Every Painting Has a Story: June 2022 – “As Your Days So Your Strength Shall Be”

June feels like the cusp of summer, with the temperatures getting warmer, children finishing up school, and vacation plans being drawn. The painting for this month feels like June to me, with the warmth of the sun along with the fluffy clouds. This painting is a special one and I’m looking forward to telling you about it.

“As Your Days, So Your Strength Shall Be” is the title of this painting, taken from Deuteronomy 33:25. It was commissioned as a gift from my client to their friends – one of whom was battling cancer at the time. Working with my client, we wanted an image that could convey hope and strength to encourage their friends through this difficult season of their lives. The two trees represent the couple, standing in resilience as a new day dawns, held by Love. The pines in this piece are inspired by a photo that the couple had taken themselves. This painting now has a home in Hong Kong.

The sky and water for this piece is based on a reference photo from Adobe Stock images. It’s interesting for me to look at it now and see how much my skills and style have developed since I completed this over a year ago in January 2021.

The scripture verse for this month is the same as the title for the painting: “As your days, so will your strength be” (Deut 33:25). June is typically a busy month for many people – especially those with kids in school or who are teachers – and I wanted to include a reminder of God’s promise for us. Personally, as I write this, I am in the midst of many events and responsibilities, and I need to remember that God will give me strength for each day. This verse also invites me to focus on today and not worry about tomorrow. I’m quite adept at living in the future in my mind so it is helpful to remember that God promises strength for each day as it comes.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: What element(s) of this painting communicate God’s strength to you? Where in your life are you looking to God for strength? How are you being invited to focus on today instead of living in the future?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read about the stories behind all the paintings in this year’s calendar, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! I am aiming to post them the second Friday of each month. (You might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see it.)

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!

Every Painting Has a Story: May 2022 – “Mercy”

May is my birthday month so of course I had to choose one of my favourite paintings to put in the calendar for this month. “Mercy” was one of two pieces commissioned by a friend for their home. The sister piece, “Goodness,” will be featured later this year in November.

When my client contacted me initially, she was wondering if I had extra copies of my calendar because she wanted to frame some pages to hang up in the house. When she found out I took commissions, she was excited to know about an even better option. We chatted on the phone and she told me how she had been wanting some calming artwork for their home for a while. Being a mother to two children, she longed for some nice skies to look at throughout the day to remind her of God’s presence and peace. She always enjoyed watching sunrises and sunsets, but they were so fleeting. If she could get some paintings of those moments, they could last a lot longer!

Another element she wanted to include was local mountains, because they reminded her of God’s faithfulness. There was a particular range she enjoyed looking at on her walks and she asked if I could incorporate those mountains into her pieces.

I searched for some sky inspiration from local photographers on Instagram and sent my client a number of ideas. We decided on two that could represent a sunrise and a sunset; different enough from each other but still complementary. I contacted the photographers to get permission to reference their photos and went to take some of my own photos of the mountains.

Sister paintings, “Goodness” (left) and “Mercy” (right)

My client had a specific spot in her house where she was hoping to put these paintings and we decided that 12″x24″ for each piece would be the best size. Being a high-traffic area of the house, we went with a slim canvas so that it would not jut out from the wall as much.

The gentle light in this painting made me think of God’s mercy, which is why I named the piece, “Mercy.” Meant to reflect the end of the day, I wanted it to be a reminder of the mercy of God that awaits us after a day is done. Mercy that covers all the ways we have failed, mercy that covers our disappointments. Mercy that allows us to rest.

I paired this painting with Isaiah 30:18, which says, “The Lord longs to be gracious to you.” I’m not sure about you, but I grew up with the impression that God was strict and demanding, that God was mostly displeased with me. I no longer believe this, but sometimes I still operate out of that perception. Here, scripture tells us God longs to be gracious to us. God offers kindness to us. How amazing is that!

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Where in your life do you long for God’s mercy? How does knowing that God longs to be gracious to you affect your perspective on life? Where do you notice God’s graciousness and kindness today?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read about the stories behind all the paintings in this year’s calendar, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! I am aiming to post them the second Friday of each month. (You might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see it.)

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!

Every Painting Has a Story: April 2022 – “Tranquility and Freedom”

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to visit Banff, Alberta, you will probably recognize the location of this month’s painting. The piece this month features Moraine Lake – a favourite spot for many people because it is just so incredibly beautiful.

Back in 2020, when I was just starting out as an artist, Tim’s cousin, Jason, reached out to me to see if I could complete a couple paintings for their home. The idea was that he and his wife would each get to choose a piece. The pandemic had cancelled their travel plans so they opted to support my practice instead (so sweet!) and buy some art that would allow them to “travel” from home. Jason’s piece, a triptych (three-part painting) titled, “Come Away With Me,” was featured in my 2021 calendar. Since I didn’t finish Tasha’s piece in time to make into last year’s calendar, it is now featured in this year’s calendar.

Moraine Lake is one of Tasha’s favourite places and she had taken some photos of it on a previous trip. In discussing the concept for this painting, she sent me a few shots for me to look through. We decided on this particular photo because the beam of light was so captivating. I added a second bird into the image to represent her and Jason.

Reference photo of Moraine Lake taken by Tasha

At 24″x36″, this was a slightly larger canvas than I had worked on before. I enjoyed the size and how it made a bolder statement. Tasha sent me photos of the painting in their dining room after it was hung and it definitely suited the space well!

I titled this painting, “Tranquility and Freedom,” because that was my wish for her. My hope is that this piece would invite them to a place of tranquility and that they would live with increasing freedom as they fly in the light of Christ.

The verse for this month seems particularly appropriate given our world events. I hadn’t known that a new war would begin when I put this calendar together, but the words from 2 Thessalonians 3:16 are a prayer and a hope: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” I don’t know what else in your life might be causing you worry or anxiety, but I hope that as you look at the painting this month, you would be invited into moments of peace and freedom.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Which element of this painting (the water, trees, mountains, light, clouds, etc.) do you resonate with right now? Where in this image does God meet you? For which areas of your life are you longing for peace or freedom?

PS. Those of you who are receiving these posts by email, I am aware that for some people, some of the images are not displaying correctly. I’m working on resolving this issue but in the meantime, if you run into this problem, click on the link at the top of the email that says “View email in browser.” I appreciate your patience as I work out the kinks!

Thank you for supporting my first gallery exhibition!

A Quick Thank You

I wanted to take a moment to thank you, friends, for your enthusiastic support of the Healing Gardens art show I was in last month. Many of you took the time out of your full days to visit the gallery and some of you even brought friends and family! Some of you were not able to make it out in person but still sent me messages. I am so very grateful for everyone’s response. It was my first time exhibiting at a gallery and I learned a lot. I’m also hopeful that there will be more shows in the future!

For those who are still interested in purchasing a piece, I have listed them on my website on my Collector’s Art page. They would make great Mother’s Day gifts and for all the smaller pieces, I will cover the cost of shipping within Canada!

If you enjoyed this post and want to read about the stories behind all the paintings in this year’s calendar, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! I am aiming to post them the second Friday of each month. (You might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see it.)

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!

Every Painting Has a Story: March 2022 – “La Joie de Vivre”

March always comes with both a sense of hope mixed with some sadness for me. Hope, because in the area of the world I live in, we begin seeing signs of Spring. And sadness, because March contains the anniversary of my dad’s passing as well as his birthday. The piece I chose for this month is a reflection of hope – partly because I need the reminder, but also because everyone does at one point or another.

“La Joie de Vivre,” was a piece commissioned by my dear friend Kathleen last year as a surprise birthday gift for her husband, Jérome. His 40th birthday was coming up and they had originally planned to celebrate with his family in the south of France where his parents lived. But because of the pandemic, they weren’t able to travel. Since they could not go to their family home, she wanted to see if we could bring a piece of “home” to him!

Kathleen gave me some details about the location as well as some of her own photos of the beach. I also found some stock images of the same location and it turned out that one of the photos I found actually featured a rock that her father-in-law would turn around at when running with their dog! We tailored the image further to include clouds from an actual photo of a day they had been on that beach. We also included 10 small figures – and someone flying a kite – to represent the members of their family.

The concept – a mashup of two photos. The top right corner shows where the two skies were spliced together.

Since his family is French, I knew it had to have a French title. The phrase, “la joie de vivre,” translates literally as “the joy of life,” and expresses a cheerful enjoyment of life. I thought it was appropriate, considering this was a birthday gift, and I hoped that the painting would always remind him of the things that bring him joy. The title also seemed fitting with the animated spray of water in the foreground of the painting.

Kathleen and I were so excited to see how Jérome would respond to the gift. When he opened it, he recognized it right away. He also told her it was one of his all time favourite presents. It brought me so much joy to be able to bless their family in this way.

In the calendar, I paired this painting with the verse, “To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life” (Revelation 21:6). I love this promise from God – how it speaks of God’s generosity and ability to refresh us. My hope is that as you look at this image, you would sense the Water of Life quenching your thirst.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: How do you feel when you look at this image? In what areas of your life do you feel thirsty? How is God refreshing you?

Healing Gardens Exhibit – Open until March 31

Tim and I in front of some of my artwork at the Healing Gardens Exhibition

My work is up at PoMoArts! I have the honour of exhibiting together with 8 other amazing ceramicists, painters, photographers and fibre artists in the Healing Gardens Exhibition. The exhibit is free and open to the public until March 31, 2022. My family and I were able to visit on the opening weekend and it was such a restful space. Given the current state of our world, having an exhibition like this is a much-needed solace.

I have 15 paintings in the show, most of which are for sale. Many of the other artists’ works are also for sale. A portion of all sales will go to support the gallery and local arts. If you visit, be sure to take some photos and tag me if you post it on social media. For those who aren’t able to attend in person, you can still see the work via the Healing Gardens Exhibit Virtual Gallery.

If you enjoyed this post and want to read about the stories behind all the paintings in this year’s calendar, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! I am aiming to post them the second Friday of each month. (You might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see it.)

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!

Every Painting Has a Story: February 2022 – “Awaken the Dawn”

It’s February! I don’t know how the first month of 2022 went for you, but I know I certainly have needed daily reminders of God’s presence and love. It is time for another backstory and I feel honoured to be able to share this month’s story with you.

The story behind this month’s painting is a tale of two best friends who have seen and accompanied each other through a myriad of situations and stages of life, encouraging each other along the way.

Last Spring, I was contacted by Jane, who wanted to see if I could create a piece for our mutual friend, Jackie. Jane and Jackie had been best friends since high school and Jackie had an upcoming milestone birthday. As I chatted with Jane, she told me about a memory they shared of canoeing at Pitt Lake on the outskirts of Vancouver. We decided to go with a scene from there, along with a sky at sunrise, to signify the beginning of a new career for Jackie. Jackie was training to be a counselor for neurodiverse families and our wish for her was that her future practice would be part of bringing light into these families’ lives.

What made this gift even more special was that when Jane began her medical practice, Jackie had gifted her with a piece of art. I felt privileged to both witness and participate in their friendship.

Concept sketch #1 with emphasis on the sky

I found a couple beautiful photos to reference on Instagram and both photographers were willing to let me use them for this painting. Initially, I had tried a composition where there was more sky and less water, but as I looked at it, I realized that the emphasis needed to be on the reflection of the sky in the water. In painting the reflection, I was still painting the sky!

I titled it, “Awaken the Dawn,” after the phrase found in Psalm 57:8. As Jackie embarks on this new path of coming alongside of neurodiverse families, I hoped that this painting would represent the awakening and dawning of a new chapter in her life, but also that she would be instrumental in awakening new ways of integration and wholeness in the lives of the people she works with.

Concept sketch #2 with emphasis shifted to the water

From initial concept sketch to the completion of this project, Jane and I collaborated together, with her giving me feedback and encouragement at each step. By the time this painting was packaged and mailed to Jackie, both Jane and I were full of anticipation and excitement.

I chose to pair this painting with the scripture verse from Jeremiah 31:3, which says, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.” In a month where stores and ads are full of hearts and roses, I wanted to come back to the foundational Love that holds us all. A love broader than romantic love. I especially appreciate the reminder in this verse that God loves us as a people, plural. In times where there is so much division and antagonism, it helps me to remember that God loves not just me as an individual. As my spiritual director likes to say, “We are all God’s favourites.”

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: What is God awakening in you at this time? How does the concept of water reflecting the sky resonate with you? In what ways is God like the sky and you like the water? In what ways are you like the sky and God like the water?

Special Invitation – Upcoming Exhibit!

Healing Gardens Group Exhibition, Feb 24- Mar 31, 2022

I have the honour of exhibiting my work at an upcoming art show at PoMoArts (formerly Port Moody Arts Center) along with 8 other amazing ceramicists, painters, photographers and fibre artists. The show is called Healing Gardens and all the work is centered around this theme. The exhibit is free and open to the public from February 24 – March 31, 2022. I will have at least 11 paintings in the show, most of which will be for sale. A portion of all sales will go to support the gallery and local arts. If you visit, be sure to take some photos and tag me if you post it on social media. For those who aren’t able to attend in person, you can still see the work via the Healing Gardens Exhibit Virtual Gallery.

You are invited to attend our opening night virtual reception on Facebook Live. You don’t need an Facebook account to access it, you can simply visit this link to the virtual opening. I, along with the other artists, will be giving a short talk about our work. The exhibition opening and virtual reception will be on Thursday, February 24 at 7:15pm PST. I’d love to know if you’re planning to attend!

“Spiritus” will be one of my pieces in the upcoming Healing Gardens Exhibition

If you enjoyed this post and want to read about the stories behind all the paintings in this year’s calendar, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! I am aiming to post them the second Friday of each month. (You might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see it.)

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!

Every Painting Has a Story: January 2022 – “Steadfast”

Hello friends, welcome to a new year! I am excited to be journeying with you through this year’s calendar and introducing you to the stories behind each piece of art. I believe that hearing the story behind a painting adds to the depth of appreciation for it so I hope to serve you this year by sharing these stories.

The piece, “Steadfast,” that greets us each day in January has a sweet story behind it. In 2020, toward the end of my very first year of selling my work, a dear friend of mine contacted me and asked if I could create something as a Christmas gift for her husband. Our family has been friends with their family since before either of us had children and I was honoured to be asked to paint something for them.

Glacier reference photo for “Steadfast”

My friend wanted an image that captured a moment from their family cruise to Alaska the year before. If you recall, 2020 was the first year we had lockdowns and travel restrictions, so having a painting of a family trip was extra meaningful and brought back many happy memories. She had taken some photos of Glacier Bay during their trip and sent them to me as a starting point. I also looked up some reference photos online and the final image became a blend between one photo of the glaciers, and another one for the sky.

Sky reference photo for “Steadfast”

I titled it, “Steadfast,” because as I painted it, I reflected on how the ice in the glaciers can melt and water ebbs and flows, but the mountains remain firm. It reminded me of how this world and the circumstances in our lives can shift and change, but God’s love that sustains and holds everything remains steadfast. I also titled it as a blessing for my friends, that their marriage would be a place of steadfast love.

The painting was 11″x14″ on a slim canvas and my friend asked that I frame it in a white floating frame. The end result was beautiful.

“Steadfast” – 11″x14″ acrylic on slim canvas in white floating frame

It was super fun to keep it a surprise and figure out a way for my friend to get it home without her husband noticing. On Christmas day, I received several photos of him holding the gift with a huge grin on his face, along with the note, “Huge thank you! He was so impressed with the piece. We are all loving the painting in our home!” and knew we had accomplished our mission.

I chose to put this painting in my calendar for the month of January because the icy blues felt suited to the chilly winter month. I paired it with the scripture from Psalm 107:43 that says, “Whoever is wise… let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord” because the beginning of the year is often a time when people plan for the year. It felt like a good reminder of where wisdom comes from.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Which parts of this painting are you drawn to? Which parts of your life feel like they change easily, like water? Which parts of your life feel like they change slowly, like the glaciers? What in your life is steadfast?

Buy One, Gift One – Special 2022 Art Calendar Offer

Special offer: Buy One, Gift One

With the pandemic rolling on so relentlessly and January being a difficult month for many, I wanted to offer a way for you to encourage the people you love who are struggling – particularly healthcare workers, teachers, and those who have lost a loved one. Many of you have told me that my paintings in the 2022 Art Calendar are comforting and bring a sense of peace. I hope they can bring some light in these dark times.

For a limited time, if you buy a copy, I will gift a copy on your behalf. Simply order one copy of the calendar from my Buy One Gift One page and let me know who and where to send the second copy to in the Additional Notes section of the checkout. If you already have one of my calendars, you can let me know where to send both of them. Shipping is on me, because I want you to have one less thing to worry about. Act quickly though because these are the last available calendars and there are only 6 sets of them!

Here’s to sharing beauty and bringing hope to the world together.

PS. Thanks to your amazing enthusiasm, my 2022 Art + Scripture Calendars are all sold out. The Buy One, Gift One offer is only for the remaining Art Calendars. Thanks for all your support!

If you enjoyed this post and want to read about the stories behind all the paintings in this year’s calendar, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! I am aiming to post them the second Friday of each month. (You might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see it.)

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!

Every Painting Has a Story: December 2021 – “Come Away with Me – Part 3”

In June of this year, I shared about Part 1 of this painting. “Come Away with Me” was a three-panel piece (technical name is a triptych) completed for my husband’s cousin. This month, we will look at the third panel in this piece.

The painting was commissioned with the intention to bring a feeling of rest at the end of the day. I had combined elements from four different photos to create the composition of this piece – including inspiration for the sky, the dock, and their two silhouettes.

I titled it “Come Away with Me” to reflect the invitation for them to spend time with each other as a couple, but also with a deeper invitation for them to spend time with Christ. This third panel was the most fun to paint because of all the colours involved, as well as the brightness of the sun.

“Come Away with Me” hanging above a piano

I chose this panel for the month of December because it’s usually the busiest time of the year. I wanted it to be a reminder for me (and everyone who sees this page of the calendar) to slow down and remember to spend time just hanging out with Jesus. To come away with the One who loves us most. I also thought the brightness of these colours would be a balm during the dark month of December.

The verse I chose for this month is from James 1:17, which says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” In a season of gift giving, may we remember that everything we have is from God. These words, in contrast with this image of a sunset and the changing colours of the sky, highlight how steadfast God’s love toward us truly is.

So, my friends, we have travelled through the year of 2021 together. Each month, as I’ve written these blog posts to share, I have prayed for all of you who have my calendars – that God would meet you in the paintings. Have you enjoyed reading about them? Drop me a line to let me know what your experience has been.

Thank you to each of you who has connected with me over this past year. Your responses have encouraged me to keep going and it’s been a comfort to know I don’t journey alone!

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Which parts of you are craving rest? How can God meet you in those places today? How does this painting remind you of God’s goodness as you think back over this year?

I will continue blogging about the backstories in next year’s calendar

I will be continuing to share the backstories to the paintings in the 2022 calendar. Thank you to the many of you who have bought them for yourselves and to share with others! I have a limited supply left if you still want some. You can order them at this link.

As we close off 2021 and head into 2022, may you find moments to come away with Christ and may you be reminded of how deeply, deeply loved you are!

If you enjoyed this post and want to read about the stories behind all the paintings in next year’s calendar, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! I am aiming to post them the second Friday of each month. (You might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see it.)

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!