About

“When I grow up, I will be Bob Ross.”

As a child, I always knew what I wanted to work towards being an artist like Bob Ross. With the sky being the limit, why shouldn’t I aim for being a teacher on tv? Before elementry school I took my pieces and sold them on my front yard like a lemonade stand. When I made twenty five cents, I knew I would continure creating as long as I was able.

My painting journey has progressed over the years from a project that draws others attention back to myself, to learning to bless others more than my self.

Before Highschool gradation, everything I made was an opportunity to say “Look what I can do.” Since my family moved to a new home every couple of years, I enjoyed people but I was afraid to fully be known. I took pride in the walls I put up which I thought were there to protect me.

When I went on a nine month mission trip after graduation, I quickly learned that my walls would not be sustainable while I lived with fourty four people. On the trip, I learned a lot and practiced recentering myself under Christ. This included my art.

In Romania, I was excited to practice oil painting again after my four month break. I was inspired to depict a painting for someone as they describbed how they felt the Holy Spirit for the first time.

While creating, I invited the Lord into the process through prayer and worship. I wanted this painting to be more about God than me. When I neared the end, I learned how to walk in trust when I was afraid of the lack of time. My frustraition grew towards to God when I felt as if I wasn’t adequate to finish on time.

“This is important to me. I’ll make time,”

He reminded me as I rested. When the painting was done I delivered it and the recipient was filled with tears.

I was shocked as she pointed out admiration for the points I had to ask the Lord for correction. I whispered to the Lord, “I’ve never had this kind of reaction before.” With a smile, He responded,

“Look what I can do…”

I create in order to be a blessing. It’s not about me and when it starts to be, I find myself getting bored and threatening to thow away all my supplies. It’s a daily habit, but life looks like fresh air when I remember to take my eyes off myself and look towards Him.