I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through His Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that man can be, Thou, God art present there.

Here’s what I wrote about this piece in the program for my show:
A few years ago I made a large painting for our home with the lyrics to the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision,” on it. I wanted a similar piece to hang in the same place in our home during the spring and summertime. For this piece, I chose the lyrics from an ancient hymn called “I Sing the Mighty Power of God.” I’ve liked this hymn since I was a child and I liked the idea of my children having it around to read as well. (The writer, Isaac Watts, did intend it to be for children as it was first published in a book titled “Divine and Moral Songs for Children.”) I had the lyrics (below) in mind as I created this piece and when I finished with the “background,” I realized, it was indeed finished, as is. To write lyrics across this canvas would utterly detract from it. My husband very much agreed. To me, this piece speaks the words and sentiment of the hymn…and I’m sure that is unique to me alone…and that is one of the best things about abstract visual art: it gives a jumping off point to the viewer from which one can go in a direction that is unique and meaningful to the individual alone. One artist* states that “Abstract painting is one of the purest forms of painting. The primary element is color…how color can twist at your most inner being, about the certain kind of miracle that happens when one color lies next to or over another and becomes magical. It’s about line, soft, timid, hard, submerged, leading you, constraining you. It’s about the element of shape and texture, about the caress of brush against canvas.” I rather agree. *Max Hammond

I sing the mighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise;
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.

Verse 2

I sing the goodness of the Lord,
That filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with His word,
And then pronounced them good,
He formed the creatures with His word,
And then pronounced them good.

Verse 3

There’s not a plant or flower below,
But makes Thy glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne.

Saint Nicholas, Patron Saint of Sailors
Artist: Ken Widing, Spring Lake, Michigan
St Nicholas Center Collection

When tempests rage, the storm-tossed sea,
Its dangers, sailors strive to flee.
The cries from ship to shore are clear;
They echo far so all can hear:
St Nicholas the sailors friend
Stay with us now, our lives defend.

A mighty word, the saint extends
To ask the Lord, your mercy send,
That holding tight the tiller’s frame
The storms will cease and all be tame:
St Nicholas the sailors friend
Your prayers surround us to life’s end.

Now bless us on the sea of life,
As we against all deadly strife
Live out our lives courageously
At home, at work and on the sea:
O wonderworker and our friend
Your blessing to us now extend.

Text: J M Rosenthal, March 2008
Tune: MELITA (Eternal Father, Navy Hymn) 88 88 88

The show went well. I sold some and as usual, got as many or more commissions. So, that’s cool. As I peer around what was formerly known as our tidy home though, (who knew that Katrina hit this far west!) I’m wondering about the sanity of this painting whilst mothering notion.

The food and wine were really good at my show. Ya’ll should’ve been there. I don’t think driving 7+ hours in order to attend a two-hour long art show by an artist you know only via a blog is that much to ask people. C’mon, are ye emergent or aren’t ya?! (And don’t question my logic on that last comment! I’m a cranky artist!)

It is beautiful, June. I’m thinking, ‘Immortal, Invisible’: “Thy justice like mountains, high-soaring above thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.”

Beautiful piece, by the way. How did the show go?