About the Painting: “Surrender”

Surrender — 24” x 30”, mixed media on canvas, 2023, sold

I have a new painting available today!

Since this piece, titled Surrender, is going on record as a personal favorite, I thought it deserved a dedicated journal entry on the blog.

I explored a new-ish technique with this one that I'd love to try more of - after drawing spontaneous marks of charcoal, I wet the canvas completely before using a brush, a rag, and mostly my hands to apply smears of paint to the surface.

I'll be honest; I was riding an emotional roller coaster that afternoon and opted for time in the studio to release some stress through painting.

Isn't creativity the sweetest gift to us in those moments?

The process of making this painting felt like a big inhale and satisfying exhale.

It came to life a lot faster than most of my other paintings.

As I poured and pushed and pulled the paint around the canvas, I felt drawn into the canvas. And I felt better.

I became less focused on the things that had once been causing me to worry that afternoon and found myself entranced by that perfect shade of red, the way the soft yellow paint melted into the canvas like butter, and how each mark suddenly appeared before me – one by one, confident and bold.

When I paint like this - childlike and carefree - I often feel the comforting presence of God in my studio.

I agree with Madeline L'Engle in her book Walking on Water when she says, "my feelings about art and my feelings about the Creator of the Universe are inseparable." To talk about Christianity and creativity feel one and the same.

Like the Greek philosophy of having a genius or "middle voice” to guide the stroke of an artist’s brush, I often feel like my marks are moving through me rather than from me – that my creative work is a gift from God, and these ideas for paintings are not entirely my own.

I find that my best work happens when I’m in the posture of trusting Him rather than holding tightly to my own plans.

My favorite paintings always seem to feel like a release of control.

It’s a satisfying moment to step back from a finished work and wonder, "Where the heck did those marks come from"?

With that question, I can see the healing practice of surrendering my life and work to God on display as it shines through the creative process.

Surrender (DETAIL) — 24” x 30”, mixed media on canvas, 2023