I feel God’s pleasure when I paint

Creating art is such a therapeutic, yet vulnerable process.

When I’m drawing or painting, I feel this sort of euphoria through my body as if I can feel God’s pleasure when I paint. It’s something that feels otherworldly to me, and I think that Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire said it best, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

I feel that way when I create art. Maybe that’s why it can also feel so vulnerable. You experience this pleasure and joy during the creation process, you pour a bit of your soul into your artwork, and then you put it out there for the world to see and (cue the anxiety) hopefully love.

Along the way, I’ve mostly learned how to move through the fear (and sometimes anxiety) that comes from the vulnerable part. Sometimes my art is loved and sometimes it’s ignored. And that’s just how it goes.

And yet, I still paint, I still create, and I still feel His pleasure. And isn’t that, ultimately, what it’s all about?

Hummingbird Hill Farms Chapel

This summer has been full of creating custom paintings for clients, most of which I cannot share with you yet, and I am so grateful. I am also getting so many ideas about what to create in the weeks and months to come, and where to expand my art business. I can’t wait to tell you more soon.

You’ll see below that I’m participating in three huge new festivals/markets this fall, and I hope to see you at one or all of them!

Love,
Natalie

P.S. It’s almost August, so that means it’s time to think about Christmas. I know it’s hard to think about that when it’s around or over 100 degrees every day, but my calendar backs up very fast, so please do not wait to place your custom orders.