Love is a gift (plus: my new whale painting)

“Everyone knows how to love because we were born with that gift” Paulo Coelho 

I love this idea that love is a gift we all have access to and that we all share.

When life is hard, lean into love and embrace the support you find there. When the path isn’t clear, lean into love to help clear your senses. Then fear erupts, let love soothe your spirit. The simplicity appeals so much to me and helps me to appreciate the different ways love shows up in our lives every single day.

Recently we went on an apple picking trip and I snapped a quick photo of Eric up on a ladder and little Isaac eating an apple below. I adore this photo for the red spots of apple peeking through the green, the big expanse of sky, my little family sharing an experience, the rush of gratitude I feel for capturing this new memory.

I’ve started to explore family as a theme more purposefully in my artwork, and this of course is so intimately influenced by my own journey into parenthood. I love the parent / child bond and to create art with that foundation of love and trust and purpose in mind has felt so right.

One of my newest paintings reflects this shift especially well:

Mama and baby. A sense of peace, quiet, protection, safety. Gentle shades of blue and green.

Love is a gift available to us all.

♥ ♥ ♥

Here’s a shot of the painting in progress:

And here’s a close up of the print:

Another of the print already matted:

And a view of what the matted print looks like framed:

The print is already available in the shop! See more details here.

And finally, here’s my challenge for all of us today: look for the smallest of moments when love is peeking through (a hug, a warm smile from a stranger, the quiet presence of a pet). It’s all good and it’s all valid, and goodness does the day improve when you start to notice the little things.

Here’s to love, new art, and a beautiful Wednesday!