I am a sudden artist.  Jesus tells a story of how a rich master chose three workers and entrusted each of them with money.  That gift gave the possibility to each one to do amazing things that brought great wealth to the master,  (Matt 25: 14-30). I feel like God has gifted me this amazing ability to see faces with a whole new amount of detail.  I want to use and develop that gift to bring honour to God.   As I paint I feel connected to the Creator of the universe.   As the person I am painting comes to life on the canvas it feels like being part of a miracle.  It fills me with such gratitude and joy.  

It was my husband who suggested that I try painting last August when this “brain switch” turned on for me.  So I brought a paint brush and some black and white acrylic paint in 2 small tubes.   I just started painting whatever came into my head to paint.  First my husband, then my mother, the neighbour, the hairdresser, even the dog.  By the end of that week another neighbour suggested I go to art lessons because I needed to learn how to paint on a canvas instead of using old Christmas cards.

I went searching on line for an art class and found this wonderful Christian Artist from America called Matt Philleo.  He offers great courses for people who want to paint realistic portraits.  As soon as I saw his paintings I knew I wanted to paint like that.  By mid September I finished my first realistic acrylic portrait.  It is framed and hangs on the wall in the lounge.   Since then I have painted over thirty portraits with the help of Matt’s great training. 

I have four adult children and our sixth grandchild is due in July.  Being a Nana is a tremendous joy and gives me limitless opportunity to paint portraits of these wonderful little people. When I painted one, I found four others asking, “Where is my one Nana?”

The decision to paint commissioned portraits has come from an inspiring book by Matt Tommey  “Created to Thrive”.  Reading this book was like a divine appointment, I just knew that this was the path I want to travel.  I am looking forward to being, with God’s help, a brilliant New Zealand portrait artist.

Please continue to watch this space as I tentatively adopt technology, blogging and sharing the “Talent” God has given me.

God Bless

Judy Carey