I've always painted on a much larger scale until last year. I liked bigger canvas panels because with bigger surface comes an opportunity to make more money.
I started looking at art a lot differently in my 2013 year. 2013 was a year of trust and a year that I gave up things I never thought I could have lived without! It was a year I, with much help of God, slayed some big idols in my life. I began seeing painting as not only a way to make a paycheck but as a way that God wanted to help restore me, a way for him to remind me that he is with me, every second of every day.
2 Corinthians 13 says: "Strive for FULL restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the GOD OF LOVE and peace will be with you."
I happened upon that verse one morning when I was getting dressed to go to the gym. I stared at my running shoes and thought 'what am I striving for?' I immediately began thinking about how I was striving for things that weren't godly. I found this verse in my bible when I needed to counter-act my morning thoughts and wrote it on my running shoes as a reminder.
I want everyone to be able to have something! I have something to offer to the world that only I can offer. No one else, just me. When I show up God always comes through.
Some mornings I just sit at my art table in my room with the curtains open and let the sun shine onto everything. I put on some music and think and pray and sing. One of my thoughts that really stirs me and always produces something beautiful is 'What would I tell 10 year old me?'
10 year old me was very self conscious.
10 year old me was very sad.
10 year old me felt very ugly.
10 year old me didn't have many friends.
10 year old me was lost with no hope.
10 year old me didn't sparkle...
So, my paintings will generally reflect what I wish I could go back and tell 10 year old me.
That I was beautiful.
That I was loved.
That I did have hope.
I know I've always been a very visual person and if I could have read these words on a canvas with bright flowers every day, the words most likely would have stuck with me. In the past 5 years my pallets have evolved in a crazy way but one thing remains true, I will always write things on my work. Always. There is power in writing truth, and of that I'm sure!
I'm excited to begin offering prints of these pieces as I create them throughout the year. I've also (finally) decided to offer my ORIGINAL Gallery Wrapped Canvas as well. A lot of times I just love something so much and want to keep it, not because it's as valuable as Picasso or Van Gogh, but because it's a piece of me. A piece of me and Jesus. I showed up and so did he, just like he said he would!
I'm currently working on a custom order of 12 different cavases for a dear friend of mine, Natalie. Here's a peak into what has happened every morning this week when I showed up to see what God wants to paint using me as his brush....
You are BEAUTIFUL, Believe IT!
~ Valerie