Simple Pleasures: Sharing those simple things that bring a touch of pleasure and delight to me and my family.
Our homes, the time we spend there, the atmosphere, the moods, have a big influence on our lives. It is in the home that our children form most of their habits and ideas. One of the easiest ways to influence the mood of your home is through beautiful artwork. I want artwork that inspires, uplifts, and helps us to feel peaceful.
My simple pleasure to share today is the artwork of Elspeth Young.
Six of my daughters have names from the bible. I was so pleased when I learned that Elspeth has a series of paintings featuring Women of the Bible. It has been my goal to collect a print of each woman my daughters are named after for them to hang in their bedrooms.
I want my daughters to remember the mission each woman fulfilled, to inspire them to fulfill their own missions in life, and to look to the qualities each of these women have exhibited, to draw strength from them.
For my daughters who names are not found in the bible or represented yet (one is mentioned in the New Testament just is passing), I plan on getting a print of one of the unnamed women, such as the Widow of Zarephath, or the Little Maid, to remind them that though unknown to others we are still known to God.
Each of Elspeth’s paintings are full of symbolism. Every element, from the colors to the clothing to the surroundings, has a purpose.
And, of course, each is inspired by the scriptural account found in the bible.
What artist’s work inspires you? Answer that question in the comments to be eligible to win a prize in celebration of this being my 1,009th post! The winner will receive their choice of TWO of Elspeth’s 8×10 prints to adorn their home courtesy of me.
Disclaimer: Elspeth Young has no idea who I am, except for the fact that I wrote to her asking permission to use her images for this post. The prizes are being sponsored by me and I am in no way being compensated for sharing my views about her artwork. ☺
Care to join us in sharing one of your simple pleasures? Write a post highlighting something that brings you joy and come link it up here. This will be a regular feature every Thursday.
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I LOVE John Singer Sargent’s work! Such talent.
My favorite picture…{for the moment 🙂 } is a picture by Liz Lemon Swindle. The one were Mary is holding the Christ child. In this picture you can see, and feel the wonder and amazement and happiness as well as the fear of being a mother.
It’s what I feel everyday as being a mom, and the artist captured it wonderfully!
By the way, that painting of Eve is amazing!!! I would love to have that in our home for sure! Thanks for showcasing these great works about great women!
I love her work too. This year for Christmas each of my daughters got a framed print of her art work. While the pictures don’t go along with their names, I picked the paintings by what they represented to me and how they reminded me of each of my girls. On Christmas morning, as they opened each one I talked about the painting, the woman the painting was about, and why I pick that painting for the girl who opened it. It made for a wonderful Christmas morning.
I LOVE her art work.
I would have to say that my favorite artist is a “local” gentleman, Jim Dees. His watercolors of nature, landscapes or florals, give me peace. I have a series of Magnolias that he did and I am reminded of my New Orleans home each time I see them. The fragrance, the beauty, the family that’s there. While not rooted in the Bible, his creations lend an air of peace to any moment, allowing me to quietly reflect and pray.
I take many photos, and have many of them on my walls, so photography holds a special place in my heart.
Mark Mabry is an amazing phtographer and I love the scenes he has depicted from the Saviors live. I especially love his second collection of when the Savior comes to the Americas. His photos amaze and inspire me.
Those painting are really beautiful. I will have to take some time to really look at them and think about the symbols and such in each.
I enjoy James C. Christensen’s artwork. It is fantasy but so full of hidden messages and symbols. I can look at each of them for a long time and never see everything.
Love those paintings too. I just wanted to share one of my favorite artists–Mary Cassat. She’s not gospel connected, but her mamas and babies really speak to my heart.
I like Elspeth Young’s paintings, but right now I am in love with Carl Heinrich Bloch. We just saw an exhibit of his at BYU and while I love to have good artwork in the home, nothing can compare to seeing the masters in their true size and state.
This is the first time I’ve seen any of Elspeth Young’s paintings, and I really like them. I also like Minerva Teichert’s paintings.
I like James Christensen. I find his works wise, funny and cheerful. They spark my creative mind.
I have always enjoyed Greg Olsen’s paintings. But there are so many others that are beautiful. I had never heard of Elspeth Young but those are beautiful pictures. I also really enjoy Liz Lemon Swindle’s pictures. Isn’t art just a wonderful thing?
The artist whose work inspires me the most is my daughter, Elizabeth. She uses recyclables in a creative, original way. The colour, movement, and meaning of each piece is individualized and causes me to think new things.
I enjoyed looking at the artwork of the artists mentioned in the comments.
I love being introduced to new artists. I’m not familiar with Elsbeth art but these are beautiful, full of goodness. I would love to learn the story behind each one. Not only the bible story but her story in painting, choosing situation, color, light. It is all so fascinating and inspiring.
I love Elspeth’s work too. I hope she keeps painting women from the sciptures for many many more years– there are so many who have NO art work for them at all. I think that is a shame.
One of my all time favorite artist is an LDS artist named Brian Kershisnik. He has a painting of the nativity that is my all time favorite. Some day I want to have a huge copy of it in my home.
How wonderful that some of your daughters are named out of the bible. That is so beautiful and such a legacy for them
I really like Greg Olsen. Although I love art (in it’s many forms) I haven’t been paying much attention to it lately. I didn’t know how sad that was until I saw these beautiful pictures and realized how much inspiration I’m missing out on! Thanks for the reminder!
Beautiful paintings. I have never seen her work before. I really like Simon Dewey and Liz Lemon Swindle
Oh, I LOVE love love good, inspirational art! I’m a sucker for it and wish I had the money to put it all over my house. We have been able to save up for a couple of treasured pieces.
My most favorite piece ever is a painting done by Julius Sergius Von Klever, called “Christ Walking on the Waters.” It’s gorgeous and it took me forever to find after glimpsing it a years ago in the Ensign. Just in this last year, Deseret Book picked up the rights to it so it can be had for much cheaper (if only they’d done that four years ago!!!;)).
I also love the painting by John Trumbell of the committee presenting the Declaration of Independence to Congress. Totally inspiring.
And landscape scenes. No one paints a better picture for me to smile because of than God.
Oh, I love art:) Thanks for introducing me to Elspeth Young. I’m hoping to peruse her work when the kids go to bed at night and I’m free to get lost:)
Thank you!!
I was confused with the link section and the comments section in a brain freeze moment.
Growing up in northern California, I’ve always felt a connection to Thomas Kinkaid. When ever I picture Main Street of my hometown, I always think of how he remembered it in one of his painting.s
I absolutely love Thomas Kincaid’s paintings. They are so touching!
kvojacek@msn.cm
I love my grandma’s artwork. She’s not famous or anything, but it reminds me of how she worked hard to develop different talents. She left quite a legacy.
The pictures are beautiful! I’m crossing my fingers…
I have always loved Tim Cox. Though not particularly inspirational, it always reminds me of my childhood and growing up around horses and cattle and all the hard work that goes into that lifestyle.
Thank you for showing all the beautiful artwork.
(And congrats on the new addition!)
Lately I’m loving stuff by Amy Hintze. She does water colors and I love how soft everything is.
safirecat at gmail dot com
I like Greg Olsen’s work, I love Simon Dewey’s work as well as Liz Lemon Swindle’s art. There is a painting the women’s dressing room of our temple, the Portland Temple, called The Road to Bethlehem, by Joseph Brickey and every time I see it I pause and take it all in. It’s beautiful. Chad Hawkin’s temple drawings are amazing. And-another great…Norman Rockwell. I love all of his Boy Scouts of America paintings. Great post–I had never heard of Elspeth Young or others mentioned in the comments.
I love Elspeth’s work! I actually went to elementary school with her as well, so there’s my claim to fame. 😉 I’m so glad to see her artwork in the blogosphere!
I’m also inspired by the photography of my friend Melinda Smith, (see her at melindasmithphotography.blogspot.com)Love, love, love her work and think that photography is another great form of art and expression.
I have not seen her work before thank you for showcasing it on your blog. I love Chad Hawkins, Simon Dewey, and Greg Olsen.
James C. Christensen has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager. I love the symbolism in so many of his pieces. One year for Christmas my husband knew how much I loved his paintings, but knew that we couldn’t afford even a small print, found a puzzle of one of my favorite paintings and put the whole thing together and framed it for me. Made it even more special. Also the painting Mary heard His words by Walter Rane. One of my all time favorites!
My favorite by far is Simon Dewey. His work is so beautiful and the people look REAL – like photograph real. Plus he’s British so basically I have to love him 🙂
I am a huge Deborah Stenberg fan. She teaches portraiture in Kodiak, Alaska and has done some amazing work!
One of my favorite artists is John McNaughton. The first time I saw his paintings I was brought to tears and not many artists can do that to me. I have his painting of the Sacred Grove in our living room. The use of light in that painting is amazing. It almost glows in the dark! It’s beautiful.
I also love Elsbeth’s work. I was so excited when she and Sister Camille Fronk Olson worked together on the book,’Women of the Old Testement.’ It’s one of the most beautiful study books I own!
I really like Minerva Teichert. I love her colors and lines and subject manner. She also uses a lot of my favorite color red.
I love Monet, Liz Lemon Swindle, Mark Mabry,and anyone else who creates beautiful, inspired pieces of art. I’ve never heard of Elspeth Young, so thank you for introducing me to her art! It’s beautiful.
Awesome paintings, I really love looking at it.Nice post.
Beautiful paintings. I especially love that first one. I don’t know if I have a favorite artist right now. I love to go to art museums (the few there are around me) and see what touches me that day.
Funny timing, Cocoa! I just read an article in the BYU alumni magazine about Elspeth Young not two days ago. 🙂 (http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=2695) I do love her work. I also love many mentioned by other commenters, and I just can’t narrow it down between my top 3 favorites:
Joseph Brickey
Walter Rane
Carl Heinrich Bloch
I did a post a while back (http://mamasboys4.blogspot.com/2008/08/windowpane.html) using one of my most favorite paintings ever by Joseph Brickey. It brings me such comfort and closeness to the Savior.
I’m so glad you posted about Elspeth Young–simply amazing stuff! I like Monet, Mary Cassatt, many LDS artists…but my most recent favorite find was “Unto Us a Child is Born” by Jay Bryant Ward. You can find his work at Deseret Book or online. Thanks for sharing–I think I might get one of those prints for my pregnant SIL who just blogged about some Esther-type feelings. 🙂
Walter Rane is one of my favorites. Especially the one of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus right after He is born.
Reading the comments I realize how blessed I am in a unique way.
Liz Lemon Swindle lives in my Grandparents ward-and has for many many years. Christensen lived in my other Grandparents ward for many many years, and Elspeth Young and I grew up in the same ward and our parents are still both there.
I love all three of these artists’ work, as well as Heinrich Bloch.