Hello friends, it’s February! I don’t know how your January was – perhaps, like mine, it was full of both ups and downs. Regardless, I hope this month’s story can lift your spirits. It’s a sweet one. Ready?
Last year, we had the joy of attending the wedding of a lovely young couple in our community. A number of months before their wedding, my friend (the wife-to-be) had reached out to me to ask if I might be able to paint something special for her to give to her future husband as a wedding gift. It was such a thoughtful and sweet gesture, of course I said yes.
As we discussed what painting could be about, she told me about a meaningful place on a nearby island where they had witnessed a gorgeous sunrise together. Although she didn’t have photos of that exact day, she did have photos of the view and we were able to find an approximate sky from a photo online. I combined the elements of the sky with the view and did some concept sketches to confirm what she had envisioned.
We decided on a 8″x24″ canvas as it was large enough to include some details but small enough to have lots of flexibility in terms of where to display it, since they weren’t sure where they would be living yet when we started the project. She also told me that he really liked three birds in the sky, so I made sure to include those.
With all my commissions, I like to send process videos and photos so my clients can witness the “birth” of their painting. Since we had to keep this project a surprise, I saved the videos and photos to give them after he had received his painting. It was great fun arranging for her to come see and pick up the painting under the guise of working on “wedding decorations” (which, I also actually did help with).
I titled it, “First Blush,” as a reflection of the sky colours, but also because I hoped the piece would be a reminder of their early love. The month of February seemed like an appropriate month to feature this piece in the calendar, seeing as Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love.
My wish is that as you go about your days this month, this painting would remind you of the love that is in the world, and hopefully help you notice the various ways Love finds you in your life.
For those with the Scripture calendar:
It only felt appropriate to pair this month’s painting with a verse about God’s love. I chose Psalm 136:1, “[God’s] love endures forever,” because I find it so grounding to remember that even though everything else may change, spoil, or fade, God’s love remains.
Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Sit with this sunrise image for a few moments, notice what emotions surface. Pay attention to the three birds, what could they represent in your life? Picture God’s love as the vastness of the sky, what is your response?
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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.