for Advent Sunday

Dalit Madonna by Jyoti Sahi

Methodist Collection of Modern Christian Art

click link below for details:

http://www.methodist.org.uk/static/artcollection/image37.htm

Advent Sunday...the beginning of a new year,

& this year we turn to the Gospel of Luke ...

 Matthew tells the nativity story from the point of view of Joseph

Luke gives us Mary 

·         Luke is the only one who tells us about the Angel Gabriel visiting Mary,  of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth....& the whole story of Zechariah, Elizabeth & the birth of John the Baptist

             Luke alone writes about the shepherds  the outcasts visiting the manger...and this seems so pertinent these days, with all kinds of poor and vulnerable people suffering through the cuts in UK; people in the poorest areas of the world already suffering the effects of climate change, not to mention the way refugees are now stuck in various bottlenecks across Europe...

              this painting seemed very appropriate for this first week of Advent...  

·

"Father Forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." St Luke 23 v 33

In the light of recent events in Paris I realise that, sadly, I could continue to paint a whole series like this painting, with a changing range of events throughout the world surrounding the cross...

...but maybe you will notice at least one sign of hope given in this painting ? 

I also noted the significant signs of hope & solidarity given by people in Paris, after the traumatic attacks on ordinary people...

• ...those who offered hospitality to random survivors needing somewhere to stay overnight...
• ...the young man who brought out his piano, played some of Lennon's peace music...
• ...all those who just turned up at the hospital to donate blood for the wounded...
• ...and, of course the array of flowers, candles & prayers...

 & crowds gathering for a vigil in Trafalgar Square, even in the pouring rain 

• February 2016 : Ive just found this website on Forgiveness:  click link below ...

http://theforgivenessproject.com/stories/desmond-tutu-south-africa/

Wivenhoe Library Exhibition : Sunsets and...

Visit Wivenhoe Library & enjoy some of my paintings...

Creative Spiral: children can enjoy looking for all sorts things hidden in this spiral painting

& not always noticed unless you stop & look

I painted several sunsets, seen across the Colne at Brightlingsea where the brilliant effect of sunlight shining through the mist on the distant shore and across the water is really quite amazing.

 I remember as a teenager swimming here one evening with a group of us who had been playing tennis, and we could hardly believe the intensity of gold flooding the sea all around us as we bobbed & floated along.

Dawn Mist Rising          oil on canvas, Janet Driver

I continue to be intrigued by dawn mist & the "lost & found" nature of things hidden or revealed through the mist. Can you guess the river marshes this was based on ? 

Hanging next to it you will find a painting of  this scene at sunset. Again a surprising sunset where the light lit up the wall hidden by the dawn mist with a brilliant reflection almost like gold.

for Library Opening Times click the link below:

http://webapps1.essexcc.gov.uk/findalibrary/libdetail.asp?LibID=78