There are several lovely stories that have amazingly unified my painting into what it is.

"Stand" is the first piece of artwork that I have ever created outside. I was recently hit with some devastating personal news and the miserable weather was keeping me inside in my misery. When a particular day dawned sunny and warm, the first of this spring, I decided to try Plein Air painting both literally and metaphorically breaking out of my darkness and into the light!

I had discovered an old "Living Bible" at a thrift store that I bought for the purpose of incorporating scripture into my art. I found some passages that cried out to God in my pain and adhered those to my painted canvas.

Trees often figure into my paintings and seeing as I was outside staring at them, I focussed on one in particular. Using a palette knife I applied acrylic paint to my canvas. As I painted, the word "stand" which I had picked as my word for 2020 came to mind. I'd never picked a word of the year before and had forgotten about it now several months into the year. Before me was a "stand" of trees and I was curious as to how that might relate to what was going on in my heart and mind. I discovered that a stand or community of trees has fairly uniform characteristics, enough to distinguish them from adjacent communities of trees. I went and looked back in my journal to read from January 1/2020 where I had written how I intend to STAND firm in God's truths, STAND in the fact that God is leading me and I can completely trust him, STAND strong knowing He will show me the path forward, and STAND up for Him in a new and different way. I considered if I as a Christ-follower, like a stand of trees, have something that distinguishes me from other people? Yes! I have access to all the power needed to stand against the devil's schemes.

This painting flowed from me as I considered all of these thoughts entwining together in a way that I had never experienced before in my art-making.

I had just completed my painting "Stand" when I came across the Engage Art Contest. It sounded very appealing and as I read the Ephesians passage, the word "stand", which appeared on two occasions, caught my attention. I'd never read it exactly that way before but it hit me that the armor of God was allowing me to stand firm in difficult circumstances. I quickly read all of the additional spiritual battle scripture provided and knew that God had given me the word stand for 2020 knowing of course what was ahead for me. I am in a battle now where I need to know more than ever that Satan lies and masquerades as an angel of light but God will overcome. He has equipped me with everything I need by putting on each piece of his armor and standing in His power!

Glenna Lundberg

This is an original work. Mixed media 16" x 20" x 1.5" on canvas.
I can be contacted at glennalundberg@gmail.com
I was not intending to sell it due to its personal meaning but I am willing if someone is interested.

I have done watercolor commissions and led small groups in fun experiential workshops to explore the awesome power of art. I have prints and cards for sale.