Blog

It was a glorious day sitting on a basketball court painting the morning sun lighting up the chapel in the wooded setting.

The women's Bible retreat at Silver Birch Ranch was fuel for my soul.  The Lord spoke loud and clear through our speaker for the weekend. Rachel Inouye was a faith encourager & motivator sent by God to pour into us.  

Who I am in Christ gave me new hope and vision for my future. He has gifted each one of us in unique ways.  

Rachel included a photo of me painting this scene and a bit about our conversation in her 9/18/19 blog entry https://rachelinouye.wordpress.com.  

Morning Chapel on the Ranch
9" x 12" Oil on Panel

My morning was spent painting dinner plate sized golden sunflowers reaching into the crisp blue sky.  I designed this contemporary composition from nature's bouquet.  These beauties emerged from last years seeds on the border of my sister's vegetable garden.  Birds were singing and butterflies landing on the heads as I painted.  

I could spend day after day traveling around the midwest painting farm scenes. All I need is my easel, painting supplies and a bottle of water and what seems like an hour quickly becomes 3 hours in one location.

A highlight with painting outdoors in the midwest is meeting interesting and genuinely kind hearted people who stop by to visit as I paint. A woman driving by on the main road beside me turned her car around from travels to talk for a few minutes as we shared our stories she asked if she could take these photos. Later that day she posted them to Facebook with a kind note and link to my website.

Another neighborly encounter was meeting Dennis, who farms the land in this area. From sun up til dusk working this beautiful landscape. I am so thankful to have spent a few days here in this peaceful slice of heaven on earth.