I have an infinity with the island of Bardsey.
I have visited around 12 times in the last 8 years. It's a place where I meet with God, pray deeply and am often in soitude and silence. It is also a place where I flex my creative skills and push techniques and ways of painting. I often use new materials and seek to be led by the Spirit in how I paint.
Recently I have served as chaplain and for the first week I was without any art materials, even any canvases. I didn't even have pens and paper! I had forgotten the art materials back at home safely at the front door ready for me to pack them into the car! So I spent the first week soaking in what I saw and did some simple water colours that I had borrowed from my daughter. For the second week I splurged out lots of paintings!
It's as if I soaked it all in and then let the scenes and feel of the island flow out.
This painting is on a A2 wooden board. It is created using acrylic inks and pen, spray paint.
It captures the mountains and hills over on Ireland viewed by Bardsey and is inspired by Pslam 121.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches overyou—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.