A Significant Inheritance: Guest Post by Photographer Debby Pueschel

Today I’m delighted to share a guest post by Debby Pueschel, an amazing photographer who I met on Fine Art America! Debby is sharing her beautiful piece titled Alabaster Still Life and the story behind it.

Alabaster Still Life available here.

Any significant inheritance tells a story-one of family, hope, and love.  This is the story behind a lamp that I inherited from my grandmother.  But before I get to that, I’ll tell you a little bit about myself.

My name is Debby Pueschel.  I am a retired first-grade teacher who firmly believes that my students taught me more than I ever taught them!  Children have a unique way of teaching… their innocent sweetness and sometimes brutal honesty can trample the hardest heart and melt it in one fell swoop.  Is it any wonder that Jesus taught that  “...unless you change and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

My husband asked my father for my hand in marriage, and we tied the knot 52 years ago.  (We always laugh when we tell people that when my parents had their 50th wedding anniversary, both of their mothers were there… sheesh… how often do you hear of both mothers being at a 50th wedding anniversary of their children, much less one parent!)  Anyway, I digress...I wish I could say it has been a perfectly happy marriage, but that would not be truthful.  We have gone through trials and hardships, just as many others have.  We give God the credit for keeping us together.  Marriage is difficult, no matter whose marriage it may be.  In our marriage, we see our struggles as an adventure.  Struggles have made us who we are today.

I am a woman of faith, a woman who serves God.  I make mistakes, yet I can ask God to forgive me and work to correct them!  God is my Saviour, the one whom I serve and who walks with me every second of every day.  Without Him, I am nothing, and with Him, my life is full!   Each morning, I ask Jesus to show me to whom I can share His love as I meet people throughout the day.  It is my hope that my artwork and my daily walk will allow others to see the love of God and learn to walk with Him, too.

This photograph is of an alabaster vase and lamp that my grandmother brought from Israel.  She was an amazing woman who lived to be 100. This Alabaster vase and lamp were designated to me by my grandmother before she passed away. Grandma had many beautiful things, but this was not a valuable or cherished piece to anyone but me.  No one wanted it when she died.  I did!  She brought it from the land where Jesus grew up and was crucified.   It is from the land of Jesus’ birth and life. Grandma brought it back home as a reminder of her trip - memories of the place where Jesus had been. Grandma was a huge woman of faith!

Once home, she had the large piece made into a lamp…a lamp that is like a night light that lightens the way in the dark, just as Jesus’s light does!  He is the Light in a dark world.  The vase was a vase from the beginning, so together they make a perfect decorative pair.  Not only is it a beautiful keepsake from my grandmother, but it is a reminder of where our Lord lived, taught, and died.  This is as precious to me as if I had purchased it myself in Israel.

Thank you, Grandma, for following God, for praying that the circle won’t be broken, and for all of us being in heaven with Jesus and you!  Thank you, Grandma, for your life!                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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If you’d like to see more of Debby’s beautiful work, you can find her portfolio here. Thank you so much, Debby, for being a guest on my blog! It is a pleasure to have you here!

Our Newest Guest: Artist Elizabeth Kuntz!

It is with great pleasure that I'm introducing you to a fantastic artist, Elizabeth Kuntz! Her work is deeply spiritual and very emotionally moving. I was able to interview her regarding her work and process, which you can read about below:

1. What inspires you to create art?

My creations are inspired by life itself. Each one of my artworks tells a story on my journey of spiritual growth, bringing light to the lessons of life, and visions to the deep feelings which oftentimes have no words. What I enjoy the most is working on an intuitive level and infusing the composition with energy and emotions. Throughout the process of letting go from engaging with the logical mind, the imagery typically evolves into something unexpected. I try to make the invisible world visible, revealing our sacred connection to nature and the mysteries of the human spirit.

2. How did you get involved with or begin making art?

My dad was a talented sculptor, so I grew up immersed in the art world. He was my greatest art teacher, encouraging my creative expression and helping me to develop my artistic skills from a young age. I eventually continued on to obtain a BFA and pursue a career in graphic design. Several years ago I rediscovered my passion for drawing, and in 2018, held my first solo exhibition in Cyprus, my home for over two decades. I’ve since returned to my roots in America, and exhibit my work in galleries throughout the area. I’ve worked in many different mediums, but ultimately love the freedom I have found through the process of working with pastels.

3. What does your art mean to you? What do you hope it will mean to others?

Art has been my guiding light, helping me to open up to my true nature and heal through personal challenges. It has given me a voice after spending far too much time suffering in silence, and has also brought a greater sense of joy, calm and purpose into my life. Although we are each walking our own unique path and my drawings are inspired by my own unique experiences, we are all connected through the energy of shared emotions. I’m always touched when people feel an emotional connection to one of my pieces, and it’s my hope that they’ll discover their own meaning and story from within their hearts.


4. What is something you want people to know about you/be remembered for?

Besides being a fine artist, I also have a dedicated passion for Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese exercise often referred to as meditation in motion. From the time I embraced both of these forms of self expression, my life has changed in so many amazing and unimaginable ways. My motivation to keep learning and evolving comes from a deep desire to bring more light and understanding into this chaotic world, and hopefully help to inspire others along the way.


5. Please explain these pieces:

“Resilience”

Resilience, available here.

We find inner strength and resilience through nature. Animals are always near, sharing messages to support us on our journey. A redbud tree blossoms into a sign of spring, a time of renewal and rebirth. The planets align in the early morning sky, offering the energy of transformation. A woman joins the earth in meditation. She gains wisdom within the stillness, reclaiming her power as she reconnects with all of life’s creations.

“Connecting”

Connecting, available here.

Something magical happens when we nurture a true connection with another soul. A sacred union forms between two hearts, lifting our spirits into a blissful dance of energy. Our souls are nourished and revitalized as we bask in the bright sunlight. The energy created together strengthens and expands, inviting the spirit and natural world to connect and rejoice in the beauty of the circle of life.

“Giving”

Giving, available here.

The true spirit of giving is to share unconditionally from the heart. An elephant gives an offering of fruit to a human, opening our awareness to the unexpected gifts we receive from nature. The sun and moon share the sky, bringing us balance through the cycles of life. A triangle motif flows through the rolling hills, symbolizing the harmony that exists within unity, and the joy felt within a gracious exchange of energy.

"Rooting the Heart”

Rooting The Heart, available here.

A lost soul begins walking on to an unknown path. Lavender gently blows in the wind, guiding her way forward. The sun reflects a reminder of the constant light of destiny that lies ahead, revealing a connection to our divine source and a gateway to healing our roots. Ancestors gather together on the horizon, igniting the fire of her creative force, awaiting her return back home to finding peace within her heart.

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If you want to find out more about Elizabeth, you can find her work on Fine Art America here. Thank you, Elizabeth, for being our guest! It was wonderful to have you visit!

Meet Artist Julie Turner!

wisteria dream 11 julie turner.jpg

I came across Julie Turner’s work while I was working on my art site. I immediately fell in love with her wisteria prints and contacted her about a feature on my blog. She happily obliged! Below you will find her biography:

Julie received her BFA from James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA). She spent her career working in the visual arts for various industries producing commercial art, technical graphics and multimedia. Concurrently she created fine art, representing many disciplines. Her most recent works are primarily acrylic on canvas paintings and digital art for print and home decor. Her style is a unique blend of Abstract Expressionism and Expressionism. Turner has exhibited in the USA: San Diego, CA; Las Vegas, NV; New York, NY; Alexandria, VA; and Bologna, Italy. Her artwork has been published worldwide and has been sold to many private collectors.

Although she’s skilled in many art disciplines: drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, stained glass, jewelry, video, multimedia and digital imagery, she has a strong drive and passion for painting. She enjoys experimenting with difficult paint challenges and likes working with bold paint colors and varying degrees of paint thickness and layering. She’s inspired by love, family, friends, nature, music, dreams, astronomy and spiritual/metaphysical subject matter.

After I contacted Julie, I found that she and I share similar interests. Not only is she an artist but she has also written a children’s book. A kindred spirit indeed!

If you’d like to contact Julie, you can find her on her Website, Facebook, Fine Art America, and Handmade At Amazon. You can find Julie’s book here.

Dream 06 Julie Turner

Dream 06 Julie Turner

Introducing Artist Monika Vijay!

I met Monika on Fuzia.  She is an artist from India-a very talented artist!  I offered to feature her on my blog and social media sites.  Here are a few pieces of her work:

U & Me

Autumn Beauty

Lord Buddha

A Note From Monika:

Hello, This is Monika Vijay. I am from Bihar. I was never into painting and writing until I got older. With my parents' pressure and interest, I was taught painting by Diya Mam when I was in 7th study; but after that I didn't do much work with it until prompted by my husband. Now, after marriage and getting free from studies, my hubby encouraged me to be a painter. He bought colors, brushes, charts and everything required for painting. Now I'm used to it and I love painting whenever I get free time. I have also started taking drawing classes. Next, I'm going to sell my paintings for home decor or for hotel & restaurant interiors. People can contact me as per their painting requirement. I would like to thank my hubby for encouraging me and for helping me to become a fine painter now.

How To Contact Monika:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011561172639

Where To View Monika's Work:

https://www.facebook.com/mvartgallery.in/?pnref=story