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.
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!
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!