Hello again, friends. Welcome to the final quarter of 2026. This month’s painting story is one that I personally need to hear so I’m excited to share it with you!

“Let the Tide Carry You” was inspired by a week with my family in a seaside cottage on Samish Island, Washington a few summers ago. Every morning, we’d open the blinds and eagerly check where the tide was at. If it was low tide, we would scramble outside and run along the sand in our bare feet. On the days when the tide was at its lowest, we would wander far, far out to where the boats were anchored and now rested in the sand. As the day progressed and the tide came in, we would watch these boats start floating again.

We were fortunate that week to witness some beautiful sunsets, one of which became this painting. I titled this piece, “Let the Tide Carry You,” inspired by those boats that would rest in the sand or float on the water, depending on where the tide was. They reminded me to find contentment in whatever the present state of ebb or flow I might be experiencing.

I painted this piece as part of my Keep Glowing collection in 2025 and it was collected by a long-time family friend in Ontario. I chose this painting for the month of October because the orange in the sky reminds me of fall leaves and pumpkins. I hope, too, that it can bring a sense of peace in the midst of whatever life might look like for you this month.

For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with Philippians 4:6 which instructs us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” As I write to you today, I am waiting to hear back from an opportunity I applied to. I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I am reminded to take this posture of trust and know that God, like the tide, will carry this little boat.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: In this image, the boat is floating on the water, anchored to the bottom. At other points in time, this same boat would be grounded on the sand or out sailing the ocean. Where in that cycle do you find yourself right now? Are you content with where you are? In what way(s) can you let the tide carry 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! 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: October 2026 – “Let the Tide Carry You” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

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?

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: September 2026 – “Another Day of Grace” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

Hello friends, welcome to August. The story this month will be brief because it’s summertime! Ready? Let’s dive in.

“Vitamin Sea” was created as part of a trio of paintings for the Square Foot Show in March 2025. It was my first time participating in this online show and I was pretty pleased to have been juried in after being rejected a number of years ago. All three of my pieces sold out within the first half an hour, and a new collector from Edmonton ended up buying this piece, which was quite special.

This painting was based on a photo I took during a family vacation to Vancouver Island. Looking at it takes me back to the warm day on the coast watching the sun sparkle on the wind-tossed water.

I titled this piece, “Vitamin Sea” because being by the ocean often feels like a dose of something essential to my wellbeing. I chose it for the month of August since it speaks to me of summer. When I put the calendar together last year, I didn’t know that this year, we would not be going anywhere far due to Tim and my health situations. Having this piece on our wall will remind me of the good memories we’ve had and makes me hope for more such memories in the future.

I hope this piece can lighten your heart as well.

For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with the verse from Psalm 89:9, which says, “You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.” I like this reminder that even though the sea may storm and feel overwhelming, God is bigger. In my personal life, the last few months have felt like a surging sea, and I can testify that God is able to calm the waves. I hope that whatever you may be facing, you would also know the calming presence of the One who holds us all.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: What type of weather would you describe your current life circumstances as? Is it a sunny, calm day like this painting? Partially cloudy? A raging storm? A damp fog? Steady rain? How do you feel knowing that the weather can and will eventually change?

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: August 2026 – “Vitamin Sea” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

Well, friends, can you believe we are in the second-last month of 2025? The story behind this month’s piece is a gentle one and I hope it warms your heart.

I met Nate at our previous church after we had moved to Port Coquitlam. Over time, he became a family friend and he babysat our kids when they were little. In April 2023, Nate attended my first solo art show and decided to purchase one of my paintings. The next month, he reached out to me and asked if he could commission a painting based on a sunset photo he had taken while on a trip to Seaside, Oregon with his family a number of years ago.

Since he wanted a 12″x12″ square painting and the original photo was rectangular, I gave him two composition options – one with the sun on the right, and the other with the sun on the left. He chose the first one.

When I asked him what the painting meant to him, he told me, “The picture reminds me of God’s amazing love that He has for us.” I resonate with that because that’s how I feel every time I see a beautiful sunset too.

I titled it, “Calming Moment,” because the scene truly is a calming moment. But I also wanted the piece to continue offering Nate those calming moments whenever he saw the painting.

I chose this piece for the month of November because the pace of life tends to pick up during this month as we head toward December. I wanted a piece that could invite us to slow down and take a breath.

For those with the Scripture calendar:
I paired this month’s painting with the verse from Psalm 131:2 (MSG) which reads, “I’ve cultivated a quiet heart, like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content.” I love the image of a contented baby in its mother’s arms. And I appreciate the feminine imagery of a God who would feed us and hold us in comfort and protection.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Imagine yourself in this scene at the ocean watching the sun set. Inhale and smell the salty air. Now exhale. What anxieties are you invited to let go of?

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: November 2025 – “Calming Moment” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

Welcome to February, my friends! This month I will be taking you on a brief tour of my high school art, which I consider to be my most formative years. In today’s post, I will intersperse examples of my work from those years with narrative. I hope you enjoy seeing the pieces that gave me my art foundation!

To start us off, let me give you a little context about my high school. I attended Unionville High School (UHS) in Markham, Ontario. At the time, that school was the only public school with a specialized Fine Arts program in York Region. Called Arts York (now Arts Unionville), each year they accepted a limited number of students for entrance into Grade 9. You had to apply and audition for your discipline of choice (Visual Arts, Dance, Music, or Drama). Aside from the Arts York program, they had the regular education stream for students who lived in the immediate area. Arts York students would take specialized courses in their disciplines in addition to standard courses, which they would take with the rest of the student population.

When I was in Grade 8 and thinking about which high school to attend, I knew I could go to my local high school but I wanted to try for UHS both because I liked the arts focus and because UHS had a better reputation academically. I ended up auditioning for both Dance and Visual Arts. At that point, I had been learning ballet for 11 years and was taking exams that would allow me to pursue teaching if I wanted to, so I was pretty confident I would get in for Dance.

Visual Arts had always intrigued me and growing up, I was envious of my friends who got to take art lessons. Still, I didn’t know if I had the skills to get me into the program. My Grade 8 art teacher was really supportive when I told her I wanted to apply for Arts York and she helped me prepare the portfolio for my audition. I remember having to bring a self-portrait and a sculpture to the interview, among other required examples of work. I also remember feeling embarrassed at the interview because I had tried to carve a squirrel out of plaster but had only managed to finish half of it.

At the audition, they had us take a group art class and do several exercises, including sketching a shiny ribbon that had been stapled in various places to a board. Then they interviewed each applicant individually. It was a serious and involved process and I will forever be grateful they accepted me into the program!

Over the course of the next four years, I learned so much. I got to try things like printmaking, silkscreen, acrylic painting, sculpture, and textiles. I was taught art history and learned about various styles and techniques like Impressionism, Cubism, and pointillism. I also got the opportunity to do life drawing of real live models (something really rare for teenagers to get to do as we actually observed nude figures.)

In Grade 10, I did my first acrylic painting and learned about colour mixing, as well as how to build, stretch, and prepare a canvas. We would design the concept for our paintings, execute them, and then critique them to see how they could be improved. Do you see what I mean now when I say Arts York gave me my foundation?

Every semester for four years, I had an art class. My teachers not only taught us art skills but built our confidence. Our art would be regularly displayed in the foyer of our school so everyone could see our creations. The first person who ever offered to buy my work was a teacher at our school. It was a cubist style piece featuring frogs that I had created as a birthday gift for my dad so I couldn’t sell the original to the teacher, but I did end up creating a print of it and selling that to her. (That piece still hangs in my mom’s place.)

When I turned 40, I made a list of people who had had significant impact on my life and sent them a painting and a thank you letter. My main art teacher from UHS was one of them. I owe a lot of my skills to her! (Thanks Mrs. Chelin, for encouraging me then and still encouraging me now!)

High school was a time of flourishing for me. I would have some wilderness years throughout my 20s and 30s but my teenage years were definitely a key part of developing the artist in me.

Question for reflection, if you want to go deeper: When you think about the teachers who have invested in you (in school or just people who have taught you things), who comes to mind? If you’re able to contact them, consider reaching out to say thank 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! I usually post them the second Friday of each month. (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 2024 – My High School Art appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

Hello friends, welcome to the first blog post of 2024! In previous years, I shared backstories to paintings featured in my calendars but this year will be a little different. Throughout 2024, I will be featuring some of my past work that will never make it into calendars and maybe not even onto social media. (Gasp!) Consider it a backstage pass to my artist life. I hope you enjoy what I have in store!

When I was planning the blog topics for this year, I thought why not start from the beginning? My mom had kept a folder with some of my earlier work so I have a few examples I can share. When I look back at my early art, I wouldn’t suspect that I would become an artist later. But I do recall always enjoying drawing and painting ever since I was young.

The earliest drawing I have is this crayon drawing. My mom noted who the people in the picture were. I have included my cousin (who was a young adult living with us at the time), my dad, my mom, and me, all wearing what appear to be party hats. In the top left corner I have included a yellow sun with radiating rays, some blue to indicate the sky at the very top of the page, and five rather large birds. On the ground is a flower and we are standing next to a yellow house. I’m guessing I drew this when I was around 5 years old.

I also have this photo of me standing proudly pointing at a painting on display. Judging by my buck teeth and pigtails, I would say I was around 6 years old here. I can’t tell what my painting is about but there are quite a lot of details. I also know that rainbows were a recurring theme in my art around that time.

These next two paintings were from Grade One (6 years old) and they also feature rainbows. It’s interesting to see how some 35+ years later, I’m still painting rainbows! Grade One was also when I got my earliest positive response and affirmation of artistic talent. Unbeknownst to me, my teacher had submitted one of my drawings to a contest for the Ontario Dental Association and it had been chosen as a cover for one of their brochures. I used to have a copy of that brochure but it has since been lost. Along with my drawing being chosen as cover art, I received a prize of $500 – which in 1987 was a big deal! (I think my parents donated the money back to the school.)

By Grade 5, I can start to see a more refined sense of aesthetics come out in my work, as this tulip painting shows. I have a couple workbooks from that year and in my drawings I started to include elements of shading.

By Grade 7, I definitely knew that I enjoyed art. This is one remaining drawing I have from that year – a fantastical monster that is both silly and colourful. I had the same art teacher for Grades 7 and 8 and when I told her I wanted to audition for a fine arts high school, she spent extra time at lunch and after school to help me prepare for that. (Thanks, Mrs. Shadrach!) She had no idea that getting into that school would pave the way for my future career.

There you have it. How my art journey started.

I don’t have any reflection questions this month but if any of my art from childhood connects with you, feel free to spend some time with it. Also, I would love to hear what you might see in my earliest work. Thanks for reading along. I look forward to sharing some of my high school work with you next 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! I usually post them the second Friday of each month. (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 2024 – My Childhood Art appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

It’s April! This month’s painting is one of my more recent ones and I’m excited to share the story behind it!

“From Whom All Blessings Flow” is a 16″x20″ acrylic painting that was commissioned to me by a client who wanted to thank their friends for many years of support. My client asked me if I could paint a scene from Guizhou, a province of China that was dear to the recipients’ hearts. I had known about this project for at least a year and hadn’t quite landed on any particular image despite having researched and brainstormed several times. Then I found out my client would be visiting their friends and somehow everything clicked into place and I went from having no idea to a finished painting within two weeks!

The painting features the Huangguoshu waterfall, a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The waterfall is one of the largest ones in China and also the world. My client had actually visited this waterfall with their friends so it held extra special meaning for them. They had gone at a dry point in the summer and this painting in its earlier stages looked similar to the trickling water they had seen.

This was the first time painting a waterfall for me and I learned a lot and enjoyed the process. I combined the references from three stock images to create this piece. It was fun to paint the flowing water and watch it come to life.

The title for this piece is borrowed from a line of an old hymn known as the Doxology. It goes, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” I picture the flowing water as blessings and hope that this painting will always remind the recipients of both the blessings in their lives and the Source of these blessings.

For those with the Scripture calendar

This month’s artwork is paired with John 1:16 which says, “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” A reminder for us to notice and remember the blessings we are given.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: If you were to picture your life as this waterfall, how much water is flowing at this moment? What blessings are you experiencing today? Take a moment to pause in gratitude.

{This post is dedicated in honour of Rev. Henry Numan. Henry was the one person who replied to every single email newsletter I sent. His presence in my life and inbox will be missed.}

On now until April 28: Tiny Expanses Art Show!

The Tiny Expanses art show is open! Thank you to the many of you who are coming over the opening weekend to enjoy the 100 tiny sky paintings and for those of you who are browsing online and participating from afar. I’m grateful to everyone who supported the show and especially to those who bought pieces for themselves or as gifts for others. If you’re local, you can still make an appointment to see the show until April 28. All the pieces can be viewed and purchased at my web shop.

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! I usually 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!

The post Every Painting Has a Story: April 2023 – “From Whom All Blessings Flow” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

I don’t know about you, but for me November has been a bit of a tough month so far. Having the image of “Goodness” up on our wall has been both a balm and a reminder of the goodness in life, even when the skies are grey and the weather turns cold.

The painting for this month is one of a pair that was commissioned by a friend of mine. I wrote about the sister painting, “Mercy,” back in May, explaining how my client had wanted to capture the sunrise/sunset moments and be able to enjoy them for longer.

“Goodness” reflects the glory of sunrise and is based on a photo by a local photographer. The mountainline is of our local mountains – a request from my client who often walks the trails and admires these exact mountains.

I titled it “Goodness” in reference to Psalm 23:6, which is also the verse paired with this painting for this month. It says, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” Some translations have it as goodness and mercy. One way I like to think of it is that we awaken with Goodness by our side, ready to delight us throughout the day ahead; and we go to sleep in the arms of Mercy, offering us forgiveness and rest.

So here we are in November with longer nights and dimmer days. Maybe you are struggling. Maybe you’re thriving. Regardless, there is goodness pursuing you. I hope this month’s painting can be a reminder of that.

Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: How is goodness showing up in your day today? What are you grateful for? In what area of your life do you feel like goodness is dawning?

2023 Calendars + Cards Are Here!!

2023 Calendars are now available! The calendars feature unique paintings that I’ve created in the last year and are available with or without Scripture verses. They are $30CAD each with discounts on multipacks.

New this year are 2 styles of notecards – one winter themed and one with an ocean sunset.

For more details and to order, visit my shop page.

Thanks for choosing my art and for supporting small business, especially in these times! It means a lot to me.

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!

The post Every Painting Has a Story: November 2022 – “Goodness” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

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!

The post Every Painting Has a Story: June 2022 – “As Your Days So Your Strength Shall Be” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.

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.

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!

The post Every Painting Has a Story: May 2022 – “Mercy” appeared first on Olive Chan Art.