Rise and Shine!

Rise and Shine!
16×20 oil

“Rise and Shine!”  (I remember my mama’s voice melodically calling me to wake up.)   “Rise and Shine” was the last thing I wanted to hear as a teenager.  But, it was a very positive call to alertness.  Mama said it with joy and happiness for the beginning of a new day!

I chose to paint this scene because of the light– “the heavenly sunlight flooding my soul with glory divine…”  I took the photo in the morning, while out early to enjoy the day.  I’m not the same sleepyhead that Mama had trouble waking up.  Now I enjoy seeing the sun rise,  seeing the light creep around corners of trees and cling to the edges of leaves,  seeing sunlight blanket the earth with a yellow-white glow.

Rise and Shine!  It’s another day to appreciate, and to be a light!