Joy

I received a text when I got home. It made my night and I had to share. This was a picture of a painting I finished at the end of 2021.

'Miss S." was a commission for someone very dear to me. He wanted me to make this painting for his friend, as her Christmas gift in December 2021. It took forever to finish it, and it's a portrait of the owner's late pet. I was worried she wouldn't like it, or that it wasn't going to be "close" enough (the scary thing about portraits!), but after receiving it, she sent him a card to pass along to me with a personal thank you note. It's shaped like a monarch butterfly, and I still keep it pinned to my mirror because it reminds me that I am able to do something unique and beautiful. I'm so glad that now, well over a year later, the painting is still making her smile.

I enjoy doing my art for many reasons, but nothing makes me feel more wonderful than knowing that the things I've made for other people are in good homes and bringing a little more sunshine into their lives. I think that this must be sort of how God feels whenever we marvel at a sunset, stay up late for meteor showers, or pause to admire the delicate, lacey patterns of snowflakes. God made us in His image, so I feel that when we create art, we are imitating our Creator in precisely the way He intended. It makes me feel whole in a way nothing else can. I have been told by some that art is pretentious and impractical- and it can be, but that doesn't make it a waste of time; there is something to be said for using one's skills and talents and creating something just for the sake of enjoyment. When that joy can be shared with other people, it makes my heart feel full, and that kind of value is something that can't be matched or measured in gold.

P.S.

I'd also like to say thank you to everyone who has been supporting my work, especially my clients and friends. I really appreciate all the enthusiasm and kind/encouraging messages I've received over the past year, and I never imagined my site growing this much. It wouldn't have been possible without all of the love and support, and I am grateful beyond words. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. It means more than you could ever know.