Joshua 1:9, acrylic on canvas... DONE!

Joshua 1:9 (and a girl who needs a shower)

Please do pardon my no makeuped pajama wearing self here, but I'm proud of this one damnit, and I want my face in there! Joshua 1:9, acrylic on canvas is finally done!! For those of you who might be like, what the eff is this b*%#^ talking about, I started a project a couple months ago for a good friend of mine (who has become an even better friend through this collab which is like awesome) and it's finally finished. I put my heart, soul, sweat, tears, and a few mistakes *wink, wink* (those winks were for Sarah, owner of said canvas, in case you were wondering - inside joke), into the design and execution of this painting and I simply could not be happier with the way it came out.

When Sarah first approached me about creating a custom piece for her sons' room, she had a pretty loose/vague idea about what she was after, other than she wanted it to be large and feature a somewhat 'cobbled together' verse from Joshua. She wanted something not too young, something that could grow with her sons as the go from the adorable curly haired wee ones they are now into young men. Masculine, but playful.

Aside from the colors, neutrals with a woodsy feel, that was pretty much all the direction I got. I've never done a piece this large, but I really let the verse itself lead my design process, and then my paintbrush. When painting or working with scripture in any way, the words are so rich, they have so much to say. I feel as though it's just my job to let them talk and try to capture it to the best of my ability! What struck me the most as I read (and reread, and prayed over) this verse was the idea of a journey, stepping out in faith and letting The Lord lead me into the wilderness, all the while knowing he is right there by my side. Whom shall I fear, right?! These thoughts inspired the 'journey into the mountains' theme.

The more I read the verse, the more it resonated with me. These things I worry and freak out over, do I have such little faith? The Lord is with me wherever I go. He is saying to us, my child, be not afraid, I am with you. He does not want us to live lives of fear, insecurity, and obscurity, he wants us to be strong and courageous, to step out in HIS name and do great things. Whether they are huge missions or small acts of kindness and mercy.

I love the way the canvas came out, and I am so pleased it's new owner loves it too. But the most important thing to me is that it will hang on the wall of two of God's most precious (and adorable) sons, and that his word will be there to tell them that wherever they go, whatever they do, they needn't fear. God is right there by their sides.