Recent work from studiocrenshaw. Hope you enjoy!

Spring 2015

"Walking in Memphis"

Painted for Jason and Brandi Holbrook as a gift for their time in Memphis. The painting is of St. Peter's Catholic Church where they worshipped while in Memphis. They walked with Our Lord so well in Memphis, thus how the title was born.

"New Life"

This piece was painted for Doyle and Lisa Baker. Lisa is battling cancer and was a surprise gift from her sweet husband Doyle. The painting captures the vibrant spring colors showing new life and weaves in a church in the background to represent our new life through Christ. The blooms on the tree also are "breast cancer pink" to represent Lisa battling so well. 

"1+1=1"

This piece was painted for Will and Katrina Moore for their wedding anniversary. It is the chapel at Bonn Terre in Nesbit MS where they were married. It is painted on pine and constructed to resemble the chapel door at Bonn Terre. The title "1+1=1" is a phrase I often use when counseling couples in their pre-marital sessions. It has blessed Erin and I in our marriage even 13 years later to remember that God has created 1 new entity in marriage. The color scheme was chosen to match their new living room decor and to reflect the time of year (May) in which they were married.

Recent Work

Some new paintings from 2014…I will update with stories later. A couple of the final two are for sale. Please email me to inquire about purchase or commissions at bcrenshaw@fellowshipmemphis.org

"Untitled"

"Legacy of Grace"

"Nativity Tree"

"10 Minutes To Swim"

"Chapel at Seaside"

"Covered"

"For Brooklyn"

"Untitled"

Promises

This is a recent painting I did for Robert and Courtney Frazee's anniversary. It is titled "Promises". It was good for me to reflect on the promise of marriage to my bride, Erin while I painted this. For the Frazee's it has much symbolism. Working left to right, the fence is broken which symbolizes Courtney's experience growing up in a home where her parents divorced. The church is symbolic of the Gospel in her and Robert's life and also points back to their wedding day. The tree to the right is one tree with two main branches symbolizing the two of them becoming "one". The swing on the branch symbolizes their children. The greenish flower buds on the tree symbolize the new family created in marriage. My prayer for the Frazee's is that their marriage and the "promises" they made on their wedding day will continue to be a picture of the Gospel for their family and those around them even through future generations of Frazee's.

"Promises"

Increase

"Increase"

This past May, I was commissioned to do a painting for Robert and Courtney Frazee. Courtney wanted to surprise Robert with a gift, as he was launching into a new business with his father. Many times I have driven past one of these irrigation systems and have always wanted to paint one. I felt this would capture the faith and hard work of a business start up. The painting's title is based on 

1 Corinthians 3:6 "I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase". Whether in finance, vocational ministry, motherhood, or farming, we are called to be faithful planters and waterers. After doing that, we must rely on God to provide the increase. Sometimes the increase does not come, other times it comes in immeasurable amounts . Nevertheless, we are called to be faithful in our planting and watering. My prayer for The Frazee's is for faithfulness in the planting and watering. I also pray this painting will serve as a reminder of that call. May God provide the increase.

This painting is approx 30x40 and painted with acrylic. The desire was to capture a morning scene in mid summer. The irrigation system has a silhouette feel to it and the green areas on the ground represent new growth. One great outcome of this was that the road and barns in the background, reminded Robert of times growing up when he and his father would go hunting. I did not intend to capture that, but was something unique that God built into the painting for Robert. Thank you Frazee's for the opportunity to paint this!

Seeking Shalom

Shalom is a word often translated as "peace" in the Bible. It carries a deeper meaning though. More accurately it carries a meaning of things being made as they should be. A meaning of being made right. Isn't that what Easter is about? On a spiritual realm, things were made right? We cant always articulate Shalom, but we know it...at least glimpses of it. We see it in our kids hearts, in our spouse and community. We see it partially every Sunday at church. In certain moments and in people, we see a reflection of a coming day where every second will be perfect. This is what the Resurrection points us to. It provides hope and certainty that all will be made as it should be. A final, eternal shalom.

I recently painted this for the Geer family (pictured below). It is called "Seeking Shalom". It tethered me to the LORD deeper during this season of reflection on the resurrection. I am thankful to be a part of this special piece for their family.


                                                           

                                                              "Seeking Shalom"

"Rising Light"

This painting was done in the fall of 2012 for some dear friends (Ben and Aimee Parkinson). The Parkinson's recently moved to Little Rock and this was a gift from our church. We are so blessed by their friendship and time in Memphis.

The genesis of this painting began years ago with both of our families moving into the Binghampton neighborhood. The wood this is painted on is reclaimed wood found in Binghampton. The Title "Rising Light" comes from a verse in Isaiah 58:10 "if you pour out yourself for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted. then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday."

This passage in Isaiah 58 depicts the nation of Israel going through the motions of ritualistic fasting, but are far from pleasing God's heart with their actions. God then answers with what is pleasing to him... a true fast. The promises for shedding ritualistic fasting/worship and embracing true worship and fasting is laced throughout this passage.

The Parkinson's have been friends who have always embodied this pure heart towards loving the least of these. They have truly poured themselves out here in Memphis and in the Binghampton community. My prayer for them as I painted this was for their light to rise and be evident to all who experienced them here and for those who will meet them in Little Rock.

The colors were selected to 1) match Aimee's dinning room and 2) to portray an early morning sunrise breaking through to highlight a church. Hope you all enjoy this as we look to worship God not just in words but with pure deeds during this lenten season.

Holy Ground

I was recently commissioned to paint a piece for Blake and Kelly Bourland. They are a sweet couple at our church and one we go back years with (Kelly was Erin's grand big sis in Tri-Delt). I was honored to do such a special piece for them. It is a painting of the Chapel at Bonne Terre where the Bourland's were married. Bonne Terre is an Inn in Nesbit MS. Such a beautiful place http://www.bonneterreinn.com/chapel. The painting is in the shape of the chapel door and is constructed of pine. The word Bonne Terre literally means "good ground". In an area full of tough clay, there are many areas with fertile farmland. Much of the fertility of this area comes from flooding from the Mississippi River, leaving rich deposits it has carried downstream. Ground goes from poor to good by an overflowing deposit of minerals. In a greater yet similar fashion, poor ground becomes holy in the same fashion...an overflowing deposit of God's presence and love.

Marriage is a holy union. A covenant before God and men that reflects God's glory to the world (marriage was the first institution created by God, the church came later). As Blake and Kelly stood before God that day and committed vows to each other, God was there and God was pleased. They literally were standing on Holy Ground. Their marriage continues to be a reflection to those around them of God's love.

"Holy Ground"

Merry Christmas! May you each experience God's presence this Advent season as we see God's ultimate act of overflowing love...sending Jesus to be our Emmanuel, God with us, who takes away the sins of the world. May we long for the eternal Holy Ground, Heaven.

Muddy Waters

Friends of ours (Art and Charlotte Hullender) hosted an art show to raise money for their adoption. I was honored to submit this piece for the show. It is titled "Muddy Waters" and ties in many themes that I have been thinking on lately regarding Memphis. I have always wanted to do something to capture the riverfront, Memphis Blues and "M bridge". I purposely created a silhouette effect with the Memphis Queen Riverboat, Hernando Desoto Bridge ("M bridge") and grassy bank and wanted to magnify the Mississippi River. I have been researching industrial rustic design some lately and this seemed to fit a bit of all these thoughts. The title is after the Mississippi River (The Muddy Mississippi) and blues legend Muddy Waters. Hope you all enjoy. It was fun to paint something to capture this great city...Memphis.

"Muddy Waters"

Morning Hay Field

I painted this recently as a wedding gift for some friends. I wanted to capture the feeling of a hay field on a July summer morning. It was my first go at it.

"Morning Hay Field"

Humbled

On Memorial Day, our family visited some friends who had purchased one of my paintings. I had forgotten about painting it for them, as it was just before traveling to Ethiopia and life accelerating with Naomi's adoption. We walked in and saw it on their mantle. I was humbled. I am thankful for people who would want to put something I paint in their home. It was just weird to see and humbling to know that something I was not pursuing for years, has now become a blessing to others. I also attached a picture of "Lighted Path" from the Harvill's home. It was one of the first commission pieces I did. Both family's choice of decor enhances the paintings, not the other way around!

"Cold Barn #4"

"Lighted Path"

Recent Work

I wanted to post a couple of recent paintings. The first was a commission piece for some family friends "Porter's Path". This may have been the most complicated painting I have ever done. The walking path took a while to get right with angles. It is a painting based off of a photo (shown below) from a walk the Porter's took back in February. I added some color of a fall scene to bring some coordinating colors  to match their beautiful new home. It was a blessing to do for them. The second is #6 in the "Red Door" series. I had long wanted to paint one of the "Red Door" series on wood plank. The wood pallet and frame are hand made of cedar. I have enjoy working with wood in the actual construction of the pallet but also in how the paint applies to it. In subtle ways it can be shaped differently. It is challenging as using a pallet knife with thick impasto gel makes for some uneven strokes (the planks are offset a minor amount). This does provide a different effect. "Red Door #6" is being consigned at Epiphany Salon downtown Memphis. It was part of their grand opening show. If interested in purchasing it, simply contact the Epiphany Salon or myself. Hope you enjoy the recent updates.

Original Photo from the Porter's

"Porter's Path"

"Red Door #6" (for sale)

"Light and Life"...Saint Mary's Fundraiser

I was honored to submit a painting for a fundraiser at Saint Mary's School (Olivia's school). In thinking through what to do, I started with 2 ideas...First to involve something that involves Olivia since she attends school there and secondly, something that reflects Saint Mary's mantra "Light and Life". With summer upon us, I have also been reflecting on doing more in my "30A" series. It all began to tie together.

Some of my favorite times with Olivia have been at the beaches around 30A. This is also a place that to me and our family brings out much light and life. Vacations, especially at the beach are filled with joyful laughter in the bright sun and are the height of family fun for us.

I wanted to capture beach houses resting upon a shore. I had painted a similar scheme before for the art show and was one painting that I connected with. There were some changes on this painting, slightly with color and the houses. This painting was also something I painted with Olivia earlier this month...sort of. With my torn achilles, I am confined to painting on the floor while in my cast. Looking for creative ways to spend time with the kids, I decided to paint some with Olivia one day. We did a similar work up with her flare!

In many ways this reflects Olivia to us....a wonderful daughter full of Light and Life. Hope the winning bidder enjoys such a special painting to us. We are blessed by Saint Mary's and excited to give back a piece of our family.

                                                                   Liv At Easter

                                                         "Beside the Sea" #3 in 30A series

Naomi

The past few months have been a whirlwind. We traveled to Ethiopia in December to meet our new daughter Naomi, appeared in front of their court and legally became parents again. The days were long, but finally in March we traveled back to Ethiopia to get her forever. We have been "cocooning" (intentionally quietening our lives and staying close to home while she attaches to us as parents). Throughout this process, God has showed us so much about his love for us and the Gospel has entrenched itself deeper in our hearts. I have taken off a few months from painting other than a couple of Christmas gifts due to being so busy. I tore my achilles and had surgery 2 weeks ago. I am immobile and have been getting cabin fever. I was physically unable to paint until a few days ago. I lay in the floor instead of using my easel and stool. Nevertheless, it has helped keep me sane while waiting to get the cast off. I am doing a painting for St. Mary's School fundraiser. I have decided to paint a beach series as I head into summer. More will come after I finish it, but am excited to be creating again.

Here is a pic of Naomi. She will be 3 in May. It has been a blessing to paint things for people as part of our adoption fundraising process. The art show in November went well.

Art Show Preview

The following paintings will be part of the silent auction at the Art Show this Saturday.



"autumn day" (20 3/4 x 22 1/2)

"beside the sea" (30x30)

"cold barn 1" (30x30)

"cold barn 2" (24x30)

"cold barn 3" (16 x16)

"country church" (18x24

"for naomi"

"red door 1" (24x30)

"red door 2" (30x40)

"red door 3" (16x20)

"sunflower field 1" (30x30)

"sunflower field 2" (30x30)

"sunrise at harmony church" (30x30)

"trolley night" (38 1/2 x 50 1/2)

"tulips in copper vase" (24x24)

"bird on a branch" (12x24)