicted as a light-skinned man with reddish hair and blue eyes. And African art has depicted him as having dark skin and Asian art has depicted him as having Asian eyes. But all of these are probably off-base, for Jesus was a Jew from his mother's side (his Father being God). Thus he probably looked like a Jewish man.

Pictures of Jesus' Race
Followers of Christ are generally assumed to be from the Western hemisphere. However, faith in Jesus began in the Middle East and spread outward from there, throughout the whole earth. For example, there are millions of people today in Africa and Asia who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. The largest church today can be found in Korea.

The Bible tells us that people who believe in Jesus are from every tribe and people and nation and language (Revelation 7:9). Yet it is unlikely that any whole nation believes in Jesus. Certainly, it would be naive to think that everyone in the West who fills out a form as "Christian" is actually a true follower of Jesus. After all, Jesus said the way to destruction is broad and many travel by it; and the way to life is narrow, and few find it (Matt 7:13-14).

It could be that, proportionally speaking, there is relatively the same number of Christians in America as there is in Africa, for example. We don't know for sure, but God does. He alone knows people's hearts. He knows who has turned to Him in truth and who has not. And He is impartial when it comes to race (Acts 10:34-35).

Source: http://www.everystudent.com/wires/real.html)

Many different pictures of Jesus are shown to us in the world.

Question: Which one is the right one?

Answer: His personal features and appearance are of no importance when compared to the reason He came to this world... to offer Himself as a sacrifice so all people may have eternal life. I love how God's Word (the Bible) doesn't get caught up in pointless details (like what Jesus looked like) that could distract us from the truth. My favorite description of Jesus in the Bible is when He says... "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me ..." John 14:6

With all that said... here is a portrait I did of Jesus inspired by Hebrews 12:2... Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The painting through various stages....

"The Cross Set Before Him"... 20"x16" Oil on stretched textured canvas, 2004, Inspired by Hebrews 12:2. Artist, Bernie Rosage Jr.

I can't believe it... I'm actually going to see "The Book of Kells" in person...

I am totally stoked... in less than a week I will be viewing the ancient "Book of Kells" in person. My wife, Tami, and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary with a trip to Ireland. Part of our trip is visiting Trinity College in Dublin where the "Book of Kells" has been kept since 1661.

The "Book of Kells" is an illuminated manuscript that is a masterwork of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It is also widely regarded as Ireland's finest national treasure. Transcribed by Celtic monks ca. 800, it contains the four Gospels of the New Testament in Latin, together with various prefatory texts and tables.

The illustrations and ornamentation of the "Book of Kells" surpass that of other Insular Gospels in extravagance and complexity. The decoration combines traditional Christian iconography with the ornate swirling motifs typical of Insular art. Figures of humans, animals and mythical beasts together with intricate knotwork and interlacing patterns in vibrant colours enliven the manuscript's pages. Many of these minor decorative elements are imbued with Christian symbolism and so further emphasize the themes of the major illustrations.

Not only does the book contain the most important message one can ever read but it is truly a work of art as well...

Here is one of the the artistic images from the book showing Jesus Christ enthroned.



I'll give a full report of my personal experience of viewing this awesome treasure upon my return...

Bernie

Savoring God's creation first hand...

What painting en plein aire means to me...



I appreciate the simple things in life. Many artists thrive with creativity in times of turmoil... I'm just the opposite... give me peace and harmony and the creative juices flow much easier... That is why I love working from life and enjoying nature. One of my favorite ways to paint is on location en plein aire... the French term literally translates in open air.

I love plein air painting because of the full EXPERIENCE... It fills all the senses for me. I also enjoy the challenges it presents due to changing conditions in my surroundings... it pushes me as an artist and forces me to capture the essence of the scene. I also like meeting people while I'm out painting in public... adding a more personal experience to the sitting. One of my favorite plein air experiences was painting at an old stone church in the Blue Ridge Mountains while a lone Scottish bagpiper played. My least favorite outing was when I was preoccupied by two alligators while painting at Greenfield Lake in Wilmington. I often paint with my artist buddy Olivia, my seven year old daughter, who definitely steals the show when we are on a plein air outing together.

Along with Olivia... some of my favorite plein artists are Larry Seiler, Richard Schmid, Jean LeGassick, Kenn Backhaus, Matt Smith, Mike Rooney, and Marc Hansen. Larry Seiler, my mentor, has been an encouraging and educational force in my work not to mention a GREAT friend. He taught me the "art of seeing".

I belong to two plein air painting guilds... the Southern Plein Air Painters and OOPS which stands for the Onslow Outdoor Painters Society. The camaraderie shared with these artists is beyond words...

but most of all... for me...

"Painting en plein aire is savoring God's creation first hand"

Salt and Light

"Salt and Light"... 6x8" Oil on Panel,
painted alla prima from life, 4-2008.
Click here to check availability of this painting.

Everyday objects painted from life is the essence of the "Painting a Day" art movement. I love painting everyday objects in such a way they tell a story. Many are inspired by scripture. This still life I set up and painted in my studio is such an example. My inspiration comes from Jesus' words in Matthew... "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world." I think it cool the fact that one can associate salt with taste and thus the mouth and light with sight. Plainly put... our words (what comes out of our mouth) and actions (what others see us do) reveal who we really are.

Third Day has recently updated their webpage and added a section headed "Revelations" for "Third Day Inspired Artwork". This painting is highlighted there with other cool artwork... take a look... click here.

To fuel my inspiration I set the CD player to repeat Third Day's "City on a Hill" while I painted away!

"You are the light of the world
A city on a hill cannot be hidden
Shine your light before all men
That they might see your works and then
Praise your Father up in Heaven"

My Belief

The 2 most important things I have learned in this life...
#1... There is a God
#2... I'm not Him!

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.

The late Christian artist, Rich Mullins, put the Apostle's Creed to music. The Christian rock band, Third Day, has an awesome/rocking version that sings to my soul.

Listen to it here... Creed (5:57) full track