It was in 2015 when I went to see New York City with my daughter, one of the highlights of my life really. We saw Lady Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, and the 9-11 Memorial and Museum, with her.
There was still scaffolding around some of the buildings, evidence of work still being done 14 years after the horrific attack on our Nation. There were stems of roses and little flags inserted into the engraved names of people remembered. There were people there who did remember, and were there holding their hand over the name of a loved one, or leaning over tracing their name with their fingers.
It was a solemn place. There was respect. We all remembered.
I just finished this painting today, in 2023 from a photo I took while there. There were more people there that day, but I think the ones in the painting represent them all.
Heb. 11:6 – “…for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Read all of Ps.127 – “…Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is a reward…”
It is a distressing thing to even begin to realize what is happening in our country, and world, in regards to child trafficking and abuse. My stomach clenches in pain even trying to comprehend what people like OUR and other groups who rescue children find and try to help. It is also evident by our abortion rates that it is a thriving business also.
I do understand that a nation will fail outside of the salvation of Jesus Christ. A nation will not stand without His blessing and mercy.
You must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder. Children are one of His rewards, they take work, but they are not a burden. Women are saved through childbearing – bearing them until they can live well in this world by the grace of God in their own lives.
When I first sketched this idea for a painting, it was in heaviness. I saw abuse, darkness, tragedy beyond “Les Miserables” or similar concepts. My understanding of what was happening in our Nation was in tears and sadness. My idea was not light.
My favored models are not nearby, so I just began to sketch on a used canvas and wanted to see where it would take me. It was not into darkness.
I was gladdened to see the truth in the Word of God. Children are a man’s arrows, they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. Children are the fruit and strength of a nation. Killing them and other things does not meet the enemies in strength and glory.
I had always only seen these verses within the context of the church – the body of Christ, His building the House. But He is at work even til today. Salvation and Redemption are available to all now. Lord, build Your Kingdom, pour out Your Spirit into America, and the world. Come Lord.
“How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.” Ps. 128:1
This painting is about America loving her children… protecting and guiding them. It is the strength of a Nation for mothers to be raising children before the Lord. They are a gift from God.
Our Nation will be great only in Salvation and Redemption. God is Good, God is Light, there is no darkness in Him. The end result is in His total Victory.
On one of my trips to Miss. I stopped at the cemetery near New Orleans, an impressive tribute to the aching in people’s hearts. I photographed a statue of an angel mounted atop a mausoleum. I removed the wings, but suggested they are still there. (I think angel “wings” in art are symbolic of flight. But that’s another story.)
Right now it seems there is a tremendous aching in our hearts – for our loved ones, for our Nation, for our President, our world. There is a call for believing God, in Jesus…
Be still, in the rest that only He can give. Lord, bring us into Your Peace.
I love painting over old canvases when they’re not too lumpy.
After sketching in the forms and blocking in the painting, the painting seemed to sail. They don’t always “paint themselves”. A lot of my work takes months to do.
Sketching over an old canvas and blocking in the positions of the people.
The owner of a gallery I used to show in asked me to not be so specific in my work. I didn’t know then what that meant, but here it shows all the people and not one is recognizable. The idea, not necessarily the detail, is stronger.
This painting is a special part of the prayer in my heart for our America… the people’s heart, the people’s country, the people’s recognition of our reliance upon God for any good thing.
Almost done, then finishing. I might have left some of the definition alone, but I just had to go in there and define some of the figures more. A very good adjustment was eliminating the repetition of parallel forms by adding sleeves to one man, and muting the light on the arm of the man in the doorway, thus setting him further back.
The color varies at times of day and lighting, so I went out to the northside just before full sunrise and took this photo for northlight color:
BOHLENDER ART 