It’s August already! Around where we live, we’ve been enjoying all the fresh blueberries and local produce. Our family is heading on vacation next week and I’m so looking forward to some down time. I hope this month’s story and painting can offer you a little breather, too.
The painting for this month was a commission for one of my dear friends who had previously commissioned a piece. We met Sue and Marc through our church small group and have shared many deep as well as joyful moments with them. Sue had initially approached me to create a piece to brighten up their bedroom (I featured it in my 2023 calendar and you can read the story behind that piece here). Soon after that piece was completed, she asked if I could paint a second piece based on her daughter’s photo from Circlet Lake on Vancouver Island, BC.
Sue was so patient with me as it took me over a year to get to her second painting. After discussing where she wanted to hang it in her living room, we settled on a 24″x30″ deep canvas. She explained to me that what spoke to her about this image was the air of mystery as well as the vibrant blue.
Being someone who longed for the sun during our dreary Pacific Northwest winters, Sue asked that I incorporate a source of light into the painting. I initially put a sun peaking through the tree branches in the upper left side along with a reflection in the water, but the two points of light felt like they were competing against each other. So I took away the sun from the sky and shifted the reflection to be more prominent in the water.
As an artist, what I remember most about painting this piece was that it was my first time trying to paint logs submerged in the water. I learned that if I mixed the blue/teal with brown, it gave me a very natural looking effect. I was actually surprised by how easily that part came together!
I titled it Solace because I hope this piece offers them moments of rest. I also like that the word sol means sun in Latin and this painting brings some sun into their home. Marc texted me the next day to say he was really enjoying the painting. I consider that mission complete!
I chose this piece for August because it strikes me as a very summer painting. To me, it’s a moment of rest in the shade, a pause mid-hike to take in the beauty of the mountains and the lake – and that’s what I hope this painting can be for you: a solace amidst your days.
For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with the verse from Psalm 91:1 (NIRV) which reads, “Whoever rests in the shadow of the Most High God will be kept safe by the Mighty One.” It is an invitation to rest and a promise of safety. Afterall, we can’t really rest if we don’t feel safe, can we?
Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Take a moment with this image, what stands out to you? Allow the calmness of the scene to slow down your breathing. Notice where you might be holding tension in your body and let it go. How are you being invited to pause and rest?
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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.