Often times, a painting takes us in a direction we did not know it would take. The original map in our head begins to take a new course with each brushstroke that we take. Perhaps we find ourselves in a different circumstance than when we first started, or there is something hidden inside us that subconsciously takes over.

I happened to find myself in one of those circumstances when I began this painting. “Faith, Hope, and Love”, began as a tiny sketch in my sketchbook.  My original plan was for an entirely different vibe and color scheme. I began this painting in December 2019, and usually as I am painting, a title jumps out at me for it long before it is completed but not this time. However, the painting was evolving in a way that I did not expect.

As we all know, March and April 2020 were not anything like before and as everything else around us was changing, so did our work. While as an artist I work from home, I found myself even more confined to my studio as I was not able to enjoy the simple pleasures in life that we so often take advantage of. So I allowed my new circumstance to come to life in this painting.

Painting allows us to work through whatever we need to and to see what we need to see and hopefully leave the rest behind. During this time, I witnessed how families, loved ones, and people came together in many ways like never before, thus the title, “Faith, Hope, and Love”.

So I encourage you, if you are an artist like me, to allow your paintings to take you in a direction you might not have planned for. Be open to your new circumstances and let your painting guide you to where it needs to go, one brushstroke at a time.