Blue Luna – High Contrast

Next it’s time to paint the canvas.  This is easier to do if I transform the design into high contrast colors which I can easily distinguish as compared to the subtle shading of the design.

For each color in the palette, another is substituted.  This always makes a cool, pop-art kind of image!

HC–Blue-Luna, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.

Prayer: Father, grant her Your guidance and insight.  Help her to see her choices of treatment and of her journey, and to choose wisely among them.  Once they are made, grant her peace with them.

The world’s standard…

“The essence of the world’s standard is that it sets self in the centre; the essence of the Christian standard is that it sets Christ and others in the centre.”

From my morning readings in “The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians”, Daily Study Bible Series, by William Barclay.

Bromley Solo Violin, a photo by markvall on Flickr.

The focus is on service.  Not just for people we know and love, but for all of God’s creation.  Which doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t start at home, as it were.  But many of my NeedlePrayer projects are for people I have never met, and I never meet them.  But I love them because God does.

Blue Luna – Final Design

And here is the final design.

Blue-Luna-Design, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the beauty and light around us.  Help her to see and remember that beauty during the dark times.

Blue Luna – Subset

Now it’s on to the background!  To break up the work, I decided to concentrate first on a smaller design within the overall piece, which includes the moon and the moth, but not the words.  This design I may use again.

Blue-Luna-Saleable, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.

Prayer: Father, our needs are shared.  While each of us in unique, and experiences a unique life, many aspects are common.  Help her to see how she may benefit from, and benefit, others in similar situations.

Blue Luna – Text

The final foreground element is the text.  Her amazing, brave choice is

Always Victory!

Blue-Luna-Text-Context, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.

Prayer: Father, grant her strength and faith to continue to strive for victory in You.

Blue Luna – Tree

Unlike the other elements, I need to substantially change the tree.  I need a branch for the moth and the cocoon to cling to.  The challenge is to make the branches I introduce work visually as part of the tree the photo shows.  The branches should be similar, but not identical.

Blue-Luna-Tree-Context, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.

Prayer: Father, grant her support in her journey towards the light.

A friendship which does not grow closer…

“A friendship which does not grow closer with the years tends to vanish with the years. And it is the same with us and God.”

From my morning readings in “The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians”, Daily Study Bible Series, by William Barclay.

No Boundaries, a photo by premasagar on Flickr.

I believe that friendship to be the cornerstone of each of our lives.  And how do we grow our friendships?  By giving time to our friends.  By sharing with them.  Laughing with them.  Crying with them.  Telling them what is in our hearts.

But also, crucially, by listening to them.  Trying to understand them.  Concerning ourselves with what concerns them.

Prayer lets us do all of these things!

Blue Luna – Blue Luna Moth

I wasn’t sure about the green colors of the moth in this overwhelming blue design.  I was afraid it might clash without being different enough to stand out.  So I tried changing the moth to blue tones.

Blue-Luna-Blue-Luna-Context, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.

Comparing this with the green moth, I decided to stick with the original.

Blue-Luna-Green-Luna-Context, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.

Prayer: Father, I pray for balance and beauty in her journey.

Blue Luna – Luna Moth and Moon

The relationship between the moth and the moon is important in this piece.  Having designed them in isolation, I can check this relationship without the distraction of the background.

Blue-Luna-Green-Luna-Moon, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.

Prayer: Father, keep us moving towards the light, and let the light overwhelm our fear of the darkness.

Blue Luna – Luna Moth Design

Next up is the Luna Moth.  Designing it in isolation highlights for me its beauty and fragility.

Blue-Luna-Green-Luna, a photo by Carmen CS on Flickr.

Prayer: Father, our fragile lives shine in the darkness.  Help us to protect that light while letting it shine out to others.