Kids' Art

The Artist's Gallery

restless imagination has a way of making itself known. It tugs at you while the dishes wait, nags at you during ordinary work, and reminds you that something inside is still asking to be made. Life does not always leave enough time to put brush to canvas, but the desire to create does not disappear; it waits patiently for the next quiet moment. These paintings and handmade pieces are the result of listening when that creative voice grows too persistent to ignore, a small way of feeding the soul while making room for beauty, color, and wonder.

A

Gallery
Pet Portraits
Barn Quilts

For many of us, our animals are not simply pets; they are family, companions, protectors, and quiet witnesses through the seasons of our lives. Having loved and lost many animal companions myself over the decades, I commiserate with the ache and the wanting; the need to hold on to their presence. I paint memorial portraits with a warm orange under-glaze, allowing a gentle, ethereal glow to rise through the finished work. My hope is that each portrait offers comfort, a way to see the Spirit in the eyes, a way to imagine them free from pain, with clear vision, legs that work again, whole and peaceful in Heaven. Scripture gives us room to hope for a restored creation. Romans 8:21 speaks of “the glorious liberty of the children of God,” while Revelation 21:4 promises that one day there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. The Bible does not answer every question about our animals, but it reminds us that all of God's creatures are part of Creation, precious and loved, and that the world to come will be made whole.

I accept a limited number of memorial portrait commissions each year, please connect with my ebay listing for more information about ordering.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/820166441320

Barn Quilts are handmade pieces of folk art rooted in the history, warmth, and storytelling tradition of quilting. Traditional quilts were made from individual pieces of fabric, often carrying memories of family, hard work, creativity, and home. Barn quilts carry that same spirit outdoors, translating familiar quilt-block designs into colorful wooden artwork for barns, garden sheds, porches, fences, and farmhouse walls. these custom quilts are made to add color, character, and a welcoming sense of history to your space.

Each piece is created to bring Southern charm and personal meaning to the place where it hangs. Begin with one of our curated designs, shown both in color and as a numbered black-and-white pattern. Choose your palette from a selection of colors, and the design will become your own through this customization process. These barn quilts are created on 1/4 inch thick pine squares using fade-resistant outdoor acrylic paint, finished with a clear durable acrylic satin glaze for weather resistance. Visit my Ebay listing for ordering information. Larger pieces are available for local pickup, and inquiries are welcome from homeowners, farm and barn owners, and garden or porch decorators.

Kids’ Art: Little Hands, Lasting Memories

Kids’ Art is a joyful way to make memories while creating something beautiful and deeply personal for your home. Every child has a little artist within them, and sometimes all they need is a blank canvas, a few colors, and the freedom to follow their imagination. What begins as a simple afternoon project can become a treasured reminder of small hands, growing minds, and the wonderful seasons when your children were small.

You don't need much to begin. Start by finding an old thrift-store frame with good character and giving it new life with a little cleaning, sanding, and paint. Choose a blank canvas from a craft store, gather a few acrylic paints and brushes, and look for inspirational ideas on sites such as Pinterest, or set up a still life. You might prepare a small palette of colors that complements your home, or you may want to let your child choose every color for themselves. Both approaches can be beautiful: one creates artwork that coordinates with your décor, while the other preserves the child’s unique and wonderfully unexpected vision.

Then let the painting unfold one step at a time. Begin with the background, perhaps covering the canvas in a sky, a field, a sunset, or a favorite color. Once that layer dries, add the larger shapes and details overtop: flowers, animals, trees, houses, stars, or anything else a young imagination can dream up. Little by little, the painting takes shape, and a personal masterpiece comes to light.

Children are often so proud of what they create. Their artwork is innocent, imaginative, and full of joy. It does not need to be perfect to be meaningful. A crooked line, an unexpected color, or a wonderfully oversized flower may become the very detail that makes the painting special.

Consider choosing a place in your home for a small children’s art gallery. A hallway, playroom, staircase, or feature wall can become a place to display their best work. Refurbished thrift-store frames make the collection affordable and full of personality, and the paintings can be changed and rearranged as new favorites arrive. Each new piece can take its place among the others, creating a growing gallery of childhood creativity.

Over time, these paintings become more than colorful decorations. They become records of a particular age, a growing mind, and a particular season of family life. My own children are grown now, but I still admire the little paintings they created when they were young. Those pieces remain proudly displayed on my walls, and decades later, they still make me smile. A child’s artwork may begin with a blank canvas and a palette of colors, but it can become a lasting keepsake filled with love, memory, and the unmistakable mark of a little artist.