When I first met this beautiful model she was pregnant and I asked if I could paint her and her baby after birth. But the day she came for a photo shoot, her baby was not happy. Bad days are seen as a nuisance, something to be avoided. And, raising children brings its challenges. But, if her little one hadn’t been so cranky, I would have never recorded the intimate display of maternal affection. That intimacy is what makes this portrait stand out.
Psalm 127:3 states, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” Jesus loved the children and wanted them to freely come to Him. Mark 10:14 Jesus said to His disciples, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” In fact God desires all His people to have a childlike faith.
When I take on a project like this, much research goes into developing an accurate Biblical message. I began with a monotone underpainting using a combination of burnt umber combined with titanium white, followed by color glazes for a vivid glowing portrait. Most of my work is about God’s goodness and how His plan gives mankind hope. Though motherhood is tough work, children are our legacy. From the womb to the grave, each person is a unique, valuable person created by God.