Unemployment Has It's Advantages

My last couple of days of employment with Vanderbloemen Search Group is drawing to a close. I am so appreciative of their generosity over the past couple of months.  But, I am entering new territory. Something that has never happened to me.  Unemployment.  There was a time in my life when I never imagined myself in this situation. But don't feel sorry for me.  I'm where I am today because I believe God called us to move back to the DFW area.  Without a job.  Without answers to questions.  Without much of anything but a burning desire to follow Him.  God's in control and He has a plan.  It's really fascinating to live life each day not knowing the future.  It's the greatest faith journey I've ever embarked upon. Please pray for Dedo and I during this time of transition.

In the meantime, I'm still painting.  It seems harder to get inspired to paint in my crazy temporary world. I made myself get out to the studio (garage) yesterday and paint.  What a blessing.  I felt so much better.  I started a portrait of my son Cameron (@camronmitchell). I've never done a portrait so this is a huge challenge to me.  While painting him, I couldn't help but think about how much I miss him.  Since he left home to go to LA, he has became a grown man.  I'm amazed at what he has done the past three years.  I'm reminded that parents parent.  Forever.  







Recently, Cameron asked for this painting.  First time ever he has even noticed my paintings. let alone comment on them.  Greatest day in my life.  I don't care what you think, he loved it and that's all that matters to me.  Have a great day!

Memorial Day 2013

For those of you who know me well, you have heard me talk about my Uncle Walt.  Our family called him Bill Jack.  I was only around him a short time when I was four years old, but I remember him well.   He was in the Army, like my Dad, and had served in WW2. Before he left for Southeast Asia in 1961, he and his wife, Maxine (my Mom's sister), my two cousins (Gary and Karen) and my grandmother came to Central Texas to visit.  We spent a great weekend on the lake.  My uncle was a lot of fun to be around.

I wonder what he was thinking that weekend.  He knew he was leaving soon to report for an assignment to a foreign place that know one had heard about.  I didn't know he was an Army Green Beret (Special Forces) working as a secretive military liaison supporting the Laotian Army to help train them against the invasion of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA).  In the pre-Vietnam era, no one really knew what was happening in Southeast Asia.

In March 1961, my uncle was captured by the NVA, beaten, starved, tortured, shot repeatedly, kept in a hole in the ground and a bamboo cage and eventually executed in July 1961 (http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/m/m162.htm). In 1963, President John F. Kennedy awarded him a Silver Star for his heroic service to the country and promoted to Major.  If you visit The Wall in Washington DC, his name is on the first panel. He may have been the first casualty of the Vietnam War depending on who and how was counting.

The older I get, the more I think about him.  Especially on days like today.  I also think about my Dad who was a WW2 veteran who made it home.  I think about my son-in-law who is a Captain and Army Ranger and served a year in Iraq. I also remember all the guys just a year or two older than me who were killed in Vietnam in the early 70's while I was having the time of my life in high school.

We can never forget the men and women who have died for our country.  As parents and grandparents, we have to teach our children and grandchildren about their true bravery.  Happy Memorial Day to all of you.

What A Weekend

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  I'm sitting in Southlake next to a beautiful pool enjoying the cool temps.  It's been raining and cloudy which is not a typical Memorial Day weekend in Texas.

I started off the day officiating a wedding. It's been a long time since I've stood before a crowd and spoke.  I managed to get through before the wheels shot off.  It was a great ceremony because of the kids involved.  The bride and her family have been active at Fellowship for years. I worked with her Mom on staff.  Lauren spent several summers working at Alasso Ranch, FC's camp in East Texas.  Chris Key, one of the band guys during that era of camp was shooting the wedding and Analise Bush sang with her band Aprilemade.  Analise was one of the singers at camp for several years.  Rachel Jessup was in the wedding, newly married to a guy she met at Allaso.  She's also pregnant with her first child.

I felt like a Dad to all these kids and I am so proud of the men and women they've become.  They have first and foremost chosen to follow Jesus since they were young kids.  And it's paid off for them.  God has blessed them greatly.

I've been goofing around with art websites like Paper 53 for IPad.  It's a lot of fun, it's free and you don't need anything but a finger.  I've posted some stuff on Twitter @pmitchell.  I'm not smart enough to get it on my blog.

Because it's Memorial Day Weekend, I also celebrate the GREAT GAME of BASEBALL.  Go Rangers! I did this painting for my Grandson's room.  It's baseball themed so I tried to get the old antique baseball look.

To all my friends and family in the military and to all of you who serve our country every day, thank you for your sacrifice and your service. I can't help but think of my uncle who was captured, imprisoned and killed in a North Vietnamese POW camp in Laos in 1962.  Memorial Day is all about remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice!

Happy Memorial Day!

Coffee Break

One of my favorite hangouts is Buon Giorno Coffee in Colleyville.  This painting (www.etsy.com/PaintingsByRPM) is from a photo of one of their famous cafe lattes I love so much.  Today, I'm at BG while waiting for a doctor's appointment.  It's one of the great pleasures of moving back to this area.

I don't know what it is about the place.  Cool music, homey environment, books, the European feel and great coffee are some of the reasons I like it.  Mostly, it's the relaxed and comfortable feel of the place that draws me here.  It's hospitable.

Hospitality is a word we don't often use today. One of the trademarks of NewTestament Christianity was the hospitality of the people. They would meet in people's houses, eat together and share in each other's burdens. Hospitality is what makes people feel the vibe of Christ's love. Its the fuel that powers the engine of life-change.

Peace

Like most Americans, I am shocked and saddened by the destruction of the Oklahoma City area.  My prayers are with the thousands of people who find themselves in the midst of a tragedy that changed their lives in a matter of minutes.

God never promises that we will always live a happy life.  Because we live in a sin-stained world, evil is prevalent all around. We can lean on our Creator God for comfort, encouragement, wisdom miracles and a path to follow.  Just when we think we have problems, we realize that there are many people who are struggling more than we ever thought possible.  As I continue to adjust to our move back to DFW and look for work, I can throw a great pity party.  But then I also realize that God is control of my situation as well and He has taken care of us thus far.  

My prayers go out to the churches in Oklahoma as they become the hands and feet of Jesus.  What a great responsibility and privilege to represent the heart and soul and Jesus to people who are looking for answers. 

As I was thinking about all this, I ran across a painting I did a few years ago.  It really gives me peace and comfort and I hope it does the same for you.  If you are having a difficult time, take heart. Jesus knows and He will not forsake you.  

"Texas Neighborhood"

www.etsy.com/PaintingsByRPM

There is A God!

There is a God!  I know because He put a Starbucks in Jacksboro, TX. with wifi.  Jacksboro is the county seat of Jack County and it is in the middle of nowhere West Texas.  But I love these kinds of places.  My wife grew up in Graham (yes I drove 30 miles for coffee this morning) and we love coming out to the ranch.

On the way over, Jason Aldean's song "Fly Over States" was on the radio (AM).  How fitting.  This isn't the place most people want to live.  You have to be tough and gritty to eek out a living in this part of Texas. Oil and gas are still big, but the money is not.  The drought has dried up most stock tanks and there is constant dust in the air that reminds me of the famous documentary "Dust Bowl."

But it's beautiful and wide open.  This painting (www.etsy.com at my shop PaintingsByRPM) reminds me of ranches and farms struggling to make it every day.  I call it Gateway Ranch since it sits at the gateway to West Texas. It's not real.  I made it up using images of hundreds of ranches in Graham, Jacksboro, Bryson, Onley Newcastle and Breckenridge.

I hope you enjoy the feelings of freedom in the open country. And I pray that you remember that the backbone of our nation resides in these off the highway places.

Z Bar Ranch

Z Bar Ranch

This is one of my favorite paintings I've done in my short career as an artist. It's named after Dedo's parents cattle brand. One of the coolest things about the painting is the old cattle guard.  Since I was a kid, cattle guards have fascinated me. They are fixtures on the Texas landscape and I'm amazed that cattle never try to cross them. The metal pipes keep cows and cars safe from meeting each other in the middle of a farm-to-market road.  As a believer, I need more cattle guards in my life. I need to surround my marriage, parenting, work and relationships with more cattle guards.

23Guard your heart above all else,for it determines the course of your life.

24Avoid all perverse talk;stay away from corrupt speech.

25Look straight ahead,and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

26Mark out a straight path for your feet;stay on the safe path.

27Don’t get sidetracked;keep your feet from following evil.

The Beginning

Hello friends and welcome to Preston Mitchell Art.  My new blog is primarily about art, but I will also share other thoughts that I find interesting. I am a person of strong faith in Jesus and the local church.  But I love hanging with all kinds of people.  I hope I make you think a little and make you laugh as well.  

As a former corporate executive and pastor, I've seen and done a lot.  About five years ago, I started taking painting lessons from Ruth Francis (www.ruthfrancis.com) because I wanted to do something different in life.  I've spent most of my life living in black and white.  Now I realize there is more color than most of us can see and experience.  After taking lessons from Jim Humphrey  (www.jamesahumphrey.com), he encouraged me to start selling some of my work.  I'm excited about selling some of my art work. So, here we are!

Trying to start a website for a non-computer guy like me is a killer.  While I'm striving to create a work of website art, you can find my work on www.etsy.com. My store name is PaintingsByRPM.  I really enjoy doing Texas landscapes.  I'm also trying to do more contemporary and modern work inspired by my son (@camronmitchell on Twitter) who is a great singer/songwriter in Nashville.  If he likes something I've done, I consider it a huge compliment.

Keep in touch!