'Grace' happened as grace usually does - she was given

This week I will deliver the original of one of my most favorite pieces, Grace, to its new home, purchased by one of my best friends, Anne & Joe Sara. Grace will have plenty of company, as Anne and Joe own upward of probably 20+ of my paintings. Their home is a virtual museum/gallery of my work, representing every phase and style of my painting as it has evolved. I couldn't be more thrilled that Grace is owned by these wonderful friends.

Grace was born through near-failure, and while the image represents that process, the name, Grace, represents the story of my life, as my past is not made up of always making the right decisions, yet here I am now, filled with a life of blessings.

I was painting with Susan Frame, my mentor, teacher, and friend, along the Minnesota northshore, in Grand Marais. Susan teaches a workshop there every summer, which is a place where I return to every year, to fill my spirit.

After a long, frustrating day of painting, part of this image emerged, but it wasn't looking right, it wasn't enough. Another failure, I thought, ready to toss it away, as I have in the past. I asked Susan for her advice and she gently instructed " maybe just a little touch of color here, a little there" - and then she let me be. I still wasn't sure I could salvage it.

But I took a deep breath, released it slowly, touched my brush to the paper, and...grace flowed - through me, through my brush, on to the paper.

It was enough.
You know, grace is always enough.