Thousands of people came to explore the huge Crystal Beach ice caves last weekend, which were located at Crystal Beach's Waterfront Park on Lake Erie, about a 10-minute walk from my house.  This acrylic painting is based on one of the amazing photos I took while out running on the lake, about a mile from the main caves. Click here to see more unique landscape paintings by Melani Pyke

It's not often that I paint a pure landscape painting without any figures or symbolic elements in it, but the ice caves captured my imagination so much I'm sure it will intrigue people who see my painting too.

My ice cave painting is going to be exhibited at the Sanctuary Centre for the Arts in Ridgeway Ontario for the month of March, alongside the ice cave photography exhibit.

A sketch of Marley jumping into a pile of leaves. I used a fall theme, since I didn't think the current flourescent snowsuit-smothered child jumping into a snowdrift gave quite the same feeling.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."  -Galatians 5:1

The sketch is for sale for $25 by the way, I don't have it listed here on my website but drop me an email if you're interested. Thanks!

I came across a beautiful photo of Fritillaries in a flower art & photography book that I received for Christmas, which I used for reference for this small original floral painting. Click here to see the original flower/portrait sketch idea for the painting. The flowers were somehow yellow and purple. I thought this would be a fun challenge to paint a yellow-purple colour without creating a muddy colour. I left the background a sky blue with white clouds and rays of light, as if you were laying in the grass looking up at the flowers, daydreaming.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." -Philippians 4:8

See more Melani Pyke inspirational oil paintings here.

I am committed to coming up with original art ideas for my Bible-inspired oil and acrylic paintings, and sharing my brainstorming sessions with viewers as a visual daily devotional, as long as I am able to. Here is a really rough sketch using red and blue coloured pencils, showing a horse and a man in a running motion. I imagine this abstract drawing turning into a large oil painting, or even a live acrylic painting for a worship service, with the northern lights in the sky, and a rocky northern terrain with evergreen trees in the background.

Jeremiah 12:5 came to mind as I began to draw, when God said "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"

My current group art exhibit at the Sanctuary has been extended until the end of February, the Pastor's Day conference art exhibit last week was very well received, and I'm currently getting ready for a weekend show coming up: I'll be in Port Colborne Ontario next weekend for a juried art show & sale, with 25% of the selling price of my animal/bird paintings being donated to Niagara Wildlife Haven. Click here for more Sportsfest ArtFest event details.

I have been away on a mini holiday for a couple of days and have stepped back from my daily visual meditation/devotional, sketch-a-day thing I've been doing, so I can approach it with fresh eyes. 

The daily visual Bible meditaion / illustration from my sketchbook today shows the woman from Mark 5:25-34 which tells the story of how she touched Jesus' garment as he was passing by, and was healed. God still heals miraculously today! All we need is a little faith.

"He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.' "

I was experimenting with combining still life florals with a child's portrait. The model for this portrait is my 1 year old nephew William, who is not at all feminine or flowery, but looks great in profile view. The downward droop of the Fritillaries suits the vertical motion of the abstract background, as well as the often droopy look of William's eyes.

This is really part 2 of yesterday's thoughts on Philippians 4:8, 

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

A portrait sketch over an amaryllis drawing.  Please click here for more info on this Melani Pyke portrait sketch.

The portrait is myself, I looked a little rough since it was 6 a.m. when I did the sketch in the mirror, so I am happy that the flower dominates the picture.

I wanted to create something pleasant and pretty, since I love how Phillipians 4:8 puts it: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

I've already begun an acrylic painting on canvas of this flower/female portrait combo. The sketch is for sale, and the paintint will be too, as soon as it's complete.