"The Great Escape" was the first in my series of bluebird paintings. Chuck and I have "flown the coop" and jump for joy down our yellow road of dreams! The bluebird looks on happily as Shanghai looms in the background. Three tomatoes on the window sill remind us of our dream to sell organic fertilizer to China. Triangles dot the landscape as we ask God to guide us in the right direction.
"The Great Escape"
Acrylic on masonite
20 x 24 inches
2001
"Road to Shanghai” is about trust, hope and stepping out into uncharted territory. The world is alive with fresh color and excitement when you are traveling down God’s yellow road of dreams! Chuck, my husband , and I are the two little bluebirds holding wings and walking down life’s road together. Shanghai looms bright in our future as a red-shoed angel looks down on our travels. Triangles dot the landscape and assure us of God’s presence. The giant tomato in the center of the city reminds us of our effort to bring healthy organic farming practices to China. This was not to be our ultimate life’s work, but it was a wonderful experience in learning to trust God with our life’s itinerary!
"Road to Shanghai"
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
2001
My husband, Chuck, and I are the astonished bluebirds. We have been walking along the barely visible yellow road for a while now and are beginning to get a little tired. Just as our dreams are looking out of reach, we come to a big red gift in the road. The beautiful gift is for us! The top flies open and all the colorful rainbow gifts from God start dancing merrily out of the box! We are reminded of that first rainbow and how God always keeps his promises. An angel points to the sky and we are amazed as Jesus, dressed in a bright green suit and red shoes, floats down from heaven to join in the celebration! All is well! Thank you, God!
The Gift
Acrylic on canvas
18 x24 inches
2002
“The Bluebird and I” is my humble tribute to my favorite painter, Marc Chagall, and his painting, “I and the Village”. The compositions are similar in both paintings, but the symbols are very different. My “bluebird self” and I exchange looks of joyful appreciation for all we’ve meant to each other! The bluebird has helped me to hold on to my dreams. She has encouraged my creativity to bubble over inside my head. The idea of the bluebird is a unique gift to me from God! The angel is rejoicing with me as a triangle points the way!
The Bluebird and I
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 10 inches
2003
"What Did You Learn in Obedience School?" is one of my husband, Chuck's, favorite paintings. One morning when we woke up, Chuck said, "I had the strangest dream last night? I dreamed I was sitting on a bench in front of this dog obedience school. A little furry dog. that looked sort of like a Yorkie but not quite, sat down beside me. I looked at the little dog and said, 'What did you learn in obedience school?'. He looked up and answered, 'My Master is all that I need, and she wants to see my better side'."
I thought it was the funniest dream I'd ever heard and asked him about 6 more times that day to tell it to me again. It was such a vivid, cool dream. I told him i thought it could be interpreted two ways.(I was, of course, making this up.) "It's either a dream from God and he's trying to tell you that he's a woman....or...the first part is from God and the second part is from me!!" This was followed by a lot of laughing from me. Chuck was not nearly as amused as I was by my dream interpreting skills!
Whatever the dream meant, I liked the conversation between Chuck and the little dog. I decided to paint it for him so he could always remember it. I did take a few liberties by making Chuck a bluebird with a flower blooming in his heart and show them flying together across the sky on our red sofa! A legion of little dogs sit obediently dotting the landscape below. An angel, transparent in the sunshine, smiles down on the whole scene. When you think about what the little dog said, it's is pretty good advice for all of us.
"What Did You Learn in Obedience School"
Acrylic on canvas
22 x 28 inches
2003
I painted "Designing Bluebird" for our daughter, Amy, when she was working on her Interior Design degree. Amy is seen as a lifesize bluebird painting a portrait of three pears(something she had just done in real life). The painting on the wall shows the familiar yellow road with a gift opening up, releasing all the tricks of her future trade into the air--draperies, accessories, a wingback chair, sofa and armoire all flying merrily through the air! Two houses, the one she grew up in and the one she lived in then are in the background of the painting on the wall. A picture of her family sits on a piecrust table with a jaunty lamp. The family cat sleeps quietly on a rug while Amy's guardian angel looks in the window and smiles.
Amy graduated and has been working as a successful designer for several years.
"Designing Bluebird"
Acrylic on canvas
20 x30 inches
2004
When our granddaughter Vivian was three we gave her a Snow White costume. She wore it almost every day for a year. Vivian loves books so I painted little Snow White on my magical red sofa holding her "poison apple" and reading Mother Goose stories with the Bluebird. All Vivian's favorite storybook characters-- Little Miss Spider, Madeline, Click Clack Moo, Olivia, Raggedy Ann, and Hondo and Fabian-- listen with interest. Book titles from her vast collection line the shelves behind the sofa-The Cat in the Hat, The Hungry Caterpillar, Good Night, Moon, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?-- line the shelves. The little Ballerina Bess book on the rug was her mom, Laurie's, favorite book when she was three.
"Vivian and Friends"
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 40 inches
2004
“Sowing Seed of Kindness” is about the importance of planting the right kind of seeds in our garden we call "life".
Like this little bird
you’re sowing seeds
of kindness everyday.
They’re watered with
your joy and laughter
shared along the way.
And before too long
you’ll notice as the
sun shines from above,
God turns your seeds
into a garden giving
faith and hope and love!
--Debbie Warnock
Sowing Seeds of Kindness
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 24 inches
2004
I painted “Looking to the Light” for my sister, Christy. She and her husband, Kyle, have three little girls and she wanted a visual reminder that God was the center of their family. Their little bluebird family is marching down life’s road together with their wings wrapped around each other in love. The triangles, symbols of God’s love and direction, assure them that they are going the right way--no GPS tracking needed here! As with most families with young children, life can be a challenging uphill climb! But as they look to the horizon they see an angel pointing to three beautiful gifts God has placed along the way--all they have to do is stick together one step at a time! It sure looks worth the climb!
Looking to the Light
Acrylic on canvas
22 x28 inches
2004
After living over half my life in Nashville, TN, it’s not surprising that the bluebird would someday put on some red boots and pick up a guitar! In “Singin’ and Dreamin’ ” our bluebird is following his dream to Music City with the Ryman Auditorium at the end of his yellow road! Now, my personal bluebird has no musical ability, but I like the idea of a life devoted to a dream...of having the courage and faith to stick with the purpose God puts in your heart! I may just be singing in the shower, but I like the idea of giving up everything secure to hit the road in search of a dream!
Singin' and Dreamin'
Acrylic on canvas
14 x 18 inches
2004
"Avenue of Dreams" is a giclee print of my digital painting. Encouraging words are joining the little bird on the journey everywhere...in the grass, on the road, and all around the colorful, happy houses. That's the way you feel when you're walking toward your dream!
Avenue of Dreams
Giclee print
8 x 12 inches
2004
“Taste and See” is a computer painting I did especially to thank some very special people. It illustrates the Psalm 34:8 NLT--"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!" We had just moved to the wonderful town of Chatham, VA where my husband, Chuck is pastor of Chatham Baptist Church. The people in our congregation, in addition to being loving and friendly, are extraordinary cooks! Chuck and I were lucky enough to be on the receiving end of some of the best food we had ever eaten! Fresh summer fruit, casseroles, chicken salad, cookies, pies and cakes were brought to our door with a smile from our new best friends! How do you say “thank you” for such a heartfelt and yummy welcome? My answer was a note with the “bluebird chef” holding up his fragrant chicken while standing on a rug bordered with triangles!
Digital Painting
2004
"A Home for Your Heart" is a painting inspired by our move to the wonderful small town of Chatham, Virginia almost three years ago. My husband, Chuck, pastors Chatham Baptist Church. Chuck and I are the two excited bluebirds in the foreground looking expectantly down the yellow road leading to the church. Our yellow house in the lower left is marked by a triangle. God has placed his comforting triangles along our path to show us the way. The town is happy and alive with color! Triangles nestled in the green landscape hint at all the plans God has to show his love and care throughout our community. An angel in the top left sky looks down on the church and smiles.
"A Home for Your Heart!"
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 40 inches
2004
Blackhawk Carpenter was commissioned for a husband who was in the service. He was a mechanic on Blackhawk helicopters overseas and here at home. He loved his job. He also was an accomplished carpenter and worked often with the antique tools inherited from his grandfather. Chris' wife, Kathleen, emailed me pictures of some of his most prized possessions. She also sent pictures of their two labs. After talking on the phone together to get a feel for their life, I sketched a few ideas. I painted this cute young couple as bluebirds, his cheery wife, talking away while he works on his grandad's bench with his drillpress at hand. The beloved old red tool box is at his feet. Their two labs are his constant companions while he works. On the shelves are some of his favorite book titles and pictures of helicopters and military emblems that hung on the walls in his actual workshop. Their first dog who had died earlier and was missed greatly is hovering in the clouds with angel wings! I love the energy in the offbeat perspective and lively colors of this painting. Chris had seen one of my paintings and kept telling his wife how much he liked it. He was very happy with his personalized version and couldn't believe all the details that Kathleen and I had collaborated on. Seeing yourself as a bluebird can change your whole attitude!!
Blackhawk Carpenter
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 24 inches
2004
This painting is titled “Walking with God.” One afternoon I had the thought that I should build a labyrinth in our backyard. I was excited about the idea except I wasn’t quite sure what a labyrinth was!! I knew that some churches and cathedrals had them, but I had never walked on one or even seen one. After learning that I could build one with rocks, I painted this picture of what I knew it would someday look like in our backyard. My husband, Chuck and I are the bluebirds waving from the open front door. Fellow bluebirds are winding their way through our yard to our labyrinth. Today our labyrinth is finished and is open to everyone who would like to walk along its paths and be reminded that we are all walking with God.
Walking with God
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 40 inches
2005
Before Christmas 2005 I had an idea to do paintings of people with flowers growing out of their heads! You know how sometimes God plants a little seed of an idea or dream in our head? Then it grows in our mind just like a little garden. We can water our dreams with thankfulness, beauty, quietness, generosity and more goodthoughts.
Let Flowers Bloom!
Acrylic on canvas
22 x 28 inches
2006
“The Quiet Life” is about how God prepares us for changes in our lives. Chuck, my husband, and I had just bought an old house in a small Tennessee town--a dream we had in the back of our head for a while. We truly felt that God had led us there, but we didn’t know why. We loved our peaceful old house and the slower pace of life. It was a time of reflection and reconnecting with a long ago dream. We had a guest house called the “Bluebird House” where I painted and Chuck also worked. We were so happy! We felt safely wrapped in the wings of a loving angel. While there, Chuck felt God calling him back into the ministry. A few weeks later a beautiful little church in the country called him as pastor. We loved the people there and finally knew why God had guided us to move to that old house in a small town!
The Quiet Life
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 24 inches
2003
"Lovebirds Flying Across the Buttermilk Moon" is a celebration of romantic love and a lifetime of commitment. The bluebird bride and groom are swept away in their joy of being able to travel life's journey together. The look in the same direction and together they hold the lovely flower that blooms in their hearts each day! God has put them together to bring love, laughter and encouragement not only to each other, but also to others along life's way. The angel cheers them on from the road below. The dog and three cats traveling across the moon with the lovebirds remind us that the ordinary routines of life can be extraordinary when traveling with the right companion!
Lovebirds Flying Across the Buttermilk Moon
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 30 inches
2004
In the painting, “A Flower Blooms in Your Heart Each Day”, an angel comes down from heaven to present the bluebird with a gift to help her on her journey through life. The gift is a lovely flower that will bloom fresh and new in the little bluebird’s heart everyday! It blooms spirit gifts of joy, hope, love , faith and peace! The big yellow path is calling with its colorful triangles that God has lovingly placed to show the way. Even the clouds and the rooftops are a reminder of God’s presence and his love!
A Flower Blooms in Your Heart Each Day
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 30 inches
2004
Do you ever think about your future and see it in your head as you would like for it to be? That’s what I’m doing-- that’s me in the foreground as the giant bluebird--in the painting “Looking Forward”. I’m thinking about all the good things God wants to do in our life and I’m asking him to keep us on that yellow road! We were doing some work in China at the time and the buildings in the background represent Shanghai. My husband, Chuck, and I are the two tiny bluebirds walking together down that long, daunting road. Triangles, symbols of God’s love and guidance, surround us on our journey. They are a constant reminder that we are never alone on this wonderful adventure that God unfolds!
Looking Forward
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 10 inches
2001
“In ”A Gift of Love” the little bluebird is walking down the path of life following the dreams that God has put in her heart. She sees a bright red box along the side of the road and stops to take a look. When she peeks in, she realizes that God left the gift just for her to show his love! Everything she needs at that point in her journey comes flying out of the box dressed as happy, floating triangles! A well-wishing angel with her hands outstretched forming a cross reminds the bluebird of God’s greatest gift, his Son.
Gift of Love
Acrylic on canvas
8 x 10 inches
2004
“Hope Springs Up” is a painting about believing. The bluebird has been in this garden before, planting seeds of kindness. She often came back to her garden to see if any sign of good had come from her hard work and dreams. Time passed and there was not any sign that her seeds of kindness were ever going to grow into something good. But she believed and waited. Then, one day the garden had changed. There in a spot that had once been only dirt, stood a perky sunflower swaying gently in the sunshine! It was living proof that the little bluebird’s hopes and dreams for a beautiful future were worth believing! Kindness always grows where it’s planted!
"Hope Springs Up"
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 24 inches
2004
