Self Promotion of Art

Well, today I got ready and went into town to do some self promotion.  I took a hand full of pieces with me.  I had already called ahead two a shop in the downtown in Athens, and also spoken with someone at Starbucks.  When I got to the shop downtown, I learned that the store manager was helping a costumer, which after meandering around the store for a bit learned that the costumer was MY BEST FRIEND! haha What a coincidence.  I could see that it was going to take a while though because they were doing a bridal gift registry...by hand.  So anyways 45 minutes later and a solid 1.5 hours past my kids nap time, I find myself in the middle of a store with nothing I can afford and two kids raring back like a funnel cloud before the tornado strikes.  Thankfully after my friend got done with the manager, the manager was polite enough to let me know that she was so swamped with costumers she didn't believe that she would be able to come take a look after all.  So that was a bit of a bust.  I did make it down to starbucks before the manager left though and she liked the artwork.  She said she would have to speak to her district manager to make sure that it wouldn't be against starbucks policy to hang outside artwork.  I hope to hear back from her.
  I also dreamed a little while I was in town.  I've been eyeing this great old historic building that is right off of the main square in the downtown.  I called the realtor and he came to meet me and show me the building...I'm in love...it's absolutely perfect for an art gallery and there is an upstairs just like I would love to have to fix up to live in.  It's definitely something that we are going to be praying about.  I was talking to Haven about it a little on his lunch break and he seems pretty interested in knowing more and possibly going back to look with me.

I've been in the wilderness for a few days

Hey everybody,  sorry to leave you hanging for a few days.  Me, my hubby and kids took a last minute trip out to a state park near Huntsville, Al to camp for a few days.  It was GLORIOUS! We did some hiking, napping, sitting by the fire, roasted some marshmallows and just had some great 'family time' so to speak.  Haven and I got to talk some about what our 'plans' are for the future as far as promoting my artwork or finding some type of selling venue, and of course we talked about his riding dirt bikes.  That is ultimately his dream.  I don't believe we really came to any settled conclusions on either matter, but it's always good to talk nonetheless.  Before I left to go camping I finished up a very special painting for a friend and fellow painter.  It is entitled 'Be My Vision'.
The girl in the photo is my friend. She is wearing a crown made of paint brushes and a painters pallette.  Which represents her inheritance from God of being creative.  Then she her heart is exposed and at the center of it is the image of a child, because that is one of her main ministries aside from art, is to minister to children.  Then Jesus is at her right hand leading her.  He is carrying His Cross, but if you will also notice His hand is up under her arm, as if He is lifting her up also. This is to represent the fact that Jesus picked up His cross and carried it, in a sacrifice of love, in order to lift us up.  So that we may do the same.  So in her holding Christ with her arm it is yet another representation that she is picking up her cross, with Christ.  I know that may all be quite confusing, but there is A LOT of depth in concept to this painting.  I love it when God allows me such creativity in a piece.

Latest Piece

One of my latest pieces.  I call it 'Be a Lily Among Thorns'.  When I see this I think of the verse in Song of Solomon 2:2: As the lily among thorns, so [is] my love among the daughters.
I would like to be seen as a lily among thorns, in that I would like to bring joy into a room when I'm in it,  not pain or fear of hurt like a thorn would.  I just pray that God will always help me to be more of a Lily in any situation.

So I'm out of the boat...now what?

Have you ever read the story about Peter walking on water?  I have several times.  Never have I really read to comprehend or try to understand what God is saying through this lesson. I suppose that is because all to often I find myself reading the bible just to 'read the bible'.  The only reason that I do that is just because I know if I get out of the habit of it, it will just be that much harder for me to start back again.  If I keep it a part of my daily routine, yes then a lot of days it is just that, a routine, but there are those days every now in then when it feels like it was set apart.  A day God wanted you to read a passage, like you have never read it before, and he reveals a new part of Himself.

The art show at Hoover

Luke 16:10He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.

     I am clinging on to this verse after this weekend.  This Saturday's show marked second 'art show' I have been to, and 4th public show period.  Just to be honest about it we drove 2.5 hours, spent the night in a hotel, woke up at 5:00am Sat. morning and went to set up, all to sell 11.00 worth.  I sold a small print and a magnet....  I really tried hard not to take it personally, but it was yet another let down in this whole process.  I just hold on to the hope, and try to stomp any doubt, that God has a plan for me somewhere along this path.  

Its a great birthday!

Well, today is my 25th and I am having a great day so far. Last night I went to bed at a little after 9, which I haven't done in literally months, then my kids slept until 8oclock! So, as you might imagine, I felt great this morning.  So far I havc gotten all of my artwork that I'm taking to the show tomorrow and I think everything else that I might need, all loaded in the truck.  We have reservations at a nice hotel in the downtown, and of course I'm really excited about that.  The last time that Haven and I had a hotel room when it was just us, was our honeymoon! haha I think it's long overdue, don't you? Anyways I'm very hopeful about the outcome tomorrow of the art show, and if you will be in prayer with me that God will reveal himself in whatever happens tomorrow.  I want to just express how blessed I feel that at 25 years old I have a relationship with a God that understands my inmost being, a family that is always there for me when I need them, a husband that is a blessing everyday, two wonderful children that are a constant source of joy, and everything that I would truly ever want from life.  So Praise God for all of the blessings he somehow thought me worthy to receive and may I always praise His name no matter what my circumstance.  Thanks for reading and thank you for your prayers.  Whitney Tomlin

My Birthday is rapidly approaching!

  2 more days and I will be 25! I can't believe I'm already half-way to 30.  Time goes  by so fast.  It's going to be an exciting birthday weekend though.  Haven get's off of work at about 2pm.  When he gets home I imagine he will throw a few things into a bag and be ready to leave.  So we are going to take the kids with us down there.  A couple we know that are real close friends just moved down there about 2 months ago, and we are gonna let the kids stay the night at there house.  I just got off the phone with the concierge at Redmont Hotel in Downtown.  Haven and I are going to stay the night there for my birthday! We haven't done something like that since before Davis was born.  I can't wait!

Silence is Golden

There are so many ways that you can apply the phrase "silence is golden".  When I was thinking of a title to this post, that was what came to mind.  The reason being, that my 2 year old had finally just been brought to a silent hush. She has been laying in bed doing everything but sleeping for the past hour and a half! So she finally gave up, quit crying, and has went to sleep.  These are the moments that I look forward to a lot of days, where I can sit and hear my thoughts and just enjoy some silent time.  I'm not saying I don't enjoy the laughter, the yelling, the humming and other things that my children contribute to my life.  It just allows for more enjoyment when the silence does come.

In the previews...

I am trying to write this very quickly while the previews are playing in the beginning of a movie! haha. We finally caught 'The Killers' at a redbox. We've been checking every time we are in town for the past 3 weeks! Oh and despite the slightly misleading name it is actually a comedy.  I must admit my day didn't exactly get started all that well.  It was mostly my fault in somehow managing to pick a fight of some sort with my husband, which ended with my telling him I was glad he was going the garage because that meant he didn't have to be in the house with me (how rude of me!).

I'm a living contradiction of hopeless and hopeful!

Well, I guess I can take a minute to relax and breathe now.  Quite honestly the only thing I want to do right now is to curl up in a ball and go lay in a bed somewhere, pout and feel sorry for myself. Yes, I meant it when I said honestly.