Original artwork description:

This bright, high key abstract is painted in acrylic and oils on a round, 12" cradled wooden panel; and it evokes the joy felt by believers as we praise God. The Scriptures are replete with exhortations to praise God, and rightly so. Dr. John Piper wrote in Providence that Jonathan Edwards said, in Ethical Writings, "The great and last end of God's works . . . is most properly and comprehensively called 'the glory of God.'" Dr. Piper adds, not simply "that the glory of His perfections shine, but that his people find God's glory praiseworthy" (pg. 53), and he follows this idea with a passage from C. S. Lewis, in his Reflections on the Psalms, who explained that the praise of believers is not just a sign of approval and honor. Lewis says that "all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise." And Lewis offers an insight: "I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete until it is expressed." The feelings of love, awe and gratitude--which inspire our praise of God--commend the preciousness of Him whom we praise. These are the feelings in the believer's uplifted heart, mind and soul that I express in this painting; it's literally the heart of our worship. It lifts us out of ourselves, transcends our present circumstances, and uplifts us to the love of God, which need not be thought of as a fleeting experience, which is lost when we return to our daily lives. No, this painting is a visual reminder that the grace, hope and joy of the experience continues to resonate in our mind, heart and soul. The sides of the painting have been painted, so no frame is needed. This ready to hang painting has been given a satin varnish for protection, and hanging hardware is already installed. For photographic purposes, the painting has been shown against a gray ground.

Materials used:

acrylic, oil and cold wax on cradled wooden panel

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