My Rainbow in the Cloud

POEM

My Rainbow in the Cloud

How brightly do I shine?  I ask.

Among so many Lillies,

Hiddenly by the clouds,

My soul does often wither.

---It's unbelief and doubt.

When finally I cannot stand;

All my life seems bland,

I lay my head upon His breast.

He kisses my brow.

God does understand my thrust:

I am but shattered shades of dust.

With artist' Hand, He makes me bold:

He paints my name in young and old.

"Be thou My Rainbow in the Cloud!

It may be you alone they see.

So many eyes are casted vague.

Their broken souls plagued.

If you do not believe and shine,

Who else can I send of Mine?"

God put a Rainbow in the cloud.

It is His covenant of love bequested.

It is our chance to test it.

Our light, our reflection, hues,

And, depth of saturation:

One with Him in all Creation.

Painting and Poem by Rita Burton 2012

Our life becomes transformed as we do serious business with God.  We become His hue and saturation painted upon the earth, refractured and reflected.  ---Showing the Father's Glory.    ---Rita Burton

Excerpt below taken from My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers, ---Date:  December 6

My Rainbow in the Cloud

"I set My rainbow in the cloud,

and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth."

  1 Genesis 9: 13

...Waiting for God to act is fleshly unbelief.  It means that I have no faith in Him.  I wait for Him to do something in me so I may trust in that.  But God won't do it, because that is not the basis of the God- and- man relationship....

It is a question of faith in God---a very rare thing.  We only have faith in our feelings....

THE RECEPTION: The Celebration of Hope!

Captain Hal - My Host last night.  He took care of the refreshments for me.  A BIG thank you!

I never displayed the painting of the Eagle 1 before.  Hal was first Captain on this Hopper Dredge.

Showing a very old study and loved painting of my daughter, Rita.

Getting ready.

A new little star is born:  Mia Rose

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose....

Proud to be Grandmom

Proud to be Grandpa

My life is a shadow passing through.....

My Beloved is like an Apple Tree!

How does one paint a Self Portrait?

Deep Calls to Deep!

Some lingered......A few bought my book.  Be Blessed!

Loved seeing Linda and her daughter

Some of my favorite ARTISTS:  Jennie, Rosemary, Jackie and Nita...

"Eden" -  Tell me what you see!

That was good!

Lots of folks looked through MY SMALL SPACE IN TIME.

Let's do ARTIST TRADING CARDS

Loved being with Dr. Brenda Kelly and Linda Bemis.  I am excited about Dr. B's upcoming Women in Christ Conference - ENCLAVE- August 4th at the Holiday Inn in Titusville.  I have been invited to paint on sight.  A Blessing!

Several liked my Apples.--Including Pastor Jeremy from Westside Baptist Church.  I so appreciate my friends attending from wbc.  Also my family life family with Jerry and Karen and the gang were there.  Thank you for your support and love.  I wish we had gotten pictures earlier.  All of you ushered in the bustle and excitement of the evening and created a wonderful atmosphere.  Others drifted in and out of the Exhibit, stopped at my SPACE Studio area and purchased some of my work.  You blessed me very much.  Hugs and love.

Here comes Max!

One of my favorite paintings by Maxine.

Maxine Trainer, Founder of StoneFireARTStudio and Artist extraordinaire!

One Woman ART Exhibit at StoneFireARTStudios by Rita Burton : HOPE - The Substance of Things Not Seen! Small Reception - Thursday Night, July 12, 7:00 PM

HOPE - The Substance of Things Not Seen -  Come walk in His Garden!

PETALS IN GOD'S GARDEN

MIA ROSE - In Honor of My Granddaughter Mia Rose

LILLY

VESSEL OF HONOR

SELF PORTRAIT

EDEN'S SHADOW

THE APPLE TREE

EDEN - The Trees Cry "Holy!"

CHEERS! - For everything there is a season...

DEEP CALLS TO DEEP

IMMERSION  -  LIFE'S SHADOW

MICHAEL'S DYING  -  NEW TOMORROW

APPLES

THE GARDEN  -  IT IS FINISHED

ANNOUNCING THE RELEASE OF MY BOOK: The Return of the Prodigal Girl

If you look to the left side of my WebPage, as you read this article,  you will find details for my new book:  The Return of the Prodigal Girl.   I began writing this book right after I broke my foot in January of 2010.  Remember?  I mentioned that I thought: God sat on me!

I am honored that my work was accepted by several co-publishing companies, including Creation House.  Creation House is a subsidery of Charisma Magazine.  However, it would cost me $6000 to co-publish with them.  At first I tried to earn this money by working as Caregiver.  The energy level just wasn't there.  I did not want to take out a loan on something that might not be received by the public.  So, I decided to go with LuLu Publishing.

I am printing off my books, one copy at a time.  Therefore, your cost will be slightly more than what you would find at Amazon.com.  I do hope to make it into an ebook eventually.  I have to figure out one more Template.  That will wait awhile.

I hope I spark your interest and I hope you buy my book.  My greater hope is that it will bless your life with new vision and understanding of a Father God who never ceases to hound us to return to His lap and into His arms.

A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR THOSE MARINERS WHO SAILED WITH CAPTAIN HAL

This print is now available!

I painted this 30 inch by 40 inch painting for Hal, after he became Master on this unique split Hopper Dredge.  Many of the men who sailed with him at that time have remained on the Eagle 1.  Some have advanced to Officer status.  In a tribute to them, and their friendship to Hal, I am pleased to offer this print.

Below is an excerpt from my book, telling more of the Eagle 1

THE EAGLE 1

Shortly after we settled into our new home location in the Ozarks, Hal became the first captain on the Eagle I.

The Eagle I is Dutch designed. She was built in the Avondale Shipyard (New Orleans.) It cost 40 million dollars to build her. At that time she was the largest split hopper dredge in the United States. Bean Dredging had the Eagle I built with the idea of being able to work in the entrance of Harbors where seas can be rough.

While Hal was Captain (close to three years) the dredge worked various ports in the Gulf; the West Coast of the United States and in the country of Columbia.

Yes, the hull does split! The design is two hulls longitudinally hinged and opens and closes with hydraulic rams.

We went to the christening of this amazing vessel in New Orleans. From a handout, celebrating the event, I used a small photograph to paint the painting.

The Eagle I painting has a prominent place of honor in our home, needless to say. Captain Hal has his small domain of memories, with articles and paintings reflecting back close to forty years of sailing many seas and waters

INTRODUCING RITA BURTON ART STUDIO

A SMALL SPACE IN TIME!

Rita Burton Art Studio

The painting is of the Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville. 

Mixed Media with soft pastel.

The studio is not  finished.  It still needs some painting and touch up.  However, it is good enough for its first showing!  Come and visit me tonight at JAZZ NIGHT.  Or, come and visit me on Mondays when I work 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

He has blessed me with my hearts desire.  God is good....All the Time!

A Small Space in Time - My working art studio!

My small space in time isn't much to look at right now, but it will become my special place in the future.  Take note of the "lights" I have overhead.  My daughter, Jude and husband, Kevin Lippincott gave them to me for a Christmas present.  Kevin also designed the lighting and installed them.

Hal setting up one of my easels

My task is to write a bio to put with my work that is now being displayed at the stonefireARTstudios in Titusville, Florida.  We are located on the corner of Harrison Street and US 1, at the Miracle Mall.---the old Firestone Building.  Come and visit us.  We are open seven days a week.

So here is my bio: I have been painting seriously since 1980. I attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. I performed in Theatre and worked in Fine Arts. While also working in set design, for a musical performance at UALR, I painted a back drop, 8 ft. x 8 ft, entitled Act II. Later, I sold this piece and other works of art through the gallery Herr Chamblis in Hot Springs, AR.


Challenged to live out a dream and adventure, my husband, Hal, and I sold our home, bought a sailboat, and traveled and lived aboard for eight years. While sailing, I sold works at the Stebbins Gallery in Clearlake, Texas. We traveled across the Gulf, staying on the Intracoastal Waterway most of the time. Our little champ feral cat, Professor Higgins was our constant companion. He inspired my tall tale, "The Ballad of a Protesting Cat."  Higgins became the Professor to our Lady.  The name of our sailboat was My Fair Lady.

We arrived in St. Pete Beach, Florida after being adrift for four days with no power, and no wind. A helper greeted us, “Welcome to Paradise!”

We docked in Ruskin, Florida, the Tampa Bay area, where I did a few mini murals at the Marina where we lived.  The time came to move on and we continued our voyage across Florida and headed for the Chesapeake. A suddenly happened when we arrived in Titusville. We bought a house here in 2002.

Since then I have worked hard in Titusville, always with the hope in my heart to have my own studio. The passion never ceased and persists today. My work has been used in brochures and as a theme display by Aglow Fellowship and by Women's Ministries in the local area and in other States.  I participated in the Grand Opening of the Harry T. & Hariette V. Moore Memorial Park & Cultural Center.  The painting "Lady Day:  No Regrets" was painted for this occasion.   I had a one woman show at the Main Street Gallery in Titusville and my work has been shown at the Rosemary Gordon Gallery in Titusville, as well.   I have been a participating member of the Titusville Art League and Poets and Painters:  an event I shared with my husband, Captain Hal.  I recently taught art at the local Senior Center.   I hope to release a book I have written in the coming months.  If all goes as planned, I will design the cover featuring one of my paintings.

The dream to have my own working studio space is finally happening…. one step at a time.  StonefireARTstudios has brought together a group of serious artists.  We have banded in a new venture in town, hoping to bring new life and vison to North Brevard.  I am blessed to be a part of this vision.  The Gallery is an exciting environment these days, as Jazz gatherings, poetry readings, and new works are on the horizon.  And, in the midst of all this happening, I am taking hold of my small space in time.