I am a landscape artist, and my primary medium is oil on canvas. I am kind of obsessed with color and texture, particularly those found in nature. I am in awe of how colors are visually displayed in creation, and I find it such an engaging puzzle to mimic the order of creation from the chaos of random tubes of color. Every painting is an exploration of color and order, texture and perception. And often, as in the case of this piece, I want to find myself, in the midst of the moment, lost, yet again in the wonder of our creator and his splendor.

For me, painting is an act of worship. It's a journey where I hope for an outcome, but savor the steps. It's a prayer and communion as I wrestle through the perseverance of practice and presence. And often I come to the end and realize that the perseverance required for a painting has itself created a thing of beauty and wonder- a safe space for others to be invited into.

This piece is named after Isaiah 35. This passage of scripture describes what happens to a person and a people when their hearts turn toward God. It's a journey from desolation and loneliness into life, flourishing, and eternity. I was so intrigued by the imagery of this passage that I wanted to explore what it would look like for a desert scene to transform into something vibrant, alive, and hopeful.

I started by painting this piece as a desert-dry, sandy, with the glimmer of hope that comes at dawn. Then I slowly added sprouts of grass. I wanted to see what a desert would look like as it transformed, stage by stage. The passage talks about a highway toward God, but nature's highways are not like ours; they're living. Nature's highways are streams and rivers. And I wanted to show one leading to the mountain of God, the mighty place where heaven and earth meet.

I realized that the moment was full of beauty and joy, and I wanted the desert turned fields to reflect that. So, I began to add flowers. And before I knew it, the whole landscape was filled with flowers. How like life with God that is! When he draws us into journey with him, into him, the experience is so very enjoyable. It is a feast for the senses, because not only is he enjoyable, but he made us with the ability to perceive that which is enjoyable.

This piece was such a joyful, beautiful visual metaphor for me to explore. It has beautifully solidified in my mind the goodness of living with and journeying with Christ. The journey with Christ is a slow one, and the transformation often missed, but this work helped me to slow down and notice God's good work in me.

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