The Farm House

I've been going to Western North Carolina, for, well as long as I can remember but my parents tell me that my mother rafted the Nantahala River when she was pregnant with me... I don't doubt it. She seems like super woman, especially these days. The hills roll there, the mountains range to a point where you wonder if you are truly this... high, the colors are so blue... that your eyes will deceive you beyond all imagination because of the fog and the pines... But in the midst of it all, there are these valleys with beautiful farms... and old homes that seem invincable which reside on them for years and years. Just as you come over this one particular hill near Bryson City, headed towards the gorge where the Nantahala River is, there is this old farm house... with an amazing porch, a beautiful layout and a magnificent view of the mountains. I attempted to paint it at some point in time, while I lived in Birmingham. I had taken some photographs of it in black and white and used those as my point of focus. I used only white house paint, black dye and a muted green dye. Before I knew it, I loved what had come to be. It was a bit distorted but it was mine and no matter if that house went away, I will always remember it, and I will always have it because I painted it!

Having Faith, Believing

These two pieces would not be complete if they did not reside together. They are happy! I did them quite a while ago, and I remember the first go around they were each one large flower... and I wiped it off and loved the background it left me... so I created this spring like picture with sprouting flowers... they are a beautiful bright green... which can be dangerous... and a sweet ruby red grapefruit as the color for the flower! There is much texture to these and nothing about them says classic painting... it's done of glues and house paint with small bits of oils. It was one of the first times I really used oils... I fould they are bright and a little goes a long way! I thought for sure my Aunt Pam would want these but she has never said a word about them really, she always has a ridiculous amount of flowers growing in her yard and it kind of remind me her her and her silly joyful self... but it's also a fresh painting... reminds me anyone who needs a fresh start with a little encouragement... it can happen! Having faith... believing... as dad says. ;)

Pressing On

This piece resides in Mobile, AL with my friend Susan right now. I was happy to leave it with her. We were in college, working together waiting tables, and had no clue it would be about ten years before we would catch up again... but we did and this past year I was able to see she and her family a few times. They have a house in Gulf Shores, and she truly is a delightful friend I hope to hang on to till were old and silly!

This particular piece, went through many phases before it became what it is. The background is primarily shades of dye and the picture itself is dyed glues and textures with hints of gold all through the painting. There is one flower in the painting and it stands out. This painting is seen best in morning or evening light or perhaps under a black light. There is fabulous depth unseen to the natural eye. It reminds me of pressing on... in the fall, it's amazing how flowers still manage to bloom... and colors burst... just like in life... when we're down, Jesus gives us hope to press on for what is better... because he has great plans for us to prosper... not to harm us! ;) It's high grass, dead with a bloomin' flower in the midst! ;)

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phillipians 3:12-14

Gold Water.

This is a favorite of mine, and I can't remember who I gave it to... for what. I suppose I painted over this piece 1000 times and it was on my blue kick but I wanted to use some red in it as well... I have this great view of some yellow flowers sitting in water from about 5 years ago... and I thought it would be perfect to make them blue... and the water gold. It's a smaller piece but I loved looking at it in the morning when I woke up... just as the sun was hitting it.

Love.

I got on a blue kick for a while. Perhaps I was blue, who knows. It paid off though. This piece went in the Starbucks show... which was fun and more hype than anything. I only wish we had a Starbucks to do it in again! Guess we'll have to take it over to the new Coffee Merchant. While I was mingling like chatty cathy at this show... Brock and Debbie Hattox decided they wanted this piece, I thought Debbie was pulling me to the back of the room to talk because it was quiet back there. But she wanted that piece. I could not have been more thrilled. Debbie has created a soft house that is extreamly comfortable, classic and includes all of todays modern technology. She asked me to even come over and hang it for them... I was floored! In her main hallway. I'm glad they enjoy it and I love that they have a piece of my work. Great friends. In the process of creating this piece there was a ton of gold paint, red, and green, but of course ... blue. Paper and dyes with a bit of oil. It reminds me of a wedding bouquet... love... perhaps.

Peace

Up close, this has tiny layers, and if you look in the photo you can kind of see the swirls on the right side in the background. It was my floor cover... while I was working on some other pieces. One night I needed something else to work on so I picked it up. I wanted a blue flower... the color in this flower is fantastic. It's almost the color of a sea or gulf near an untouched island. It reminds me of a blue flower floating in water... so. There. Glues, dyes and paper are the main source on this piece. It's on a thin board and square. It reminds me too, of peace, there is only one place, I find complete peace and that is in Jesus Christ... digging daily in His Word helps remind me...

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14: 27).

Singing Flowers

I can't remember a day that I've been to my parents house when there was not some sort of flower in bloom. They say... you know... they whoever they are... that plant life, flowers in particular are extreamly good for the heart... the soul... when we are sad or troubled they can make us happy. When we are good... they can make us even more happy! Wow. Flowers are a good thing. I suppose that is why I love trying to capture them. ;) This one sits in my parents bedroom. It's a fun piece, especially in person. There is quite a bit of texture to it and it's on canvas rather than on board. Dye and paper were the main sourse of color. It reminds me of just after a rainfall, when a flower has been covered up with water... and the sun busts through the trees... only to allow the petals to jump up again! Almost like they are singing! Mom loves this one and it reminds me of her... she jumps for her family and sings for us daily!

White Marsh One and Two

Two of my favorites for numerous reasons. These were in the March Starbucks Show in 2008. They came together at the last minute after the frames were on them and I just let go... started having fun with them... often my best work comes out when I do this. These two remind me of a marsh... I've never named them really. The pictures don't do them justice do to the layering and the depth. There is almost every media of paint on these canvas, but the final touches were dyes for color. There is a technique I can't seem to grasp my hands around, of which I have conducted before... that provides amazing depth. This perhaps comes close to it. I may call these "White Marsh One" and "White Marsh Two" 2009

Soft Love

I honestly can't remember if this was the final on this piece. A friend of mine needed a presant and asked if she could buy a piece of art. I wanted to get this piece out because it was frustrating me... the dyes were bleeding just right... everything was working how I wanted it to... but I could not get a grip on my picture and where I wanted to take it. The depth was not where I wanted in the end and yet the form was fine. Mystically it looked like a flower floating in water. It had a very romantic look to it, one that would resemble that of soft love. So, I will call this... "Soft Love" 2009

Often we think we love with all we have... and yet, just like I gave up on this piece, we give up and end up with ... soft love. Love is Hard. The ultimate lesson in life.

The Wellspring of Life

After a few more touches to this one, I placed it in a gold frame and love it now. Originally I did not like it due to the red. Red is not really one of my favorite colors to work with but I have come across the opportunity to work with some great reds lately. This piece consists of papers, dyes, plaster, flat paint, and a little glue. Overall it took about a month to put together. It stands at around three feet tall or so... maybe a little more. It reminds me of a storm that has hit the first spring, and a flower with water soaked... not knowing what to do with such blessing! Life... we are blessed! I know I am... for sure.
"The Wellspring of Life" 2009

I moved back to the Gulf in December of 2004, it was in 2005 I was asked my Sally Miller to paint. I had not been painting for about 8 months and I was excited to start again.

This piece ended up being a wedding present for one of Matt and Sally Miller's friends. It stands just over 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It consists of everything from oils, acrylic, house paints of all kinds, papers, glues, WD40, and a number of other items that I randomly found upon need.

It reminds me of being blessed. A flower is soaked with blessings of love when it rains and when standing back and looking at this particular piece, I am reminded of a flower in rain.

Should you desire a piece of this nature, please feel free to contact me as I find them so enjoyable to create!

The Random Flower

The Random Flower
2005

This was given as a gift to my oldest friend Andrea Kaiser Shilston as a wedding gift. She has asked me to do a smaller piece for her so she turned it back over and now, my friends, Sted & Rebecca McCollough have it hanging in their fabulous home!
The colors are brilliant and all over the place in this one as well as the texture. It is perhaps one of my favorite.

Tree of Life

Tree of Life
2007

David B Mayfield
My Father

This piece is a treasure in that it stands for much of what I know to be true. Often the example set before us is what we know to hide in our hearts as "treasure" - my father has set an amazing example of love and perseverence for his family... Just as God's Word says He does for his children. For this I am greatful and thankful.

Green Beer for Symphony by the Sea

Symphony By the Sea

2007

In December this piece found a new home after an auction at the Gulf Shores Civic Center. It was donated to United Way in efforts to raise funds for the year.

Green Beer is on Canvas and was used with fabric dye and Budweiser to produce the many shades of green. The circles were hand painted as was the ribbon that runs through this piece. It was highlighted with a wood laquer tinted with a hint of green and brown.

The most difficult part about creating Green Beer was leaving so much of it white and untouched. Just like not touching the heart, it is hard sometimes!

Proverbs 4:23 tells us "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."