Drawn
As a fifth-generation Marylander who stayed close to home my entire life, my path seemed ordinary. I was just another local girl who left home at 18, had a good job, married at 23, and began raising a family. Ordinary. However, all along and unbeknownst to me, God was at work laying the foundation for the creative life I was meant to lead.
When I was a little girl, I would color or draw for hours. I was a day dreamer and loved to find shapes in the clouds! (Pareidolia, perhaps?) Secretly, I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. Yet, like many, I set those creative dreams aside as the responsibilities of "grown-up" life took center stage. Eventually, being a wife and helping raise our four children filled my days. And I loved those days.
It wasn’t until my youngest child entered kindergarten that I felt I could begin to reimagine the dream I had tucked away for many years. So, at age thirty-eight, I decided to enroll in my first formal art classes at a local community college. Watercolor was my chosen medium, drawn to it by a sense of practicality as a mother. Little did I know it was one of the most challenging mediums!
At the same time, I began meeting regularly with groups of people who were exploring their own creative callings. I was drawn to the idea of having a "calling," though hadn't quite realized the connection between art and faith. It was in those days of learning, practicing, and listening that I discovered the importance of honoring and worshipping God through my gifts. Being part of those creative communities allowed me to fully embrace how my faith could come alive through my art, and vice versa. It was a time of profound growth for me as an artist, a Christian, and a mentor.
Today, I have a studio in my home - a beautiful gift from my husband - where I paint regularly with oil paint and enjoy exploring other mediums as well. It’s also a space where I collaborate with fellow artists, teach and mentor. Like a sanctuary, it is filled with peace and purpose, a designated place to create, play, pray, and listen to God’s voice. Join me sometime!