Art commemorates adventure: we are surrounded by love

One year ago, I began looking back at the many Facebook messages, emails, and blog post comments full of support and love for my family after Hurricane Harvey. I was astounded that I had heard from so many people and I got shivers at the idea of being in so many people’s hearts. You’ll remember that we put 100 pennies under our house. I knew I had to do something with all these beautiful and heartfelt messages too so that they’d always be with us.

Why should we remember the storm or the loss of our house when we can remember the love instead???

I shrunk the messages to a tiny font, “cut and pasted” all the messages up to that point, which filled 8 pieces of paper

I started gluing them to the canvas in a circle with no real plan yet

Experimenting with fluid acrylics for a little color… with my assistant

I really love purple, so started with that

Then around November, I had even MORE messages to add, so I created a second layer. By now I was thinking of this as a sun or planet with Saturn-like rings growing outward.

I added what I call “golden orbs” because why not?

The canvas sat for a few months as other things took priority. Then, last week, I realized how amazing it would feel to finish it. I had purchased a living room sofa in a wine color, and wanted this canvas to hang in our foyer, so I added that color atop the purple, which looked good. This is part of a prayer that was very comforting before and immediately following the storm.

Some of the text I used came from this too.

I “threw” splatters of purple and gold paint and loved how that evoked constellations and something majestic and “heavenly.”

I ordered these wood letters, laid out my text, and painted them gold, which only took half of forever.

Here it is outside, sprayed with a sealant for protection.

And here are both of my recent canvases, ready to head to the frame shop.

We continue to receive supportive messages and I’m sure there will be more when we move into our new home in September. I plan to print out the pages and attach them to the back of the piece so we can read them anytime.

6 Responses to Art commemorates adventure: we are surrounded by love

Susanna Gross says:

June 30, 2019 at 6:28 am

What a majestic, creative work of art. I really appreciate being shown how you created it.

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- Naomi says:
  
  June 30, 2019 at 8:55 am
  
  Thanks, Susanna!
  
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heather westendarp says:

June 29, 2019 at 7:22 pm

This is a gift!!! Thank you for taking us on yo
Your personal journey.
It’s beautiful and meaningful to me.

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- Naomi says:
  
  June 30, 2019 at 8:55 am
  
  YOU are beautiful and meaningful to ME!
  
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Debbie says:

June 28, 2019 at 7:47 pm

Lovely! And so personal to you and your family! May your beautiful art adorn a home that is full of good health, bountiful happiness, and the most precious gift of all…peace.

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- Naomi says:
  
  June 30, 2019 at 8:55 am
  
  Thanks, mom!
  
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