Ah September… here we are in the last third of the year. With the kids returning to school, September always feels to me like a second January – the beginning of another year but measured differently. The story behind the painting this month is for these days where life ramps up and the weather cools down. Hope it encourages you.
“Another Day of Grace” was not the first painting I did based on this reference photo. It also wasn’t the second. In 2021, while on vacation, I did a small, 6″x6″ piece called “The Vastness of Grace.” I had wanted to capture a moment of sunset chasing with my family on Vancouver Island. That piece became part of my first group exhibition. Later that summer, I did a huge version during my Sabbatical. This second one was “Irresistible Grace,” which hangs in our dining room now.
The piece for this month’s calendar, “Another Day of Grace,” was created for the Square Foot Show in 2025. Seeing how so many people responded positively to my previous two paintings, I thought I would create a mid-sized one. It was the first of my paintings to sell during the show, going to a new collector in Grand Prairie, Alberta.
The title, “Another Day of Grace,” is tied to the first two paintings of the same scene but is unique to this painting. I wanted to express how grace can be given and re-given, like waves that come to shore again and again. Grace itself can be a common thread, but each expression of it varies by the day; just like my paintings were all inspired by one photo, but each piece was unique.
I chose this piece for September because I know that at least for me, this month comes with a bit of anxiety as school begins and life returns to more of the structured daily rhythms. Part of me wants to hold onto the relaxed days of summer. Because I also struggle with the weather shifting toward fall, I need extra reminders of grace.
My hope for you is that as you go through this month, you would notice the grace in each day – how it weaves through your life and presents itself in new ways.
For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with 2 Corinthians 12:9 which says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” This is a familiar verse for many of us but its message is always reassuring. We have all the grace we need and our shortcomings are part of that experience of grace. I hope, whatever you may face this month, that you would be encouraged knowing that God’s grace is enough.
Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: This painting has three main elements – the trees, the water, and the light. Each of these are expressions of grace. Which one would you say speaks to you the most? How else do you notice grace in your life?
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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 on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks for being part of my journey and for letting me be a part of yours!