Metallic Paint, cool New Paint brushes, the smell of my 1950's garage studio, the sound of klove.com and my son is napping. I'm tearing my dad's leftover watercolor paper from 1970 for my paintings, so many ideas are running through my mind...this is how "The Nations" began.

I love to paint. The process of painting is exciting to me and it is so cool to see how each painting develops. The end result is always very satisfying and rewarding. Introducing metallic paint was awesome and so much fun. It shimmers, the light picks up different aspects of the paint, and it works well with the layers of each painting to add a whole new dimension.

Painting this body of work has been special to me. As I painted I reflected on several things. The gold and silver paint reminds me of God's glory and majesty. I praised God for the gift of creativity that He can use in my life for His glory. Also during this time my husband and I were preparing to go on a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico. In preparation for the trip and in my painting time I kept thinking about "The Nations". Psalm 86:9 says: "All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name." Each painting is named for a place that I have been or someone special to me has been to serve others. I have such heart and compassion for all people and I don't want to forget these places or people. This show is a small visible reminder of the nations and a challenge of the work to be done. My prayer is that God will continue to use me in the mission of
spreading His Message.