Signed, sealed, delivered! My awesome trio of cousins commissioned me to make this precious portrait for my Aunt and Uncle. This image is precious because two of the seven siblings have now passed (my dad and Aunt Ruthie). The original photo was from the early digital days - low quality and not good enough to print very big. NOW it's huge, and it'll last a long time. Thank you Jordan Frank, Jami Tira, and Jason Tira for the opportunity to be a part of this precious gift ❤️ #commission #acrylicpainting #acrylicart #acrylicportrait #portraitpainting #portraitart #memorialart #siblings #siblinglove #sevensiblings #bigpainting #portraitartist #artforchristmas #thegiftofart #missingyouthischristmas #remembranceart

Love Christmas-ing with this guy ?. We went to the Scentsy headquarters to enjoy the lights with a whole crew of people last night! Sooooo fun! And yes I’m wearing snow pants. I hate to be cold!! #snowpants #scentsy #christmaslights #christmaslove

ADVENT: Sharing an old drawing that has new meaning for me in this time of great division in our country. The six strangers kneeling around the altar couldn’t be different enough from one another. And yet all struggle in their own way, all face barriers, stereotypes and (often) toxic expectations... And so you see in the drawing that all those present at the manger kneel in color splotches filled with words- words people have called them (both good and bad), things they’ve believed about themselves or strived for. Maybe some of the words make you sad. Maybe you’ve been called some of these, too... But all the colors lead up to the manger, because Jesus can relate to every one (Hebrews 4:15). He was called many of these same names too. But in front of the manger, names, race, class, education, past, present and future- none of it matters. All are welcome here. We see it in not only the FACT that He came for us, but also the WAY that He came for us. I’m amazed how the Christmas story brings together people from every walk of life. There’s always someone at the manger you can relate to... ? Which nativity character do you most relate to? #TheAdvent #advent #adventart #jesuslovesyou #jesusbringsustogether #jesusisthereasonfortheseason #christmasart #nativity #nativityscene #truemeaningofchristmas

New coffee art commissioned by Chi Alpha Campus Ministries! This piece is done with coffee (swipe to see the coffee layer) and watercolor pencil. It’ll be turned into a special surprise gift in the “Great Awakening” Chi Alpha Coffee Subscription box for the month of February. Stay tuned! And if you want to get that subscription (support missions and single origin coffee farms!!), I highly recommend it... chialphacoffee.com #coffeeart #coffeelover #coffeetime #coffeepainting #chialpha #chialphaalumni #chialphacampusministries #artformissions #commisionart #multicultural #coffeebringsustogether #differentshadesofcoffee #unityanddiversity #coffeearoundtheworld

Light pollution is when light from the city lamps and streets obscures the view of the night sky. We know the stars and moon are there, but they’re harder to see when from our view they’re competing with the city lights. Jesus’ birth was announced with one bright light- a star. And he himself is the True Light (John 1:9). It can be hard to see the real Source of light past the menagerie of man-made bulbs. Where do you find yourself focusing on today? This Christmas, don’t let light pollution obscure your view. Let’s be like the wise men, who searched the night sky to find their direction and began the journey to seek out the One behind the star. Image: acrylic painting from 2007 (age 17) #TheAdvent #magi #lightpollution #nightsky #jesusisthelight #lightoftheworld #advent #adventart #jesusisthereasonfortheseason #lightpollutionisreal #journeyofthemagi #truemeaningofchristmas

Sharing more #fluidart from my mom’s family workshop over thanksgiving. I think that first one and the coasters are my favorite ? If you love this style, check out my moms account- she’s a prolific fluid artist and her work is SO COOL!! @barefoot_fluid_artist #acrylicpainting #acrylicpouring #fluidart #fluidartwork #fluidartist #artsyfamily #creativefamily #spinart #messyart

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14) But WHY? He became entirely like us so that he could redeem us entirely. "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." (Hebrews 2:14-15) #theadvent #godreachingouttoman #godreachingouttous #godreachingouthishand #hands #handart #gospelofjohn #thewordofgod #thewordbecameflesh #emmanuel #redeemer #sonofgod #sonofman #advent #adventcalendar #adventart #christianart #christianchristmas #jesusisthereasonfortheseason #jesusisthereason

The world is looking dark right now. Jesus is the only light, and so we become one too, to illuminate the way to Him: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on this living in the land of darkness a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2) YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. (Matthew 5:14-15). May Jesus shine his light into your heart today and may he shine brightly through you, overcoming all darkness. #oilpastel #oilpastelart #lightacandle #lightacandle2020 #lightoftheworld #shinebright #thelightshinesinthedarkness #iamthelight #youarethelight #jesusisthelight #jesusisthereasonfortheseason #christmasdevotional #advent #advent2020

I got to work alongside with this lovely lady (plus 3 others!!) yesterday at the VineArts open studio. We had a blast while we talked and played Christmas music. Erika asked me to teach her to paint a Christmas tree. This is @eri.ky ‘s first watercolor painting since she was little. She did great!!! Thanks for coming, Erika! We’re so glad to have you in the studio! #vinearts #vineartsboise #vineyardart #vineyardartists #artministry #watercolorpainting #beginningwatercolor #christmastree #ohchristmastree #holidayart #beginningwatercolor

I actually started this account with 25 posts leading up to Christmas. Advent is a season to prepare for what Christmas means, to prepare for Jesus' coming in so many ways. In history, Jesus came as a baby in a manger. In the future, he will come again as victorious King. And in our present, the tension of the in-between, he still comes, individually, personally, and magnificently. I won't do a post every day, but I'll be sharing a series of art + devotional posts throughout this month again. I pray that as you read these posts and contemplate this season for yourself, your heart will be awakened to the longing that was placed there: a longing to see the world made new, wrongs righted, and sickness and death defeated. I pray you would come to seek and know the God of the universe, who created you uniquely, and who loves you enough to move heaven and earth to come and be with you TODAY. If you have any questions about faith, or you want to talk about Christmas, I'd be delighted to connect. I'd love to share what Jesus has done in my life, or just listen to your heart ache. Comment or DM me. #advent #theadvent #emmanuel #christisborn #christmasart #devotionalart #christianart #christianartist #manger #awayinamanger #themeaningofchristmas #littletownofbethlehem #bethlehemstar #starrynight