8×8″ oil paint on artist’s board; use ‘comment’ below to inquire.
Jesus gave his rules of life in the 8 Beatitudes in his Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5: 3-10), the second of which is: ‘Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be consoled.’ I was captivated by this scene in the “Passion of Jesus Christ” by Mel Gibson. Jim Caviezel, playing Jesus, had such joy in his proclamation of the true blessedness of this mystery of life on earth.
6×9″ oil on primed canvas paper; use ‘comment’ below to inquire.
It seems a long time ago that I painted my last still life. It is always enjoyable to put items together that may tell a story or pique the imagination. This is completely imaginary.
8×6″ oil paint on canvas paper; use ‘comment’ below to inquire.
People had to take Jesus as either a madman or the Person of Absolute Truth when he taught people as if he were the ultimate authority on how they ought to live or how they ought to think.
6×8″ oil paint on canvas sheet; use ‘comment’ below to inquire.
These small landscapes are how I ‘relax’ my painting brain after doing fastidious portraits.
8×10″ oil on canvas sheet; small study for a larger work; (sold)
Recently, I received a commission to paint a very large image of Christ for a church. To prepare, I have done some smaller images in the same proportion; it is a way of solving some problems before getting lost in the woods of the huge one. The client asks for a post-resurrection Jesus and suggests this title.
30×40 cm oil on primed canvas sheet; sold.
This may look familiar because I did a small painting like it and it was previously shown. A customer requested one similar and larger, so this is 30 cm x 40 cm as a special commission.
8×8″ oil paint on cradled artist board; sold.
Who would ask for such faith in potential miracles? Only Jesus.
10″x 8″ oil paint on canvas sheet; use ‘comment’ below to inquire.
I painted this image, inspired by a sculpted wall relief statue from the Netherlands, for a special commission. I enjoyed the line designs that emphasize Mary and Jesus.
6×8″ oil on primed canvas paper; sold
The above is a special commission from a client inspired by a sermon on the “suffering of God” and on a painting. The original, historic painting (“Crucifixion” by Anthony Van Dyck Circa 1622), has God the Father as a shadowy figure present at the crucifixion and receiving the suffering of Jesus. My customer asked if I would make a similar scene, but include Mary, John, and a centurion. Such great inspiration is always difficult to put into a requested small format, but here is what happened when I tried. The title also comes from the client.
6×8″ oil paint on primed canvas paper; use ‘comment’ below to inquire.
I am Sister Maresa Lilley, a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame, located in Chardon, Ohio, USA. For many years, I have enjoyed a passion that permits me to reflect upon simple reality with a brush in hand. To capture a simple essence on canvas and to discover inherent beauty is a daily immersion. While busy with teaching, or administration, or other various roles of my past, I found the quiet pursuit of pushing creamy oil paint into some kind of meaningful arrangement a soulful refreshment. I hope that through this blog, you also can enjoy a fresh look at grace and charm in the ordinary.
The Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio, belong to an international congregation of more than two thousand apostolic women religious. We are one in mind and one in heart for the transformation of the world in Christ.
