Original 11×14×3/4” acrylic painting on canvas

Inspiration behind this piece:

When we embarked on this journey of full-time-artist life, 5 years ago. I knew a few things:

1) God had made me an artist and called me to paint.

2) My salary as a teacher was both needed and would be missed if and when I left that position.

3) I wanted to spend more time with my (then) new baby.

4) God was asking me to step out in faith and trust Him to provide.

5) I had the full support of my incredible husband to do so.

I wasn’t guaranteed to “succeed” (by the world’s standards) in my step of obedience to go full-time as an artist. But I was guaranteed to have joy as I trusted that Jesus’s words were true: that if I was called, He would provide. And He has, beyond what I could have asked for or imagined. I get to paint 5 days a week, nearly every week. I get to see my babies more than ever. I get to ponder at the beauty of camelias in bloom and light on a little dish of lemons, and I get to share these things with you. These paintings are a celebration and a “thank you!”

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

…But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” (Matthew 6:24-26, 33).