Friends, we are now in the second-last month of the year. How wild is that? The story behind the painting this month is a personal one. I hope it can encourage you, especially if you’re in a season of feeling like things aren’t quite what you want them to be.
“Joy in the Simple Things” is the largest cloud I have painted so far. It began as a seed of a dream; creating a giant cloud was something I had longed to do for at least a few years. At the beginning of 2025, I had an empty frame from a previous commission so I bought some canvas to stretch onto it. Since it was my first time reusing a frame with a new canvas, I didn’t know what type of canvas was most suitable. I chose a thinner canvas and it ended up being more flimsy than I had envisioned. Still, I carried on. I figured this was all one grand experiment anyway.
I painted the giant cloud and had a lot of fun in the process. Even though I enjoy painting tiny, painting on large surfaces gives me more room to play with subtle shifts in colour. With this cloud, I could add pinks, yellows, and greens in addition to the blues, purples, and greys.
After I thought it was finished, the painting hung in our living room.
A few months later, I was invited to exhibit my work at a local shop called Bevees and I decided this piece would be perfect for their wall space. I created another two paintings to go on either side of this one and this became the focal point of my show, “Have You Looked Up Lately?” However, after I finished the other two pieces, this one looked a bit plain, so I added in more details.
I hung it up at the show and listed a price on the tag, but secretly, I hoped that no one would buy it. I wasn’t confident in the stretching of the canvas and even though many people complimented me on it, deep inside, it still wasn’t what I fully imagined.
I titled it, “Joy in the Simple Things,” because I personally feel joy looking at “plain” white clouds against the blue sky. I wanted it to be a reminder that joy can be found in unassuming places.
Since bringing it home from the show over a year ago, this piece has been tucked away under one of my kids’ beds. I don’t feel quite finished with it. I think there’s more to this one’s story yet. Perhaps it will be another re-working of this canvas, but I think it’s more likely that I will take what I’ve learned from this one and apply it to a fresh (better stretched) canvas.
I included it in my calendar for this month because the contrast of the white clouds against the blue sky is something I miss seeing in our rainy Vancouver Novembers. Despite it not being “perfect,” I’m still proud of this piece and the growth it represents.
The perfectionist in me is appalled that I would include something that feels unfinished in my calendar – and tell the true story behind it! – but I’m learning that this is life. Not everything is polished and complete. We are works in progress and the story isn’t over yet.
For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with Psalm 118:24 (ESV) which says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” It is an encouragement for us to find joy in each day, no matter what part of the story we’re in.
Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Which parts of your life feel in-process? How can you find joy in the incomplete and imperfect parts?
If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! On the first day of each month, I will be sharing the story behind that month’s painting in my 2026 art calendar and it would be my joy to journey with you throughout this year. My subscribers also get occasional perks like exclusive previews and discounts. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)
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!