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About thirty-five years ago I took a watercolor class to get a K-9 teaching certificate.It was full of fun and discovery.   I loved this assignment. The teacher passed out photograph books and told us to pick a photo and paint it. My book reproduced reference photos used by famous artists. My Haystacks under Snow was painted from the same photo  Paul Cezanne used to paint Melting Snow at Fontainebleu. If I recall, mine is more realistic than his; he left out the icy pond in the foreground, changed the haystacks and more.

Check out Cezanne’s paintings of the scene— copies will come up quickly on any web search. Some of our tree limbs are quite alike. While lighter than lots of his work, Cezanne’s bold contrasts come through in his Melting Snow  painting. My more delicate hand, interest in detail and avoidance of darker tones come through in my Haystacks.

I treasure this illustration of a truth. Like it or not, regardless of skill level or photographic realities, something of any artist’s or writer’s personality or “voice” invariably comes out in their work. The personality of those God choses to write His inspired words comes through too. Paul’s writings are distinct from John’s and Peter’s, Moses personality differs greatly from Isaiah’s, Daniel’s or Hosea’s, yet each one is true to what the Holy Spirit inspires through them. He needs us all to express Himself, His vision and His love. Sometimes, all that comes through me is me— I do like it when I see Jesus shining through others and when others see Him shining through me.

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• Trees