Jan Thompson

USA Today Bestselling Author

Archives for September 2018

Layers of Paint (InspyRomance Blog)

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Blogging at InspyRomance today:

Layers of Paint

Update:

Here is the archived content of the blog post I wrote:

Do you like art? What types of art do you like? Do you prefer modern art or classical paintings? Watercolor, acrylic, pencil, or another medium? How about oil pastels?

Have you ever walked through an art gallery and tried to interpret the paintings there? Some years ago, I went to a local art gallery here to view a touring exhibition from the Louvre. Walking around, taking in the scenery, I was struck by the Rembrandt and Raphael paintings, among others.

How does one attempt to read through the layers of a masterpiece by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino? Even his simplified mononymous name of Raphael held no clue regarding the intensity of his artistic mind.

How does one dissect the paintings and colors of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn’s artwork? God had given him artistic talents unparalleled even to this day.

I remember staring at their paintings, reading the accompanying descriptions, listening to the audio guides, trying to catch glimpses of the artists behind the paintings and sketches.

I didn’t go very far. I barely scratched the surface of the layers of paint and secrets lost to time. In the end, I simply enjoyed the paintings, thanking God for the gift of art.

Sometimes paintings may or may not have hidden meanings. Well, tell that to Lars Cargill, an Englishman who visits Savannah one fine summer, buys a painting, and hangs it in his home. He is convinced that there is a real woman behind the painting.

Or is there?

When Lars returns to Savannah, Draw You Near begins. This is Book 3 in my Savannah Sweethearts series of sweet, clean, wholesome, and inspirational multiethnic contemporary Christian romances celebrating faith, hope, and love in Jesus Christ.

Here is a short description of the book:

Lars’s Labor…

While on vacation in Savannah last year, Lars Cargill bought a small watercolor painting for his estate in England. The more he stared at the artwork, the more he wanted to meet the woman in the painting. This summer, Lars returns to Savannah to find the elusive real-life Lady and the Sea.

Problem is, the artist says she doesn’t exist. Of course, he doesn’t believe her. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be showing up in her art classes and following her around. He doubts she has the heart to turn him away, not when he shows her that he has artistic potential.

Abilene’s Art…

Abilene Dupree is busy trying to make a living as an artist and art teacher in Savannah. She sells commercial art, not personal stories. Although much of her heart goes into her paintings, she doesn’t reveal her soul, not even to the clean-cut guy with cute dimples who is searching for the woman in her Lady and the Sea painting.

She keeps telling Lars that the illusive woman in the painting doesn’t exist. Well, the more she tells him that, the more she begins to believe her own words. Before she could give him the real answers he seeks, Lars’s own past shows up and he has to leave Savannah.

What do you think Lars should do? Should he give up his quest? Should Abilene help him at all?

To read what happens to them or to preview the first chapters, check out the links below. Happy reading!


Draw You Near is available on these websites:

In all my Savannah Sweetheart stories, my two main characters are Christians who want to do the right thing. This time, Lars and Abilene come from two different continents. Will their hearts meet on the Atlantic shoreline? Or will they go their separate ways like an unfinished painting?

If you’re new to my Savannah Sweethearts series, it begins with Know You More, the story of Pastor Diego Flores and historian Heidi Wei. You can find this Book 1 at these retailers:

What about you? Do you read a lot into a painting or an artwork? Are you more like Lars, who tries to find the deeper meanings beneath the layers of paint? Or are you more like Abilene, who doesn’t overanalyze herself or her artwork once she has completed the painting? Or are you a bit of both?

Regardless of what your perspectives are, have a wonderful day in the Lord!

In Christ,
Jan Thompson