I am honored to have my art in Somerset Magazine. The pictures are beautiful! The best thing about the article is that I get to share with a lot of readers what my motivation and mission is with each piece of art. I am grateful for the opportunity to create, inspire and encourage.

I have the opportunity everyday with each piece of art that someone sees, to speak truth or hope into their life.  I feel that to encourage is my calling. I knew that that was my desire for a long time, but it took a few years to weed through some of my own “stuff” to get to a place that I could do that.

Being vulnerable enough to put my art out there and to speak into lives is scary, the alternative of not taking the risk is even worse. 

Life is never a straight path, our journey has many twist, turns and uphills, but when you find your passion, that thing that excites you and has you dreaming about new ideas in the middle of the night…. it makes all the struggles and trials have meaning.

I spent a lot of years dabbling at being an artist, and sometimes that’s what we have to do, to pay the bills, raise kids or deal with health issues. But I never gave up on that dream, it would call to me and remind me that that was what my hearts desire was.

Have you found your calling, your dream? Is there something that people tell you that your good at?  It could be sooo many things like, organizing, accounting, singing, research, administrative or flower arranging.  You might have to try on a few things before you know what it is, but once you find it you will know.  It makes you a little giddy and your heart beat  race, but whatever the feeling, you will know!

All this to say I’m grateful.  I am grateful that I get to paint everyday. I am grateful that I get to be a part of your life and you part of mine. I am grateful that I can encourage and inspire. I am just grateful.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this journey with me.

Big Smile=Shawn