Hello my friends, I don’t know about you, but world news feels harsh right now and I need some softness. Thankfully, the painting for this month is just that. I look forward to sharing its story with you.

“Let Gentleness Enfold You” was painted for my exhibition, “Have You Looked Up Lately?” which was held last August to November at Bevees, a shop that’s 4 minutes from our house. I was introduced to the owner of the shop, Racquel, by a mutual acquaintance who knew that Raquel was looking for local art to highlight on her walls. It was a lovely space with a store selling all alcohol-free drinks on one side and a sitting area and bar on the other. They were just putting in a new coffee bar as well and it felt like a perfect way to both support a local business and give myself a reason to complete a collection of paintings.

For many years, I had wanted to do a series of paintings that were just clouds. But because I mostly painted commissions (and the majority of my clients did not ask for only clouds), the idea remained a dream. Then, this opportunity at Bevees came up with a 20-something foot wall to fill. I had already completed a 5-foot cloud painting so I reasoned that it wouldn’t be too hard to do a couple more to go with it. It would also be a great way to use the blank canvases sitting around at home.

I looked through my folder of cloud and sky photos and found some that complemented each other while also showing variety. (The other two paintings are featured in my 2026 calendar in the months of May and November and I will tell their stories then!) I chose this one for its softness. The pastel colours and gentle light felt inviting and calming.

Painting this was so much fun. On a 24″x36″ canvas, I had lots of space to play with subtle shifts in colour and to explore the layers of shapes. The result was a floof that I could imagine myself falling into and being surrounded by softness. I titled it, “Let Gentleness Enfold You,” as an invitation to the viewer to do just that.

I chose this painting for the month of February because I associate this month with love (thanks, Hallmark, and St. Valentine!) and the soft and gentle nature of these clouds speak to me of how love can and should be. I could not foresee how our world would so desperately need gentleness at this time, but I’m grateful this piece can remind us of its presence now.

I hope that as we spend this short month with this painting, it would offer you many moments of gentleness and remind you that you are always held by love.

For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with one of my favourite verses. It’s from Zephaniah 3:17, which reads, “[God] will quiet you by his love.” The full verse (ESV) is this:
“The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Other translations express it as “God will rest in his love”, or that “God will calm all your fears with his love.” It always lifts and amazes me to think of God being so delighted over us and holding us in love.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: If you could nestle into this cloud, which part of it would you choose? Take a moment to imagine yourself surrounded by gentle softness; how does it feel? What parts of you need that rest? What are some ways you can carry that sense of being held within you as you go about your days?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! On the first day of each month, I will be sharing the story behind that month’s painting in my 2026 art calendar and it would be my joy to journey with you throughout this year. My subscribers also get occasional perks like exclusive previews and discounts. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)

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!

The post Every Painting Has a Story: February 2026 – “Let Gentleness Enfold You” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

Hello and welcome to 2026 my friends! There is often a sense of hopefulness at the beginning of a year, isn’t there? The story for this month is a deep and touching one that reflects this sense of hope and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you.

“Linger in the Light” was based off of a photo from a summer evening with my family at French Beach on Vancouver Island. In real life, we are advised to never look at the sun. But in painting form, we can stare for as long as we want. This piece was an invitation to bathe in the sun’s rays and feel its warmth on our skin.

This piece was part of my “Keep Glowing” collection of paintings that I released last April and after I sent out the email announcing the collection to my subscribers, our friends Bill and Mary Lynn replied right away saying that they wanted this piece for their home. We met Bill and Mary Lynn through my husband Tim’s work. They are the sweetest, kindest couple and they have become very dear people to us.

What made their email extra meaningful was that not too long before, Bill had been diagnosed with late stage leukemia. When I saw their message and considered the title for the piece, I teared up. I could not think of anyone more fitting to get a painting titled, “Linger in the Light.” In the months since then, Bill and Mary Lynn have walked the path of cancer treatment with such immense grace and love. It is truly an honour to know that my work accompanies them through this time.

After Bill and Mary Lynn received their painting, I got an email from Bill with the photo (below) of where it lives in their home. Bill wrote, “Perfect! Several times a day I linger in the light. I really do see this as a very specific gift from God for me. Thanks for the part you played in that.” It’s moments like these that affirm the work that I do as an artist.

I chose to begin the 2026 calendar with this piece because we really don’t know how much longer we have with Bill and I wanted him to be able to see his piece in my calendar as well as be reminded to keep praying for them. Sunrises and sunsets can look quite similar, so even though this piece was inspired by a sunset moment, it could just as well represent the dawning of a new day (or, a new year). For our friend who is in this border space between this life and the next, I suppose it is both a sunset and a sunrise.

In addition to Bill’s story, January is also one of the darker months of the year so it felt good to feature an image that was full of light. Where we live in the Pacific Northwest, our days are often grey and overcast so even if there’s no sun outside, this was a way to still have sun inside; to insist that there is always light, even when things feel dark. 

So, my friends, however you might be starting out this new year, may you be encouraged by the light. And may you find the grace to linger in it.

For those with the Scripture calendar:
Going with the theme of light in the darkness, this month’s painting is pared with Psalm 18:28 (ESV) which reads, “The Lord my God lightens my darkness.” I hope it can turn our hearts toward the Source of light, especially when life feels heavy and dark.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Does this image feel more like a sunset or a sunrise to you? What parts of your life feel like an ending? What parts of your life feel like a beginning? Consider the invitation to linger in the light – what would that look like in your life? What’s one small way you can linger in the light today?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! On the first day of each month, I will be sharing the story behind that month’s painting in my 2026 art calendar and it would be my joy to journey with you throughout this year. My subscribers also get occasional perks like exclusive previews and discounts. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)

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!

The post Every Painting Has a Story: January 2026 – “Linger in the Light” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

Hi friends! Welcome to the final month of 2025! I don’t know what highs and lows you experienced this year but I am so grateful to be connected with you here at the end of the year. This month’s story is pretty unique. I hope it inspires you!

Back in October 2023, I received a message on Instagram from a lady named Erin who had been introduced to my work by her friend, Tracy. This was my first time receiving a commission inquiry via social media from someone I didn’t know, and at first, I was unsure if it was a scam message. Thankfully, I did not have to be so concerned because Erin was genuinely interested and a lovely person to get to know! 

Erin and I shared a love for skies and she was drawn to my Tiny Expanses collection. She asked if I might be able to create some tinies for her to give as Christmas gifts as well as some others for her to keep for herself. 

As our conversation progressed, we decided that I would complete 3 two-inch square pieces for her before Christmas to give away and another 3 in the new year, along with an 8”x10” painting of Pike’s Peak in Colorado for her own collection. 

Since Erin loved photographing sunsets, she sent me a selection of images to choose from for the tiny paintings. The image for the larger one was of a personally significant moment and also her own photo. It worked out really well because her photos had similar colours which made the paintings look really nice all together.

“Hope Endures” was the title I gave to this larger piece because Erin had shared with me how the mountain glowing under the storm clouds spoke to her of hope. My wish is that this painting would always remind her of Hope’s presence and that she is loved, regardless of what life’s circumstances might be.

For someone to commission me to create paintings for them, a certain level of trust is required. For that person to only know me from my online profile, the trust needed is even greater. I don’t take for granted the risk Erin was taking in asking me to create this series for her. And she was in the US while I was in Canada!

After the project was over, Erin said, “I could not have found a better person for this project! I am so in love with the paintings! They bring me joy and you did an amazing job! Thank you, Olive. They are even more beautiful in person!” The joy was mutual, truly.

I chose to end this year’s calendar with “Hope Endures” since the snow-capped mountains remind me of winter. When I put the calendar design together last year, I wouldn’t know how appropriate this piece would be for this particular month. 2025 has been a challenging year for many of us (and most of the world, it feels like!) so it feels right to remember as we enter the final month of this year that hope does indeed endure.

For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with the verse from 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) which reads, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” As we enter Advent and move toward Christmas, may we focus on these things that truly matter. I hope that this verse can help to re-center us within the whirlwind of activities, parties, and gift giving.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: If hope is the mountain beneath the storm clouds, what is your hope based on or made of? Take a moment to connect with that sense of hope and allow it to steady you as we enter this final (busy) month of the year.

If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! While this is the final post for this year, I will begin anew in January where we will be hearing the stories behind each month’s painting in my 2026 art calendar. My subscribers also get occasional perks like exclusive previews and discounts. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)

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!

The post Every Painting Has a Story: December 2025 – “Hope Endures” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

How has the summer flown by already? I hope you have had a restful couple months and that you feel energized going into the fall. (I don’t feel quite ready yet but I hope you do!) As we enter into September, I have a heartwarming story to share with you.

“Heart’s Treasure” was a commissioned painting from another dear friend of mine from church. Heather and Mike were part of the same small group as Sue and Marc (whom I shared about last month) and Heather had also previously commissioned pieces with me before (you can read about those pieces in my Oct 2023 blog post.)

Heather’s late sister had been a lover of sunsets and often took photos of the sky. So Heather asked if I could do a painting of one of her sister’s photos to remember and honour her by. She had a space in mind in her home which helped us decide on a 11″x14″ canvas. Heather sent me a few photos she was considering and we discussed which one might make the best painting.

During the process of painting this piece, Heather looked back at the original photo and realized her sister had taken the photo on June 27, 2023. It felt poetically satisfying to deliver it to her on the one year anniversary of when the photo was taken.

I titled this painting “Heart’s Treasure,” as a reflection of the sister relationship and for the way photos of skies were Heather’s sister’s heart’s treasures.

It was such a joy for me to see Heather’s eyes light up when she saw her piece for the first time. What made Heather’s response extra special was that in the ten minutes it took for me to drive home from her place, she already hung it up and sent me a photo of it in its new home.

Thank you, Heather, for choosing to include me in this deeply meaningful way to remember your sister. May this piece always invite you into a calm space and remind you that you are dearly loved.

I chose this piece for September because the rich orangey-red sky colours speak to me of autumn. I hope that it offers you calm moments in the midst of your days.

For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with the verse from Matthew 6:21 (NIV) which reads, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I hope it can be an invitation to examine what we are truly valuing in our lives.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: This piece is a reflection of both love and grief. As you think about your own loves and losses, what emotions arise in you? Who or what might you count as treasure in your heart?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! Throughout 2025, we will be hearing the stories behind each month’s painting in my art calendar. My subscribers also get occasional perks like exclusive previews and discounts. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)

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!

The post Every Painting Has a Story: September 2025 – “Heart’s Treasure” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

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?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! Throughout 2025, we will be hearing the stories behind each month’s painting in my art calendar. My subscribers also get occasional perks like exclusive previews and discounts. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)

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.

The post Every Painting Has a Story: August 2025 – “Solace” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

Welcome to July, my friends. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere like I am, July is the height of summer and the painting for this month encapsulates a special summer memory for dear clients of mine. Ready for the story?

Way back in May 2022, I received an email from my friend, Allen, who was considering a commissioned work as a gift for his wife, Kay, to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Allen’s parents and mine were long-time friends (his sister was actually my parents’ flower girl!) and we had seen each other as kids and reconnected more recently through social media. Of course I said it would be an absolute honour to paint them something.

After a phone call and some discussion, they decided they wanted a statement piece for above the couch in their living room. For a while already, Kay had been wanting to get an enlargement of a photo they’d taken on a family excursion to Centre Island. It was, in Kay’s words, “A moment that I wanted to remember… A moment when my 4 kids were carefree, enjoying riding bikes with us parents and with their siblings, and for me to just be present and be grateful for the health and family we have.” How much better would it be to have a painting of it?

At 30″x60″, it was the largest commission I’d done to date and it felt significant that the skyline was of Toronto, the city I was born and raised in. I had been planning to visit Toronto in the summer of 2023 so I asked Allen and Kay if they would be ok with waiting for me to bring the painting to them. They told me not to rush and we made plans to see each other on my visit.

With the canvas being so large, I had to decide how to transport it from Vancouver to Toronto. One option was to build a crate for it and ship it across the country. This was, however, a very expensive option. A more economical and practical option would be for me to remove the canvas from the wooden stretcher bars, roll it up carefully, and transport it in a tube mailer. Once it arrived in Toronto, a framer would re-stretch the canvas. Since I was going to be flying to Toronto, I could bring it with me as a carry-on item.

The plan would be that I would arrive in Toronto, bring the painting to a framer, get it re-stretched and meet Allen and Kay at the framers’ so they could see the painting in-person and also choose a frame for their painting. All this within a week.

What remained for me to figure out was which framer I would use in Toronto. Fortunately, through an online search, I found Peter at Bordered Image, and he was able to accommodate my quick turnaround time and do it within a reasonable budget. (Side note: Bordered Image has recently moved to a larger location with a gallery space. If you’re in the Markham area, check it out!)

Thankfully, my plan worked out and I was able to meet Allen and Kay at Peter’s shop and see their reaction to their painting. Kay chose a beautiful silver frame for their piece and Peter did a wonderful job framing it up for them. A few months after I returned to Vancouver, I received a photo from Allen and Kay of the painting hanging up in their home. This project spanned 17 months from inception to completion and it was truly epic.

I titled this piece, “Where We Belong,” borrowing from the 80’s pop song, “Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong,” as a reflection of how they belong with each other, and also because it is a painting of the city they call home. More importantly, I hoped that it could remind them that Love is the One who holds them and is their place of ultimate belonging.

After seeing their painting in person, Allen said, “It exceeded my expectations and I love it!” Kay shared the story about the meaning behind the image with me and also wrote, “Your painting captures this moment for me, Olive, and that is a true gift… Feel free to share this as I hope it may encourage others to reach out to you should they have such a moment or photo they want to capture by your artistic eye and talent.”

A significant part of being an artist, for me, is the connection. As much as artwork is a product, I believe what I offer is really a service. It brings me deep satisfaction to be able to bring a concept from an idea into real life alongside of my clients and I hope that the commission process is an experience they will remember with fondness.

For those with the Scripture calendar:
This month’s painting is paired with the verse from Isaiah 43:1 (NIRV) which reads, “Do not be afraid… you belong to me.” I thought it was appropriate to have a reminder of our belonging-ness to go along with the title for this piece. Whatever you may be facing this month, may this promise of belonging to God bring you comfort.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Imagine yourself in a similar scene, where would your location of belonging be if it’s not Toronto? What emotions do you associate with belonging? What current fears do you have that would subside knowing that you belong to God?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! Throughout 2025, we will be hearing the stories behind each month’s painting in my art calendar. My subscribers also get occasional perks like exclusive previews and discounts. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)

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.

The post Every Painting Has a Story: July 2025 – “Where We Belong” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

June in our family marks the end of another school year and with it, a whole parade of events. The piece for this month is intentionally calming because I know that I, at the very least, need that visual calm! I’m happy to be sharing this story with you and I hope you enjoy it. Since it’s a busy month for me, this will be short and sweet.

“Luminescent Spirit” was a commission from a lovely person who had followed my writing for a long time. (Fun fact: Tim and I quit our jobs and blogged/wrote books for a year before starting our marketing company – which was my work before going into art. My client had been a reader from those early days!)

For a while, my client had wanted a piece for their home but life circumstances prevented it. Now that life was more settled, she reached out to me for a custom piece.

Typically, when someone approaches me for a commission, I book an initial phone call with them to get a better sense of what they’re looking for. This was no exception. As we talked, my client told me how her favourite skies were gentle pink clouds. After the call, she sent me some photos of skies that she liked. We also explored what locations felt meaningful to her. In the end, she decided on the view from the lakeside in Muskoka where she had taken a retreat and where she had an experience of connecting with God. She gave me artistic freedom in terms of the lighting in this piece, which was really fun for me.

For her piece, I combined the physical elements of her lakeside photo with a soft pink sky that she liked. I added a slight glow behind the landform to add interest and depth.

I titled it, “Luminescent Spirit,” in reference to the glow of the painting but also as a reminder of the Light within her. I hope this painting brings her back to her time at the lake and that it offers her a space to remember that she is deeply loved.

For those with the Scripture calendar:
For this month, I paired the painting with Matthew 5:14 (The Message translation) which reads, “You are here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.” Just as colours become more vibrant in the sunlight, I love how this verse applies the analogy to us. We are invited to point people’s attention to God’s presence and activity in our world.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: What emotion(s) surface when you spend time looking at this piece? Notice how the light brings out the beautiful colours in the clouds, in what way(s) are you being invited to bring out the “colours” in the people and world around you? Who in your life brings out the unique and beautiful parts of you?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! Throughout 2025, we will be hearing the stories behind each month’s painting in my art calendar. My subscribers also get occasional perks like exclusive previews and discounts. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)

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.

The post Every Painting Has a Story: June 2025 – “Luminescent Spirit” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

It’s May! One of my favourite months of the year – partly because it finally feels like Spring and partly because it’s my birthmonth. Also, I get double celebrations because of Mother’s Day. Appropriately, the story behind this month’s painting is a lovely tale of a mother and a daughter. I hope you enjoy it! [Note: I recognize that Mother’s Day can bring up a range of emotions. If you find this a difficult topic, please take care of yourself and feel free to skip this post.]

A few years ago, my collector had commissioned me a piece for her mother as a Mother’s Day gift. They both loved it and when my client herself had a baby, she reached out to ask if I could create a piece for her daughter’s room. She enjoyed the look of a triptych (three panels making up one piece) and requested that the image be of clouds with a multicoloured theme as a reflection of the meaning of their child’s name.

My client gave me a lot of artistic freedom and as we explored options, we landed on this ethereal, dreamlike cloudscape. It was super fun for me to paint and the colours were delightful to work with. As a finishing touch, I added in some iridescent violet to add to the feeling of uniqueness. The iridescent sections would shimmer at certain angles under the light and made it feel extra magical.

The title, “Magic Minutes,” was provided by my client as it was a phrase with special meaning in their family. I thought it was more than appropriate for this piece! My hope is that whenever my client and their child sees this painting, they would be brought to a place of delight and be reminded that they are loved.

It was such an honour to be asked to create this piece for my client’s child and I never cease to be amazed when parents request custom artwork for their children as an expression of their love. It is truly so special!

For those with the Scripture calendar:
The verse paired with this month’s painting is from Isaiah 49:15 (NLT) which reads, “Can a mother forget her nursing child?… Even if that were possible, I would not forget you!” What a comforting declaration of unfailing Divine love. I don’t know what your relationship with your own mother is, but I find it so reassuring to know that God would never forget us.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Looking at this piece and knowing that it was as gift from parents to their little child, can you feel the delight in it? Thinking about yourself as the child of the Divine Parent, how easy is it for you to see yourself as delighted over? How can you lean more fully into God’s delight in you this month?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! Throughout 2025, we will be hearing the stories behind each month’s painting in my art calendar. My subscribers also get occasional perks like exclusive previews and discounts. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)

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.

The post Every Painting Has a Story: May 2025 – “Magic Minutes” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

Happy April, friends! The story this month will be short and sweet.

“晨曦 Morning’s Light” was a painting I created for my aunt in Toronto. The oldest sister of my dad, my aunt had moved to a long-term care facility and I was visiting her for the first time there in June 2023. I wanted to give her a little window of beauty to have in the midst of an otherwise sterile environment.

The image I chose was based off of a photo by my local city councilor of a park in Port Coquitlam. I had referenced her image for one of my Tiny Expanses paintings and had wanted to try painting it larger. I upcycled a canvas that one of my kids had painted on when they were little. It was something that could fit in my suitcase on my flight over.

I titled it “晨曦 Morning’s Light” as an expression of hope. I wanted to include Chinese in the title because that’s the language my aunt is most familiar with. “晨曦” (pronounced “sun hay” in Cantonese) are the words for the first rays of sun in the morning. I’m grateful my mom is around for me to ask her questions like, “How do you say dawn in Chinese? And how do you write it?”

Being second generation Chinese Canadian, I have a language barrier that prevents me from any deep conversation with my aunt. However, I believe that the beauty of nature is a universal language. Now that I live in BC, I don’t really have a way of keeping in touch with her but I do hope that my painting continues to give her something beautiful to look at in her care home.

For those with the Scripture calendar:
The verse I paired with this month’s painting is Lamentations 3:23 (NIRV), which says, “[God’s] great love is new every morning.” A fuller version of verses 22-23 (ESV) is, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” I chose this image and the verse to be a reminder of God’s faithfulness – to offer us hope with each new day. With everything that is happening in our world, this is a helpful truth to ground ourselves on.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Recall a time in your life when you witnessed the sun rise – can you remember that sense of awe and hope? How can you carry that same awe and hope into your days this month? In what aspect(s) of your life are you waiting for the dawn?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! Throughout 2025, we will be hearing the stories behind each month’s painting in my art calendar. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)

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.

The post Every Painting Has a Story: April 2025 – “晨曦 Morning’s Light” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

Here we are, at the beginning of the third month of the year. I have been looking forward to sharing this month’s story with you all as it carries many layers of meaning and is a very personal story. It might be a tad longer than usual but I do hope you will make yourself a nice warm cup of yumminess and tuck into this story with me.

“Invisible Essence” was a gift to my mom for her new apartment in BC after she relocated following my dad’s passing. When she bought the place, I knew that I wanted to paint her something special for above her fireplace. I wasn’t sure what to paint though so I let the idea percolate.

In June 2023, my mom and I took a trip back to Toronto. It was her first time being back since her move out west. The last time I was there was to say goodbye to my dad. So, it was a significant trip for us. On the final full day we were there, we visited Milne Dam Conservation Park, which was the spot where we had scattered most of my dad’s ashes. I had vivid memories of watching the ashes fall from the little landing where we stood overlooking the water. However, back in 2019 it was March and there was no lush greenery. As we sat looking out over that place again, I knew this was what needed to paint for my mom. She heartily agreed.

After we returned to Vancouver, I asked my mom what kind of sky she would want for her painting and she sent me a couple options of photos she had taken from her new place. I did a couple of digital mockups and we decided that the sunbeams filtering through the clouds (also called crepuscular rays) was the best one. Thus, “Invisible Essence” was born.

As I painted this piece, I decided to add a little extra light to the bottom left corner to highlight where the landing was. I think you can understand why this spot was particularly special to me.

Now, what you cannot see is the painting underneath this painting. The canvas I used for “Invisible Essence” was one that I built and stretched by hand in high school art class back in 2000. My original project was a painting of a spotlight shining on a coin purse with an assortment of feathers, leaves, twigs, rocks, and pinecones. Written in childish writing above it was the quote, “L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux,” which is French for “The essential is invisible to the eyes.” This was a quote from one of my all-time favourite books, “Le Petit Prince” (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The original painting had been an exploration of what was actually important in life. To a child, these little trinkets of nature are more valuable than money. And it was an invitation for us as adults to evaluate what we considered valuable.

My parents hung my high school project up on their wall for many, many years (a bit to my embarrassment). And even when they downsized, they kept it. When my mom moved across the country, I asked if she could pack it up and send it along with her other stuff. I had wanted to give it a second life.

When I was thinking about what to name the new piece, I thought about the quote that had originally been on it. “Invisible Essence,” represented to me not only a nod to the words by Saint-Exupéry, but also the fact that my dad’s spirit – his essence – is now invisible to us, and that this painting of the place where his bodily cells now reside is but a representation of the person who matters to us and the love that continues to ripple onward.

March is the month that marks both my dad’s birthday and his death anniversary, so I will always associate this month with him. I have written before about how he was instrumental to fostering my artistic pursuits (you can read it here). Featuring this painting for this month in the calendar was an easy decision.

This month will be 6 years without him. It is bittersweet to see how my family, my mom, and I have flourished and to wish he was here to see it. If you think of us this month, do reach out and send some love our way. It’s a hard month for me (and my mom).

For those with the Scripture calendar:
I chose scripture from 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIRV) to go with this month’s painting because it expresses both the reality of the present and reminds us of the hope we have for the future. “Now we see only a dim likeness of things. But someday we will see clearly. We will see face to face.” The essential may be invisible to our eyes right now, but it won’t always be so.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Which part of this painting draws you in? When you think about things that are invisible but essential in your life, what comes to mind? In what ways are you carried forward by those things?

If you enjoyed this post and want to read a monthly art story, remember to sign up so future posts get delivered to your email! Throughout 2025, we will be hearing the stories behind each month’s painting in my art calendar. (Add me to your contacts list or you might need to check your promotions or junk folders if you don’t see the email.)

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.

The post Every Painting Has a Story: March 2025 – “Invisible Essence” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.