Sunday Sketches

This week's Sunday Sketch is of St. Philomena. It's a watercolor ACEO.

I've been doing a series of saints to help benefit the Little Sisters of the Poor as you know if you are one of my usual readers.  I don't know why I keep doing watercolor portraits. It's not easy. I need to do another medium but for some reason I feel an attraction to watercolor. It's not like I can't do acrylic or oil. But anyway...I ramble.

A little bit about this card and the symbolism of it. St. Philomena was an early church martyr. You can tell that by the red she is wearing.  The palm is an early church symbol of Christianity - relates back to the waving of the Palms when Jesus was going to Jerusalem. The ring of flowers around her head tells us that she was a virgin. Notice the two arrows. It is tradition that a King wanted to marry her. She wanted to dedicate her life to Jesus and wanted no part of it. So she was thrown in the water with an anchor around her neck. But God freed the anchor and she survived. So the King had her showered with arrows which pierced her but she was healed of that. He did it again and again she survived. In the end, the King decapitated her and she died. So the 2 arrows represent the 2 times she was shot with arrows.  St. Philomena is considered the patroness of the Rosary.

Hope that gives you a little insight into St. Philomena! :) My father's sister was named Philomena. Now I understand why my Grandmom named my aunt after her. She was faith-filled, virtuous and not to mention a tough cookie!

This card is available in my Etsy shop. 100% of the sale of this card goes to Little Sisters of the Poor St. Martins Home in Baltimore.  Here's the link to the listing: http://www.etsy.com/listing/68362934/watercolor-aceo-original-st-philomena


Oh and just in case you want to help out the Little Sisters here's their link. They still are working on trying to find $25 million!   http://littlesistersofthepoorbaltimore.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=56

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Visit BlueChairDiary Blog for some awesome other Sunday Sketches: http://bluechairdiary.blogspot.com/

So I've been painting away to the point....

that my fingers lock up occasionally! It's heck getting old! I hate it when Arthur (Arthritis) comes to visit. Anyway, I have been filling my new shop, ArtfulPurpose, with ACEO's of saints and framed prints of my icons.  Here's one of the ACEO's. This one is of St. Kateri  Tekakwitha, a native American Saint. Here's the listing for it: http://www.etsy.com/listing/67437223/mixed-media-aceo-original-blessed-kateri

Remember 25% of all sales there go to Little Sisters of the Poor for nonsecular paintings. 100% of all religious art goes to the Little Sisters. Also remember their capital campaign in your prayers and financially if you can. Here's their website...the donate button is at the bottom right: http://www.littlesistersofthepoorbaltimore.org/

In my other shop JYWheeler - which I refer to as Painted Panache, I have been working on some miniature porcelain pieces in the form of pendants and a number of pieces for the spring challenge for the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team (OFG Team) I belong to on Etsy. I don't have photos up yet since they are still in the works. But look for four footed mugs, a porcelain egg and an adorable small dresser tray. Oh and I shouldn't forget, a little teapot shaped hinged box. It's so cute. I cannot wait to post the photos.

Here is a piece of porcelain I recently put up. It's a toothbrush holder with a matching cup. Can you tell I'm finished with winter? I'm ready for summer and the beach. Here's the link to the listing on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/66762506/handpainted-porcelain-shell-design

So stay tuned for more porcelain to come your way with a spring/summer theme because I'm done with winter! I hate to say it because I LOVE snowmen. I have quite a collection of the little guys but I put them away until next year! I'm ready to pull out my bunny collection!