Amber Waves of Grain

I have the opportunity to work in the state legislature as an aid to our local representative during Covid. I prayed a lot in those days coming and going from work for our nation as I traveled from the state capital to my smaller community. As I was coming over the hill, I saw the valley with the Amber waves of grain growing on the mountains in the background, and I thought of our country song, “America, the Beautiful.’

This is the inspiration for this painting. I painted it during worship at a Fourth of July community service.  It began with an underpainting of spacious skies, fields of grain and purple mountains majesty! Then over the top I painted the flying American flag. The flag is a bit broken, entangled with the land. Its breast strokes represent the blood, courage, tears and prayer that have gone into our history.

‘America, the Beautiful’ is a prayer and a song at the same time.

Oh beautiful for spacious skies,

For Amber waves of grain,

For purple mountains majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown they good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!