I have loved creating art for as long as I can remember. Crayons and coloring books quickly turned into sketches and portraits and now, I spend the majority of my time oil painting. My hope for my paintings is that the beauty that inspired me to paint the certain scene, landscape, or person will be reflected to the viewer as a source of their own inspiration. 

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Painting is a form of prayer for me. My faith is extremely important to me and as I paint I draw closer to God. Everything that has been created by God is beautiful. God is the source of true beauty, so everything that is truly beautiful comes from Him. As St. John of Damascus so boldly spoke: "The whole earth is a living icon of the face of God". The creation around us reflects the goodness and beauty of its Creator. I believe that artists have an important gift and mission of recognizing the simple beauty of all that surrounds us. We are able to "steep in the whole of creation" as Josef Pieper so wisely puts it, and we in turn encourage others to do so as they view our art. Whether it is a vibrant sunset, a clear view at the summit of a mountaintop, a smile on a stranger's face, or the sound of a child's burst of laughter - beauty is everywhere, therefore God is everywhere. 

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If we are able to recognize this and actively view all that is around us with this lens, our lives will change for the better. ​

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​Each time I pick up a paint brush and begin to recreate the awe-some image that is captured in my mind, I draw closer to God. I pray that my paintings will glorify Him. That they will emphasize the beauty of His creation, the beauty of the Faith, and overall, God's eternal beauty. As you look through my paintings, may the same beauty that inspired me, inspire you.​

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~let beauty inspire you~​

 

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