The inspiration for this painting, “In Pastures Green”, came from the 23rd Psalm. As a result of spending the entire year studying the Hebrew language and incorporating that into intensive bible research, I now see the Hebrew script superimposed on the natural world everywhere. Having created the image of the boy in a spring green pasture to symbolize freshness, I was then inspired to add the exact Hebrew words into the painting itself. The word “Deshe” which is translated as “green”, means tender herb. To me, the little boy is also a tender young shoot, bathed in the light of a new day. The boy’s name is David, which made me think “ Mismohr L’David: a psalm of David. The 23rd psalm begins; the Lord is my Shepard. I shall not want ( the Hebrew says more explicitly, I shall lack for nothing ) 23:2 In pastures green, He makes me lie down. I have not pictured the boy lying down, because I want to emphasize that he is in the next phase, which is waiting on the Lord. Because the next verse:
23:3 says, “He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Names sake.” This verse has had tremendous impact on me, as I have just been through a sabbatical year; my year of Jubilee. As I felt reborn in my relationship with God, this painting became symbolic of my spiritual journey. The Lord made me rest, and having refreshed my soul, now leads me in a new direction. I proceed forth, wide-eyed and innocent as the little child, waiting for the Lord to take me by the hand and lead me on His path.
This new path shows me that it is all for His name’s sake.
Yet, the art world insists that we promote our own name. My hearts desire is to promote the Lord’s Name. Therefore, I have begun signing my paintings L’Ma’an Sh’Mo, in Hebrew “For His Name’s Sake”. You can learn more by going to the new website www.forhisnamessake.net I am closing my old website which lists all of my awards and accomplishments, as I do no longer wish to glorify myself.
With deepest humility and reverence ; I wish for my paintings to glorify God and magnify His Name.