Hello friends, welcome to August. The story this month will be brief because it’s summertime! Ready? Let’s dive in.
“Vitamin Sea” was created as part of a trio of paintings for the Square Foot Show in March 2025. It was my first time participating in this online show and I was pretty pleased to have been juried in after being rejected a number of years ago. All three of my pieces sold out within the first half an hour, and a new collector from Edmonton ended up buying this piece, which was quite special.
This painting was based on a photo I took during a family vacation to Vancouver Island. Looking at it takes me back to the warm day on the coast watching the sun sparkle on the wind-tossed water.
I titled this piece, “Vitamin Sea” because being by the ocean often feels like a dose of something essential to my wellbeing. I chose it for the month of August since it speaks to me of summer. When I put the calendar together last year, I didn’t know that this year, we would not be going anywhere far due to Tim and my health situations. Having this piece on our wall will remind me of the good memories we’ve had and makes me hope for more such memories in the future.
I hope this piece can lighten your heart as well.
For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with the verse from Psalm 89:9, which says, “You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.” I like this reminder that even though the sea may storm and feel overwhelming, God is bigger. In my personal life, the last few months have felt like a surging sea, and I can testify that God is able to calm the waves. I hope that whatever you may be facing, you would also know the calming presence of the One who holds us all.
Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: What type of weather would you describe your current life circumstances as? Is it a sunny, calm day like this painting? Partially cloudy? A raging storm? A damp fog? Steady rain? How do you feel knowing that the weather can and will eventually change?
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As always, I love to hear from you! If something in this story resonated with you, if you’re interested in commissioning a painting, or if you have other thoughts, feel free to email or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks for being part of my journey and for letting me be a part of yours!