I started painting 30+ years ago as a suggestion from a therapist to find a hobby. The long version goes something like this:
I found during a dark time in my life that paintings and art really soothed my hurting soul and spoke of God's beauty to me when I was having a hard time finding anything beautiful in life. I felt a deep connection to being able to create that kind of beauty and I attempted my first painting. I was surprised at the result as I have never had any training. (Not even an art class in high school). It was on a scrap piece of wood and was 2 times smaller than the original work of art I copied. After this I started painting whatever moved me. I really didn't start making my own designs and selling my work until 6 years later when I started painting Christmas ornaments with scenes on them. I did this for about 10 years off and on as time allowed. During this time I became a stay-at-home mom and being able to create soon became a way for me to recharge and stay sane. My paintings started to get more and more detailed and grew smaller. I made the jump to painting pendants and jewelry around 2007 and have been doing that ever since. Creating art, I believe, has been God's way of helping me to heal and transform the ugly things in my life into something beautiful. Which is what He does for all of us, if we let Him! So why the Bible verses on the back? Great question! The Scriptures are personal verses that God has spoken to my heart, guiding me and helping me on this journey we call life. They are solid truth and I don't know about you, but I'm a forgetful creature! God knows this, so He wrote it all down for us. I am sharing them with you in the hopes that He may encourage you also! "Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips. I have instructed you today -- even you -- so that your confidence may be in the LORD." ~ Proverbs 22:17-19
