Mothers' Day Custom Paintings

Back in November I have the privilege to be a part of a wonderful modern dance piece about being a wife, a mother, and a follower of the Lord.  It was a refreshing and fun piece about the peace we receive from the Lord each day and the joy He gives us.  I loved dancing with the women He had brought together to do this, and it really thrusted me back into choreography again, something I had been wanting to pursue again for some time.

One night, as I was ready to fall asleep I got a great idea.  It was an idea for some set design for our piece.  I would paint portraits of each one of us with our children, and we could display them on the stage during the piece.

I went to work the next day and gave it a try.  After finishing one I knew the other ladies would like them, so I continued to work on the rest.  I knew their children and also looked at countless pictures of them to get their hair and size and shaping right.

After many people asking me if I would paint these and sell them for their families, I decided to list them on Etsy.  This would especially be a great Mothers' Day gift, but I can do them any time of year.

I also will work with other sizes than the ones already listed in my shop.  Contact me with any inquiries.

And if you are wondering why I didn't paint the facial features...  I can't.  I'm not great at painting facial features to look like the actual person I am trying to paint.  haha!  That is why.  I could pretend it was some artistic choice, but it really wasn't.

I love having mine hanging up in our home.  It reminds me of the blessing it is to be a wife and a mother.  It will be neat to have this moment in time captured on canvas, as well, since they are of course ever growing each day.

My Favorite Piece (For Now)

People often ask me, "What is your favorite item you have made?"

That is an easy question for now.  My favorite, so far, is a painting I created for my own home.  I found the canvas by a dumpster after I watched one of my neighbors bring it there.  It was an old framed painting of a southwest landscape.

I had it for a couple of months before I finally knew what I wanted to paint on it.  I love sheep.  I love the imagery of sheep in the Bible and the description of Jesus as my Good Shepherd.  There are so many rich lessons to be found in the scriptures that describe sheep and shepherds, and I am always amazed and encouraged to learn more and more.

And so, this is what came out of me through my paints and paintbrushes:

So here we are in a lush pasture grazing by still waters trusting the Good Shepherd to take good care of His sheep each day.  I love this painting.

It was a free canvas that was going to be discarded unfortunately.  I didn't show a before here because I hope the original artist would not see that her painting was not only thrown out but also painted over!  It is a very large piece, and I get to see it and enjoy it everyday.

Now for an idea for the large canvas hanging up in my dining room...