Art has been my companion for as long as I can remember. It has not always shown itself in the same medium but it has been there just the same. As a little girl art has followed me under a shading tree in the heat of the afternoon. Art has allowed me to express myself when I didn’t have any other way to communicate. Art has brought peace and made me a better mother through its process. Why would I be so surprised at the gift that art has given me? I am created by the most creative. Our world is a reflection of the ultimate artist. Creativity has been this incredible and intimate gift given to me by my maker. I have felt His presence, peace, and comfort so many times in my life though art and creating. This time would be no different. 

Comfort from Canvas & Paint
We had gotten a call that had shaken me to the core. I was trying to figure out how to get home as quickly as possible. Home was a two-day drive with three children in the car. Home was where the pain was and I still couldn’t wrap my head around what I had heard. As we were packing the back of the Jeep I kept on going back to my studio and bringing more art supplies. I didn’t know why but I knew I couldn’t leave them behind. I didn’t know what exactly waited for us after our 1,000-mile drive but I would later come to find what healing and comfort would come from a canvas and paint.

After 41 years of marriage we had all found out that my dad had been having a long-term affair. We were sad, angry, ashamed, and without answers. As I write this I still can’t believe that my family is now a different-looking family. So many different emotions were going through my head and heart and I had no control over the outcome of any of it. I am 39 years old and watching your family fall apart still hurts. What do you do when you have so many thoughts running through you but you don’t have the energy to talk anymore? I covered the largest table in my mom’s house with plastic and slowly started pulling out all of my art supplies. Canvases were stacked, pens were organized, pastels were laid out, paint was collected, pencils were sharpened. During a situation where I had no control the act of organizing and preparing to create was comforting. Then we began. No plans. No outcome intended. In silence my sister and I started to create. Sometimes we spoke. Sometimes we cried. Sometimes we even laughed.

Healing & Powerful
When you have no words but you are given a way to express yourself anyways … it is healing and powerful. Our end results were never the intention but the results were beautiful just the same. So, for many nights on the farm when the house was quiet, all the children were asleep, when pencils, paint, chalks, and canvas were the only sounds … art saved.