Let Your Life Speak

I finally finished the first painting for our new house we get possession of end of May! SO excited!! This simple quote has been swimming around in my heart and soul for a long time, and for me, it sums up how I want to live my life.

It's not about saying what you believe, it's about living it.

It's HOW we live.

It's HOW we love.

I want my life to speak for itself. What my friends and loved ones say about me when I am not in the room. And after I am gone, how will my life have made an impact in others? If I live authentically - in the good and the bad, and love the absolute best I can.... then I will just let my life speak for itself.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi

   This statement has impacted me for years. Throughout my 12 year struggle to reconcile my sexuality with my faith, one thing I kept close to my heart was the hope that one day I could contribute to positive change. Positive change in how the gay community views Christians... And in how Christians view gay people. What a huge priviledge - and responsibility - to have one foot in each camp.

    Not only that - although for obvious reasons this is a large focus in my life - but I have always prayed to be a catalyst for positive-ness. That is why I love this statement. That is why I got this tattoo.
 

   Be - it is a verb. It implies action. Don't just wish it was better. Make it better.

   The - implies singular. I  do believe one person can make a huge change.

   Change - another verb. This world can be pretty messed up - but the change starts with you. And it can start today.

    What sort of legacy do I want to leave? Some paintings and drawings, sure. But more than that - I want to pour into peoples lives. Our lives are so incredibly short, and we only get one try. I want to be an ambassador of hope. Of grace. Of compassion. Of joy. Of gratefulness. Of love. As cheesy as that sounds.

    I have been treated poorly, I have been hurt deeply, I have been accused of a lot of horrible things because I choose to live my life in total honesty - embracing being gay as a Christian. People I love have written me off, and assumed a lot of things about me because of this. This tattoo, wrapped around my right wrist, reminds me every day - no matter what - to respond in love. To extend that grace that has been extended to me, even when (especially when) it doesn't make sense.

    To be - the - change I so deeply wish to see around me.

    What an honor that is.

 

At Christmas, love is all around.

"Across the years, I will walk with you in deep green forests and shores of sand, and when our time on earth is through, in heaven too, I will hold your hand. xoxo"



About a week ago, I found this amazing quote whilst on my searches through the neverending net. It immediately made me think of the amazing woman in my life that I will marry in five short months, and how much she truly means to me.

So, of course, I thought of designing a painting around this quote and surprising her for Christmas. I could only work on it while she was at work, and made sure to clean up all my painting jazz every day before she got home, so she would be none the wiser! I designed it around our bedroom colours, so it could hang above our bed. All the text took me quite a while to paint, but I was very happy to finish in time!! I think it was a success...see pics for proof. :)

The final painting; 12" x 36", acrylic on canvas.

I am in awe at the blessings in my life.
Merry Christmas to one and all!

The courage to love.

One of the true heroes of compassion and servitude for others, in my opinion, is Mother Teresa. I am continually inspired when I read quotes from her, and things about her life's work. So, naturally, it inspires me to paint! I have painted this quote once before for a friend, and recently I had a commission request for it again. I don't like doing the same painting twice, so I designed a new painting with this timeless quote:

"We should ask ourselves, 'Have I really experienced the joy of loving?' True love is love that causes us pain, that hurts, and yet brings us joy. That is why we must pray and ask for the courage to love." -Mother Teresa


The next time I paint, it will be in our new place in Vancouver!
Am I pumped? Yes indeedy, I sure am :)

For a friend

I recently did this painting for a dear friend of mine who is going through an extremely rough valley in her life. I hope she finds some comfort in the words of Mother Teresa, as I have in my own valleys.

"We should ask ourselves, 'Have I really experienced the joy of loving?' True love is love that causes us pain, that hurts, and yet brings us joy. That is why we must pray and ask for the courage to love."
- Mother Teresa

A sketch & a quote.

An awesome woman I stopped and memory sketched super quick when we were exploring the streets of Seattle. I find life to be so many shades of beautiful.

Here's a quote a friend of mine shared, of which I am enthralled, and am now sharing. I think we should all take some time each day to ponder stuff like this.

"Two men looked out through prison bars, One saw the mud, the other saw the stars."

"Limitless"

Acrylic and marker on canvas; 12" x 24"

My friend Tricia in 4th year asked me about a month ago if I would like to donate a piece of art to go into a charity art auction, with the proceeds going towards an organization she is working with called Impact Africa. I love, love, love what this was all about and was totally on board right away. [a great excuse to paint, sign me up!] Here's the piece I came up with.

I named it Limitless because of a quote I found and decided to design the painting around it:

“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.” - Jamie Paolinetti

And now... back to cleaning up my animation!!

A darn good motto

I did this painting for my grand friend Jayme for her birthday. Her and I share a great affinity for all sayings positive and true... she saw this one up in my studio and wanted to try and find a poster/painting with the saying on it.

Talk about giving me a great birthday idea!! [Especially when I have a bunch of canvases stacked up in my closet, screaming to be used.]

Enjoy Jayms!