“Wonderful Old Woman”

by Matt Philleo | Oct 30, 2015 |

“Wonderful Old Woman”

9″ x 12″

Colored Pencil on Paper

Original: Sold | Artist-signed 8 x 10 prints available at $20.00 each plus $5.00 shipping

This is a drawing I did back in 1993, when 15, so it is very special to me. I discovered that black colored pencil could achieve a really rich black, almost like ink. In addition, although nearly impossible to erase, it doesn’t smudge like normal graphite pencils. When I showed it to my art teacher, she loved it, and later on referred to it as the drawing of “that wonderful old woman” The name stuck.

My source photo was of an elderly woman from the depression era. I chose not draw a background behind her, leaving the white of the paper to draw even more attention to her face.

You can imagine the stories she’d tell if you waited a while to listen. Her careworn face, etched with deep wrinkles, is almost like a roadmap that guides you in learning more about the difficult journeys of her life. And yet, behind that melancholy stare there is a glimmer of hope, a firm resolve to not give up and to make it through.

Artist-signed 8 x 10 prints available at $20.00 each plus $5.00 shipping

“Inscribed”

by Matt Philleo | Oct 9, 2015 |

“Inscribed”

14″ x 17″

Pencil on Paper

Original: Sold | Artist-signed 11 x 14 prints available at $30.00 each plus $5.00 shipping

“Inscribed” 11 x 14 Signed Print $30.00 + $5.00 Shipping

One day, when I was discouraged and depressed, I read this passage in my Bible from Isaiah 49:

But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,
And my Lord has forgotten me.”
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.

I thought, “God still loves me!” He still loves me–even though I’ve been distant from Him and messed up again. And He won’t forget me. I was comforted by His limitless promise to be faithful.

God has not forgotten you either.

“Inscribed”, by pencil artist Matt Philleo, detail

And, if you are a child of God, this scripture passage implies that your name, too, is written on the palm of His hand. This means God will never forget you. He sees every tear. He knows what you are feeling and He knows how you may be failing. But He still loves you just the same.

And the reason He can do that is because, if you’ve allowed Him to, He’s forgiven every sin you’ve ever committed through the righteous sacrifice of Jesus on your behalf. He shed His blood, died on the cross, and rose again to give you new life. If you are a believer, He sees the perfection, the righteousness of Christ all over you. You are a jewel in his eye. Yes, you have a special place on His hands and in His heart.

Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37) Anyone who continues on in sin and unbelief will end up in hell by default, but if you believe and trust in Jesus you will never be cast away. You will enjoy God’s love for you…forever!

11 x 14 Prints Available at $30.00 plus $5.00 shipping