Farewell Winter… Hello Spring

Ski days aren't like other holidays or sports. Once you've tried it, its hard to stop. Who would've thought that strapping planks of laminated wood, metal & fiberglass to your feet & diving downhill, could become an addiction? Ha! I love skiing. The Rocky Mountains are among the most awe-inspiring places you'll probably ever visit. When you are on the mountain skiing, you don't just stand & gawk at them, (or the amazing view), you engage with them; learning their many moods, testing your strength, & you develop a respect for the sheer power the mountains have…

A wonderful snow-filled winter has just ended. And an equally snowy spring has begun. Since January, 148" inches have fallen on Red Lodge Mountain. 38" of those inches fell since March 20th - the first day of spring. 15" of the 38" fell this past Sunday!

Bright & early, 5:58am Monday morning, my alarm started screaming at me. Most people dislike the startling "bbeeep! bbeeep!" noise the alarm clock makes. But I was glad to hear it. There was one thought on my mind: skiing! I was wide awake,  rolled out of bed, eager to start the day & excited to be skiing (& not working)! I got dressed, searched the pantry & raided fridge for food, grabbed my gear, hit the road, & got to the mountain around 8:45am… Skied all day long.

15" inches fresh pow followed by a bluebirdish day & 19 degrees is perfect.  

First tracks. 

Above the Palisades & clouds. 

Good 'ole E-4, back in Headwaters. 

This is me, from a different ski day. Photo taken by my friend Hannah. Thanks girl!

Dropping down into some pow.

By the end of the day, half my face & neck was sunburnt, my lips were chapped, my legs were generally tired, my bad knee was a little sore. Ha! 15" of powder is hard on the knees. I had skied hard all day Friday & Saturday. By Monday I was worn out. But it was totally worth it. ;)

All photos taken w/ 5th gen iPod. Edited on Snapseed. 

Beautiful words by Mr. Lewis

Teaching Art - Composition

So my students have been learning about composition. It was really fun teaching this to my 3rd - 6th graders. Here are some examples I did for the classes. I used a pencil to sketch, a sharpie to outline, crayons for coloring.

Finding the visual sweet spots — 

First I drew 3 examples on the white board. (I had them mostly drawn before the students got there. FYI.) I talked about good composition, vs. poor composition. (See photos below.) I also brought in a bunch of my landscape paintings & sketches for more examples. I had these scattered around the class room for students to look at.

Then after going over the dos & don'ts of composing compositions -  I had students divide their paper into thirds, using a ruler. Drawing two horizontal lines & two vertical lines across the paper, creating a nice grid. The 4 crossing points in the grid, become the "sweet spots". These "sweet spots" are generally good places to put a focal point, a change in compositional direction, a point of dark contrast or highlight, or other point of interest. I majorly stressed as students were drawing their lines that they "keep their lines LIGHT" because of course, when your drawing is finished, you erase all extra lines. 

Version 1. Middle? No. When designing the composition of a drawing or
painting you need to make it interesting to the viewer. Try not the place your
focal point dead center.  It's boring. Artist's no.1 no-no rule.

Version 2. A little better… Here change happens in the composition
when the focal point hits a "sweet spot" in the composition.
But it's not quote there - the horizon line is too close to the center of the paper. 

Version 3. The keeper! This composition offers a pleasing balance
while being more dramatic & interesting then version 2. The horizon line 2/3rds high.  

Here's a couple things I said as students were drawing: 

DO overlap objects to add depth to your drawing. 
DON'T place objects that almost touch or are "tickling" each others edges. 
DO group objects creatively - have fun!
DON'T balance equally - this is boring.
THINK about where your horizon line is - should it be in the center of your paper? 

Below is a colored drawing I did. When I normally draw, I totally avoid creating outlines. In real life there aren't any outlines around anything, right? So why should there be outlines in realistic drawings? It instantly turns any drawing, no matter the style into a "cartoon". << that's something good to talk about with students too. 

I did several fast sketches, all styled like the one below, with different compositions & subjects in them. I had my student chose which drawing they wanted to do - then they copied my drawings, found the "sweet spots" & designed their composition. Then they all colored their drawings. (I dearly wish I got some photos of their work - but I always get so excited & busy, that I forget to get out my phone to take photos…) Something I need to work on I guess!

Below is a really simple sketch I did of different types of composition — I printed these out & gave them to students. All my little compositions were inspired by Edgar Payne. I asked students to look at the various landscape paintings I had around the room, & see if they could spot any of these compositions within my paintings.

Types of composition: 

If you found this helpful or inspiring, please leave me a comment! I would love any feedback! Thanks! :) 

Fresh off my easel —

Here's an impressionistic painting I just finished! 40x48 oil on homemade canvas. Lots of texture instantly creates an antiquated feel. "The Woman Ironing", originally by Degas. 

This shows the colors better & awesome texture that is throughout the painting. 

Observations made during ski season:

● Your hair never looks good on the weekends.
● The highway snow-plowers don't plow the road I live on.
● No friends on a powder day.
● Ski socks are a fashion statement.
● It's only cold if you are standing still - ski hard all day long.
● I don't always make a fool of myself, but when I do, it's under the chair lift.
● Always look one gate ahead of where you are, keep your upper body pointed downhill.
● All the good songs play while you are on the lift.
● Duct Tape can "fix" just about anything, but won't look very good.
● All my friends think I'm crazy because I spend all my free time outside in the cold.
● Hand warmers are like the most awesome thing ever.
● Getting sunburn while skiing is worse then burning in the summer.
● Double black diamonds are a girl's best friend.
● Snowboarders aren't cool when they're sitting on their bums in the middle of the run.
● My knees will be like those of a 80 year olds by the time I'm 30.
● Stairs & ski boots don't go together.
● The Thermos is an amazing invention. Keep it hot. Keep it cold.
● A simple hello can lead to a thousand things.

Ages 10 &  9 - my little brother & his friends were my skiing buddies for the day.

Free Song -

Attention you music junkies! Here's a Kygo Remix of Ed Sheeran's I See Fire - I'm loving it!
 — Download free on Soundcloud:
 

Official BLUE Trailer

CHECK IT OUT! JOHN THE BLUE MOVEMENT!

www.bluebeatsgreen.com

Synopsis:

For decades the Green Movement has claimed that Earth is threatened by the activity and even the existence of mankind. Green policies dictate that the noble response is relinquishing our liberties to "save" the planet from peril. Award-winning filmmaker JD King sets off on a cinematic journey to challenge these Green philosophies, and overturn the tables on issues like carbon emissions, climate change, over-population, natural resources, and unmasks the UN's Agenda 21 plan. BLUE casts a bold new vision: that through greater freedom we can realize a fuller potential for our fellow man and this beautiful blue planet we call home.

// note: A while ago, I posted this, and at the time BLUE was called Axed. The name of the film changed.  

Winter Sky // Quite Place

There's a quote that goes "the earth has music for those who listen"… Tonight there was no music. No singing birds, no flowing water… Instead there was the beautiful absence of sound, & that in a sense, became music. It was spread over the earth in the form of soft snow, giving everything a hushed feeling.

It was freezing cold, but I rolled down the windows while I was driving. I let the wind blow my hair. I smiled because I love winter; its cold & wonderful. Beautiful things don't ask for attention. The beautiful things in nature are always there for those who truly see. Take the time to stop, listen, & see the wonder that surrounds us.

I went to a quite place. I stood silent, with frozen ground under my feet. The daylight was quickly fading. I watched the rolling clouds dance above me. Like a cold fire, setting the heavens ablaze. Blue shadows lengthened, the temperature dropped & the trees stood tall.…

…. Sometimes we waste our time, our lives, our words - & we don't take the time to see the things that truly matter. I don't take the time to say the things that are in my heart when I have the chance talk to people. A simple hello or goodbye could lead to a million things. The what-if's & should-have's are always somewhere, nagging at the back of my mind.

"Deep inside, she knew who she was, & that person was smart & kind & often even funny, but somehow her personality always got lost somewhere between her heart & her mouth, & she found herself saying the wrong thing or, more often, nothing at all." ~Julia Quinn  // This quote reminds me so much of myself.

There are times when I forget to show people how much they mean to me. I should never stop showing them. Too many people undervalue what they are & overvalue what they're not. Life is happening now. Cling to Jesus, love your life, love your family, love your friends. I need take chances & attack each day with renewed enthusiasm. I need to be brave & afraid of nothing. I need to be there for people. I need to continually be renewing my appreciation for the beauty that surrounds me….

I finished the day with a light in my heart & feelings swirling around in my mind. Soon the afterglow of the sun disappeared & the heavenly masterpiece in the sky was gone forever. I was glad I stood there to watch, even if it was just for a moment, because another day glorious day of life ended beautifully.

-GB

Close to Heaven, Down to Earth

Yet another amazing day at Red Lodge Mountain! An unexpected storm blew in & dumped 24" inches of POW. The skiing was fantastic; the snow was super light & over knee deep, (least for me it was, I'm 5"6).  Skiing in general, has been amazing this season. Red Lodge has the largest capacity snowmaking system in the Northern Rockies! Full coverage on 31% of trails. This season the snowmakers have had an easy job - because the mountain has had greater-then-average snowfall!

I was talking with another local ski bum, & he said that Red Lodge hasn't had this much snow, since 1977. (I'm not positive if thats true, just thought it was interesting.) Red Lodge usually sees their best snow late in March, when the spring storms come through, but this season has been different - already have over 191" inches (that's over 15 feet of snow)! The average snowfall for Red Lodge is 250", but the mountain hasn't been up to its average in a number of years. 

24" fresh (& falling) pow! 

Everything was perfectly blanketed in the white stuff. It was so quite, & cold - 8'F degrees! I'm an experienced skier, & faithfully ski two days a week Nov-April. My legs are really toned, but after two days skiing in deep pow, my legs muscles were pretty tired. I can ski hard all day without falling, but when it comes to powder, I haven't had as much practice. I crashed 3 times, but it was so soft & deep, that it was actually fun falling. hehe.  

Here's a funny quote: "Skiing is the art of catching cold and going broke while rapidly heading nowhere at great personal risk." - Henry Beard 

This always makes me laugh, because that is exactly what skiing is! I dearly love mountains & snow. I love the fellowship aspect of skiing too. Skiing with friends is fun. I love the challenge of skiing. I like doing moguls, catching air, carving edges in groomers, & exploring through trees. It's exhilarating. Skiing is a mode of living in the moment: heart pounding, legs burning, lungs gulping down pine scented air. Flying down the mountain, with a vast expanse of earth stretched out below, you become one with your equipment. Skis are like wings on my feet. It's more then sport, it's a passion. ♦♦ 

Can't wait to see what the remainder of the season brings! Here's to LOTS more snow! Cheers!

-GB

P.S. Here's a National Geographic article featuring the top 10 emerging ski towns. Red Lodge is there.  And you'd better take a look at the Red Lodge Trail Map while your at it - there's a run for you. 

Park City Music // Labeled Documentary

Hey guys! Here's a lovely song composed by my brother. Playtime is 6:30 - Give it a listen, open in a new tab and let it play away… It's the kinda of music that fades into the background. Soft, slow and sweepingly expressive. 

The music was composed for an upcoming documentary called Labeled, made by an indie filmmaker. Labeled is a sobering documentary that exposes the shocking reality of how children with genetic disorders are being discriminated against in the medical industry.   

For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/labeledthemovie 

Thomas currently will compose music for about anything. He's done work for various online commercials, and composed the cinematic score for Crying Wolf. Thomas also composed the music of the Kickstarted video for the upcoming documentary BLUE (formerly called Axed). Follow Thomas on Soundcloud to hear more of his music!  

-GB

The Wonder of Skiing

LIVE.  BREATH.  SKI.

The wonder of skiing,

surly it is here;

the downhill dare -

& feeling truly alive,

with the sent of pine in the air.

The wonder of skiing,

racing onwards;

wild & free -

time is in motion,

with the sweet embrace of gravity. 

The wonder of skiing, 

standing tall,

wind in my hair -

it's a mode of living, 

with senses sharp & eyes aware. 

The wonder of skiing, 

a vast expanse;

stretching out far below -

earth glistening brightly,

cold & silent, blanketed in snow. 

-GB

Locked Doors, Car Chases, Bad Roads….

My excitement for the day started when I bundled up and drove into town this morning. It's been snowing for the past 24 hrs and theres a good 8-12 inches of snow, but it's hard to tell exactly how much there is, because it's drifted very deep in places. 

I went into town to teach some of my art students, then afterwards I almost went to Walmart, but didn't at the last moment. What I needed could wait. There had been a car wreck just down the road from Walmart, and a police car and ambulance passed me, enroute to the accident. Just after I decide not to go to Walmart, after I was about a 1/2 mile down the road from the store, 3 more police cars whizzed by - nearly forcing me off the snow-covered road - and they turned into the Walmart parking lot, instead of going to the wreck.  

I proceeded slowly on my way to the postoffice, where I had three packages to mail. I hopped out of the car, grabbed the packages, credit card and my id - but accidentally dropped my car keys on the carseat as I was getting out of the car. I didn't realize it until I was locked out, standing in the cold and snow. :( 

Normally I have a spare key, hidden somewhere under the car, but somewhere along the road it had fallen off - because I could not find it… No telling where it is. I blame the insane amount of snow we have. The roads are icy & covered in deep snow.

I went back into the post office to borrow their phone, to call my mom, so she could call the locksmith/police department —  that was like 5 blocks down the road from where I was stranded. 

My mom is a saint. She was able to call the locksmith, call my dad, & call me back with instructions… 

It took the locksmith about 30 min to get to me (which was ridiculous, I could have ran there in back 5 minutes) - and once she was there, she had the car unlocked in about 27 seconds (I know, because I counted!) and $75 dollars later. (Rip off!!!!!) 

….While I was waiting at the postoffice about 10 police cars flew by on the main road of our little town - sirens blaring, lights flashing, tires flinging snow into the air! Then another ambulance went by too. Then a couple moments later, 2 or 3 police cars when by, going the opposite direction, then like 2 more came, going the direction the main bunch was headed. 

Then a few moments later, a regular truck flew by - probably going 60mph, on really bad roads -  in a 25mph zone. It sped through the stop signs, nearly causing 2 crashes! Then it slid around the corner and was out of sight. 

Then ALL the police cars came whizzing by - in hot pursuit of the speeding truck. And a huge S.W.A.T (or black batman-ish) looking-police-force vehicle drove by too. 

As it turns out, the driver of the speeding truck was a fugitive - that and been involved in an incident on Saturday, and had evaded arrest by stealing a car Saturday night and escaping.  (today is Monday, btw.)

There were originally two suspects Saturday, and they were spotted in the Walmart parking lot today - (at about the time I was thinking of going there!)  In the parking lot they open fired at an officer - thankfully no one was hurt. One of the guys was arrested there, the other man escaped -  and eluded capture after leading officers on a chase in the stolen pickup truck that reached speeds up to 85 mph in and around the downtown area. 

The man led police on a chase for about 30 minutes before the truck he was driving spun off the road. He was then placed into an ambulance and taken away. 

…………………………………………….…

When I locked myself out of the car, I was realllllly annoyed and mad at myself. I'd never done that before! I was mad because it was a stupid thing to do, and it cost me more then I would've liked. But now, looking back, I'm actually really thankful I was locked out of my car  -  because I would have been driving home on the same road they crazy idiot took when running from the police. He was speeding so fast, and with as many cars as he forced off the road and drove by, it's really a miracle he didn't kill anyone. 

God works in strange and wondrous ways! Just thinking about when I for no real reason, decided not to go to Walmart, there was a shooting! It's really interesting to think about - all the times He's protected us when we don't even know it. He's always there, looking out for us. Sometimes He allows bad things to happen, but He always has a good reason for letting it happen. He is always sanctifying us and teaching us through the good and bad. He is always working things to bring glory to His name. 

The End. :0 

LIFE … is a Privilege

Recently I went to a Pro-Life march downtown. Around 500 people gathered to support the cause of life, to prayerfully protest & help raise awareness of the bloodshed that is in our very midst; the babies that are being murdered on a daily basis. 

"A person's a person, no matter how small."  - Dr. Seuss

Did you know that approximately 2,996 people lost their lives as a result of the destruction of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11? Now every single day, more than 3,000 American babies are killed by abortion. That is over 56 million abortions performed in the United States since Roe vs. Wade was decided in 1973. 

That is a repulsively horrible number - 56 million human lives lost, murdered in plain sight! Do you think about the unborn babies in this country? When you are an unborn child, each day is a battle for life. A bloody battle fought in what should be one of the safest places on earth - inside a mother's womb. Our nation is literally soaked in the blood of children. 

The millions of human beings that have been murdered in America's Holocaust; the greatest evil & abomination of our time - This genocide has been done "legally", sanctioned by our political leaders, who have been put into power by the American people. Please, never give your vote to any politician who advocates the murder of a child in the womb. 

"All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with a certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty & the pursuit of Happiness." - Declaration of Independence 

Abortion results in the death of an innocent human being.  It is immoral & unjust when evaluated in the light of the law of the land (our founding documents) & the 6th commandment that forbids taking the life of an innocent human being (Exodus 20:13).

So what is considered life? Imagine that you are a scientist, & think about this: If a single bacteria cell was discovered on Mars, it would be considered life, right? (Not to mention a revolutionary discovery - a living organism on another planet!) — But why, why, why is a heartbeat not considered life on earth? The tiny hearts of unborn children are so often looked over & ignored. When your heart stops beating, you are considered to be dead, right? Then why isn't it considered life when the heart starts beating — pumping blood throughout the tiny body of an unborn baby? I believe life truly beings at conception; before the mother is even aware that she is pregnant, a distinct, unique life has begun his or her existence inside her.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully & wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - Psalm 139:13-16 

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male & female he created them." -Genesis 1:27

We need to protect & honor that image. We need to stand up & be the voice for the unborn. The entire argument that what is growing & being formed in the womb is "just a clump of cells" is completely absurd! It makes me mad to think about people who pretend that a fetus isn't a human! Everyone knows that it is a baby. We were all created with consciences;  a knowledge of evil & good. Murder is murder, in the womb or in the world - & these people know this! A person is a person no matter how small they are, or where they live, or what they need to survive! The fetus that is being formed in the womb is an intricate individual in every respect. If you want scientific proof, test the DNA. It is a new person, a separate unique being, a miracle!

"Hands that shed innocent blood. Just as abominable as pride & lying are the hands that shed innocent blood. While condemning abortion & murder, Christians ought to be careful to condemn all other abominations as well. As a nation & as a family, we have much over which we ought to repent in tears & confession before God." - Kevin Swanson 

I pray for my country, that our leaders' hard hearts would be broken, that their eyes be opened, & that they would repent. I pray for the church, that she would step up & fight this battle, minister to the women & rescue lost souls. I pray that God would judge us not unto destruction, but to repentance. I pray for forgiveness for myself - I am part of this country, so I share its guilt. All too often, I forget about this raging battle, I don't do enough. I need to repent - I am guilty of so much & need to remember that I am just as sinful as those who murder & sacrifice their children to the gods of convince & self.

"No human being… Is ever conceived outside God's will or conceived outside of God's image. Life is a gift from God created in His image." - John Macarthur 

You & I need to be prayer warriors, praying for repentance as individuals, & as a nation. We need to be fighting for the unborn children. It is spiritual warfare. We need to constantly be praying for the abortionists, the mothers, boyfriends & fathers - that their eyes would be opened & that they would truly see what they are doing. Did you know that rape is the most common thing used to "justify" abortion? But statistics show that rape victims are the 1% that usually chose to keep their children. The child becomes the only redemptive thing out of the original horrific act of violence. Often mothers, in case of rape, are made to believe that the child inside them is not theirs. But it is their child, not the rapists. Why should the child die, because of something the father did? The mothers that realize this are brave - These mothers carry the child through what must be a hard pregnancy, & then they often chose the loving option: adoption.  Adoption is ALWAYS the best option for any child that is unwanted, regardless of how the child was conceived. That's what I love about the picture I took - the sign the man is holding says, "Adoption the loving option". 

I, myself, have a younger brother who was adopted. He is one of the very best things that ever happened to our family. My brother's mother chose life, chose adoption. Turn to scriptures, the greatest adoption story of all time, is that of Jesus! Joseph (Mary's betrothed husband), chose life & adopted Jesus. Jesus died for us, so that we might live. Jesus died, rose form the grave & defeated death. Now by the richness of his grace, He adopts us & calls us His children. He loves us. He cares for us & wants whats best for us. We should want the best for the least among us. We are all people. We all have the privilege of life; not only just "life", but we have been invited to partake in eternal life, because of Jesus' death. He calls us to come forward, to walk in light, to seek & trust him - through the good & bad. 

"Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once, & He volunteered." - R. C. Sproul, Jr. 

Think about that. None of us are any good, so its fair that bad things happen. Jesus was completely good, & He allowed Himself to be murdered for me, for you. God has always had a plan. He died to forgive our worst sins, our murderous ways, our hard-heartedness. His death takes away our pain & guilt, He washes us clean. He forgives us, loves us dearly & wants us to run to into His open arms like little children. 

"In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." - Ephesians 1:5-10                                                                                                                            

-GB

Favorite pastime: SKIING

The snow is around 4 feet deep here.

Winters in Montana can be rather long, windy, cold, dark, & did I mention windy? The roads have stayed covered in a sheet of ice. This winter it has snowed often, almost weekly, with a nearly ever-present gale force wind blowing across the valley… The tempature has dropped down to negative 32 degrees. & there was a spell that lasted for nearly three weeks, when the temperature never rose above 20 degrees. Brrrr.

…But I really don't mind too much - because I LOVE skiing! (If I didn't ski, I'm sure I'd have a bad case of cabin fever or something.)  I try to ski on a weekly basis, while the ski season lasts. (It starts late November & goes through early April.) I love skiing because it is really, really fun; it's challenging & exhilarating - a fantastic way to get out-of-doors during the winter time. It's something nearly all ages can do - from little kiddos to grandparents - everyone can at least hang out in the lodge & fellowship together.

Red Lodge Mountain is a delightful ski resort - in their own words "Red Lodge Mountain is Montana skiing, pure and simple. No lift lines, no attitude, no big prices. Just great snow, great people and an authentic experience in Montana’s Rocky Mountains."  - That is 100% accurate & why I love skiing here. There's a great range of terrain too - There's 65 ski runs & a vertical drop of 2400 feet, based on the highest & lowest points of the skiable terrain. Everything from beginner runs to expert - there's a trail for you! 

I like skiing with people; friends, co-workers, folks I meet just for the day - Skiing is a surprisingly social activity. I also greatly enjoy skiing solo. When I ski alone, I ski hard - double black diamonds & moguls nearly all day, with maybe a quick 20 minute break for lunch - then I ski till the lifts close.

I love the feeling of speeding down the mountain, the rush of air, the sent of pine, the sight of the earth's horizon stretching far into the distance…When I ski alone it is quite. Time spent alone, time spent reflecting, time spent pondering, & sometimes just absent-mindedly skiing downhill. When I ski, I feel truly alive - with my heart pounding, legs burning, lungs gulping in the fresh air… Excited feelings mixed with adrenaline & joy.  I always find each day far too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the places I want to go, all the books I want to read, all the friends I want to see. My week is usually busy & full; skiing is the break I'm always looking forward to. I love skiing. I could ski 7 days a week if I could. *winks*

The mountain views are breathtaking; I always feel very small when standing on top of the mountain. The world is a big place, I'm truly blessed to live where I do, in the heart of Big Sky County, next to a beautiful range of the Rockie Mountains.

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you. Because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." -R.Dahl 

             Here's some recent pics that I've taken while skiing up at Red Lodge. 

Sluice Box ♦♦ double black -

Looking down on the Palisades - 

Somewhere down in Drainage ♦♦

A Red-breasted Nuthatch -

Freezing on a lift in a cloud, in the snow. 

If you liked these pictures, check out these skiing pictures from last season, that I took with my T1i.

-GB

Teaching art: The Spectrum of Color —

Here is an overview of what I've been teaching my students recently. 

A full class of 27 students! Kindergarten - 2nd grade. 

Sunlight, or the light from an electric light bulb, seems colorless. We call it "white light." But, it truly contains the full range, or spectrum of colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, turquoise & purples. When these colors pass from air into water or glass, they are slowed down & refracted by different amounts. 

A band of colors, as seen in a rainbow, is produced by the separation of the components of light by their different degrees of refraction according to wavelength.

Normally, when white light passes through the air, all its colors are bent back by the same amount so that they join together to make white again. However, if the rays are reflected while still inside the water or glass, they leave by different paths from those by which they entered. In this case, the colors are separated and can be seen as a spectrum with many colors bouncing around. 

The easiest way to produce a spectrum is with a block of glass called a prism. This has three flat faces running in one direction & triangular-shaped ends. However, if conditions are right, white light can also be split apart by other arrangements of glass & by water. A rainbow, for example, is caused by reflections & refractions of sunlight inside raindrops. It's so amazing!  

 Primary colors, secondary colors & tertiary colors.  

So then, how do we see color? 

The colors reflected by an object are those which give it its color. Something that appears white reflects all colors of light. An object that looks red reflects only red light & absorbs all the other colors. Something that appears black absorbs every color & reflects none. 

Three of the colors – red, yellow, & blue – are the Primary Colors, because they can be combined in different ways to produce every other color. A combination of two primary colors gives a secondary color.  
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After talking about color, I had students paint/draw their own color wheels, using the primary colors. It was loads of fun! (See the pic above ^)  We were using acrylic paints. - not the craft kind - but the real kind. 

I used styrofoam plates for palettes, had plenty of paper towels on-hand, & used recycled greek yogurt containers for the water. Students painted with care, & used fine brushes sized anywhere from 3-5. 

I put old newspapers over the tables to keep them clean. I talked about how important it was to keep everything neat - only paint on the brush, palette & paper! Ultimate EVERYONE made a fantastic color wheel, had loads of fun, stayed relatively paint-free & learned some good stuff.  :) 

Here is a link to my Pinterest board: Teaching Art, where I have saved several printable work templates & homework sheets that involve the color wheel. 

-GB

A Merry Christmas to you!

I hope that you have a truly wonderful & blessed Christmas, as we celebrate together, & remember when our Savior came to earth! Christmas is such a special time of the year. It's one of my favorite times to indulge & eat wonderful homemade foods & candies, to fellowship with friends & family, & most importantly reflect upon God's Word & His gift to us! 

 Jesus is the greatest story, the ultimate gift, & the hope of all who believe! 

-source- 

Below are some reflections & musing thoughts I typed on the eve of Christmas Eve -
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Whewhwee! What a busy day. It's two days before Christmas, & I was out doing what nearly everyone else in our relatively "large" city of 100,000 was doing. Braving the bad roads, wind, & snow - Christmas shopping! 

Over the past couple days, we've gotten around 6-9 inches of snow. It's hard to tell just how much there is, because of the gale-force winds that are ever-present & blowing the snow around, creating drifts anywhere from 1-3 feet high. Under all this snow is a layer of ice on the backroads, making it take 3x longer to get from here, to there. 

Thankfully everything went well, other then getting suck in traffic & missing a few turns. Nearly ALL my shopping is done! Now to start wrapping! 

I can't believe Christmas is in two days! I'm so excited. Are you?  (I could literally jump up & down like Buddy the Elf did when he thought "Santa" was at Gimbels!)  

I'm excited for the special time our family has on Christmas morning, reading the Bible, giving gifts to each other. I simply LOVE giving people gifts, honestly, I prolly spend too much money shopping for people. But hey, the way I see it, Christmas only comes once a year, & it's such a special time of the year -  that I want to make a big deal about it! 

But ultimately, I always remember the true reason behind why we give gifts to friends, family & co-workers. We give gifts because the Magi presented fine gifts of gold, frankincense & myrrh to Christ. We give gifts because God gave His only son to us! He sent Jesus down to earth, as a babe to grow in grace & eventually die on the cross for our sins. He became the Word made flesh and walked on this earth for 30something years! It's SO amazing to think about! 

Over the years, as I've grown older, I've truly realized that my "Christmas list" has gotten a lot smaller, simply because there really isn't that much out there that I want, & because the things I truly want for the holidays can't be bought. It's the gift of family, friends, traditions, & the amazing love & grace that God has for us. Things that are untangle; spending time in the company of friends, sharing a silly moment together, sitting silent & watching your dearly loved family interacting around you, reading our advent devotions together, or standing by the light of the moon in the snow, watching the stars twinkling in the heavens.  (<< Follow that link to the site of an AMAZING documentary that you need to order RIGHT NOW, it's only $9.75. If you haven't seen it already I encourage you - Please watch/buy it!) 

It's the simple moments like those, that are the greatest kinds of gifts. When there's a warm, comforting feeling of Jesus surrounding your heart: love, joy, thankfulness & peace. I simply close my eyes & smile. Let Jesus shine through your life! It's hard to put the feeling into words…

It's the amazing feeling of God caring for us. He sees all & knows all. He's always there. God forgives, cares & loves His people. Even as a lifelong Christian, I sometimes struggle with doubts. But I always remind myself that God is always in control. As I reflect on a year nearly gone, I don't understand why things happen the way they do, or why there's so much violence & heartache in the world, or even within my own sinful heart. (Well, truthfully, I do understand why; sin is the root of all evil.) I don't have all the answers, but God does! I take such comfort in that. All that I need to do is truly trust in Him! He loves you & me so much! He has everything all planned out - everything is going to happen exactly the way he has preordained it to. Everything He has planned for you & me will bring glory to His name & bring us closer to Him. 

God loves us both more then we could ever imagine - He loves us so much that he sent His son to become like us, to live & die for us. He is our light & salvation, the strength of our life, why should we be afraid? (Ps. 27:1) 

Soften your heart, open it up wide & let Jesus let. Christmas it a time of forgiveness, healing & love! Let Christ shine brightly within your heart, let Him wrap His love & grace around you. Take comfort in Him. Let Him create a light in you, that shines to the world. 

Through the rest of this Christmas season & throughout the coming year of 2014, I want to try to focus on the little things & precious moments, while living life day-by-day to the very fullest! I want to make big things happen. I want to focus on the grand adventure of life, focus on people, on sharing, on keeping the wonder; forever & always.  

Merry Christmas & have a blessed Twenty-fourteen! 

 "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." ~ Isaiah 9:6 

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:6

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8

-GB

PS. Here's something I wrote last year around Christmas time.