Old Ford PickupTruck Painting

Old Ford Pickup Truck

16x20 Original Oil On Stretched Canvas

by Cheri Wollenberg

This original oil painting features an old, vintage pickup truck that I painted from a photo.  I took the photo while on a trip to New Mexico about 10 years ago.  It had been parked and may be forgotten by now.  It reminded me of days when my father loved the Ford brand.  Nearly all of his vehicles were Fords.  This painting would make a great gift for someone as a birthday or Father's Day gift.  Christmas gifts can always be promised at a later date since postal delivery is not a promised at this point in 2018, but, nevertheless, delivered later.  You can find this painting in my Etsy shop by clicking here.

Daddy - The Best Santa Claus Ever!

Santa Daddy

16x20 Original Oil on Canvas

by Cheri Wollenberg 2018

I am a very blessed artist!  I enjoy sharing how and why I create paintings with my friends and viewers.  Today's post is very special to me.  It is exceptional and straight from the heart of the daughter of this Santa (above) about her daddy.  How precious our time on earth is!  How important it is to love others and spread the joy of Christ!  

The Night Before Christmas!

This Santa was a small-town funeral director.  His ministry was in helping

others walk through a life-changing experience in the death of a loved one.  

With this ministry came yet another ministry!  This ministry was sharing his love by providing

years of memories for others in his community.  Every Christmas Eve he left his family for a few hours and would don the red suit, bells and boots, and start his rounds.  Checking his list that had started building since the first of November by people in the community calling in for their reserved time for his visit, he would begin his journey.

Instructions were left for him, "Pink bike in the black truck" or "10 Caboodles in the red car in the back seat" or "4-Wheeler goes at the side of the house...Ride to front fence".

One Christmas a family whom he had served as funeral director just a month earlier were home.

Their daddy has died leaving a wonderful wife and two little boys.  Santa knocked on the door and the door was opened by the mom with the boys at her side.  A belly laugh, "Ho Ho Ho" greeted them!

The mom invited him in as the little boys were jumping up and down saying, "We knew you would come!!!  Mom, we TOLD you he would come."  A short visit gave a long and remembered memory.

God gives us His joy in our hearts.  We can cap it and keep it to ourselves OR pass it on.  This Santa chose to pass God's gift of joy to others.  He did this every Christmas Eve for 25 years.  His family 

joyfully supported sharing him with others on this night.  

On his last Christmas Eve of doing what he loved...This Santa saw 110 children in their homes.

He accepted no pay for his night of sharing God's joy.  He believed..."Joy in the heart wasn't put there to stay...Joy isn't Joy 'til it's given away."

This Santa was my dad.  He died from a massive heart attack on...Christmas Eve..1971.

B.L.W

Santa V - Jerry

Santa V - Jerry 

16x20 Original Oil Painting 2018

Cheri Wollenberg

Santa V is a friend from my husband's and my past.  Actually he was one of my husbands highschool students.  He along with his family lived just down the road from our country home.  I saw a photo of him a couple of years ago dressed up as Santa Claus.  I thought he made a very good model for a painting so I asked if I could use his photo.  He graciously gave me permission and I'm quite happy the way he turned out.  I'm hoping he has a chance this year, 2018, to give a boy or girl hope for a gift or blessing that might change their life in some way.  Stay tuned for more a few more Santa paintings this year and in the meantime you can find Jerry at FAA by either clicking this image in the border section of this post or clicking here. I also have a slide video posted on my FB page of my painting process of Santa V.  If you decide to visit my page listed below feel free to "like" and follow any art updates.  Thanks.
https://www.facebook.com/ArtbyCheriWollenberg/

Santa I

Santa I

9x12 Oil on Canvas Board 2018

Cheri Wollenberg

Santa I has already found a home; however, I wanted to tell about him.  As I painted him I felt he was in a "stew" to get somewhere...to accomplish something that was important and he needed to do it quickly.  This is probably why his beard became unruly and seemed to be blowing with the wind against his face like fighting impending forces of responsibilities.  Honestly, I think I was painting my feelings that day (LOL)!  I had not painted in a while because of our move, and I couldn't wait until I had a brush in my hand to begin my warm-up sessions.  I had painted small pumpkins earlier, but never seemed to accomplish much, so I chose whimsical Santas for subjects,  and I'm thinking I will have to leave them for a year now since I've acquired a few other paintings to do for others.   I'm hoping to get one more, Santa VI, finished before I do.  Thanks for dropping by.  I have a few of these fellows in my Etsy store.  They need a home as well:)

Santa Claus III

Santa III

9x12 Original Oil on Canvas Board

Cheri Wollenberg

Had fun doing this old world style Santa Claus.  Reminds me of the old Christmas greeting cards I would see as a child.  He is in my Etsy store.  Take a look here.

You can also buy prints here.

Whimsical Santa Claus IV

Santa Claus IV 

Playing Music In The Starry Night

16x20 Original Oil Painting

by Cheri Wollenberg

I've painted a lot of Whimsical Santa Clauses lately.  I've also painted more realistic ones.  The old world style of Santa Claus really intrigues me. These paintings have been a lot of fun to plan and begin the process of placing them on canvas.  I played Christmas music today as I painted.  I'm thankful for the season, for what it means to me spiritually and that I can in some way make others smile a little with my ideas or the execution of the idea on canvas.  This is listed in my Etsy store.  Just click here.  Also, to see other Santa paintings and demos follow me on FB at

https://www.facebook.com/ArtbyCheriWollenberg

Santa #2 2018

Santa II 2018

18x24 Oil Painting on Artist Canvas Board

by Cheri Wollenberg

This is the second in a series of Santa paintings that I have been working on this year, 2018.  I love the whimsey of Santa Clauses.  No one has ever really seen him....at least adults haven't, but I dare say he has many faces.  So, my point is that since we may not have ever seen the "real" Santa Claus we can paint a picture of him, and we do not have to be afraid that he does not resemble the "real" Santa.  Years ago when I was getting degree in art education, I took several painting classes.  I remember the instructor once told us that we always paint a small portion of ourselves in the execution of painting others.  I do have almost white hair!!! (LOL) HoHoHo.  Take a look at him.  He is listed for sale on Etsy.

Pumpkin Gourd Painting II by Cheri Wollenberg

Pumpkin Gourd Painting II

Original Oil on Artist Board 2018

by Cheri Wollenberg

Today's small painting is another 6x6 painting featuring some autumn leaves with a striped gourd.  These little gourds fascinate me!  Every year I buy more.  They bring so much color and variety to decorations whether in or outside the home.  They add to the creation of a festive atmosphere to the season.  I'm very thankful today for the art principle of variety!  Entertainment for me is quite simple:)  Find it here!

A Pumpkin Just In Time

Whimsical Pumpkin Painting

With Pink Polka Dot Background

6x6 Original Oil Painting on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg 2018

I suppose it's never too late to start again!  Life brings many diversions but time rolls on.  This small pumpkin will be a post starting again!  I haven't posted for a while now, but hopefully I'll make a habit of it again.  This small, autumn still life painting was a warm-up project you might say.  Sometimes when I've not been able to paint for a week or so I want to experience physical sensations of smell, touch, sight and problem solving to prepare me for a larger project (LOL).  This happens to be one of those.  It is listed in my Etsy store.  Take a look here.