I am on a journey to create paintings and art that brings life, joy, and genuine beauty to homes and walls in a world of full of AI and lacking community. Join me as I share each part of my art journey from why I paint, to sneak peaks at paintings, and updates as I attempt to be a non-starving artist.
What's Happening In The Studio
Dear friend,So far this year has been busy but good. First off, I'm trying to get organized with my time and tasks so that I can paint more with the goal of improving my painting skills and get into some art galleries this year. I'm starting to get some consistent orders on my Etsy store and it's been so fun to package up these strangers' orders going to other States (I think I should start a map to keep track of what states my art has gone to). I've actually submitted one of my paintings to be considered for a gallery show which was super exciting and scary. I'll hear back at the end of this month if mine is accepted or not. After a break over the holidays, I'm back to painting again, and it's so nice! One of my goals of this year is to finally develop a cohesive art style... as you can see from these three paintings I don't quite have a determined style yet but am more exploring lots of different styles of art. Which, honestly is so fun, I get to just experiment and play with paint. I'm also starting the prep work for month 2 of the Starlight Print Club! I had such fun with the first month and I can't wait to get seriously working on this month's letters -- I think it's on my to do list for next week. On the non-art front, I'm learning a lot about the Lord and trusting Him. It's been amazing (and convicting) to learn about the character and holiness of the Lord from bible study at church going through Ezekiel. We're also getting ready to kick off women's bible study again at my church - continuing in the book of John and I'm getting so excited for all the discussions and growth we're gonna have together as we fellowship over the Word. (I love studying Scripture if you hadn't noticed). On another hand, though, there have been some burdens on my heart. Family members I miss. People I know who are hurting. Challenging situations my loved ones are dealing with, not to mention easy trap of fear for the future to fall into. I've been working hard to be more intentional with my quiet time, my prayer time, in an effort to not pick up burdens that are the Lord's to carry, not mine. I'm one of those people who cares a lot about others. And it's easy for me to add the weight of the world to my own shoulders and think that me being almost squished flat is the same thing as bearing one another's loads. When really, it's not, it just squishes me till I can't serve or help or anything anymore. So I'm trying to rest my cares in the hands of the Lord. I know He is kind, He is near, He is strong, and He is good. I know He already knows all the situations, people, places, challenges, and fears. When I was a bit younger and I had to go the bathroom in the middle of the night, sometimes my eyes would play tricks on me. I'd imagine some scary person peaking through the window or just around the corner waiting to get me. I'd go back to my room so fast and into my bed feeling like my blankets were the safe spot. Then I found a song that I started to use as a tool when I get fearful like that. "I have never walked alone. You were with me through it all. Broken hearts and broken bones, You have always held me close. There's no place that I could go, heaven's high or hell below. I have lived enough to know, anywhere with You is home. Hallelujah, Christ the Lord is with me. Hallelujah, Christ the Lord is with me. Hallelujah, Christ the Lord is with me." (Christ the Lord is With Me by Steffany Gretzinger) When I started singing this to myself, my heart immediately relaxed as I remembered that I am not alone. The Lord of the universe is with me, and I have nothing to fear. Whatever is going on in your life here in this early 2026, just remember that the Lord is with you. You are not alone. Be it fear or challenge or grief that is before you, Christ the Lord is with us. ~Isabel Grace |
Isabel Grace Studio
I am on a journey to create paintings and art that brings life, joy, and genuine beauty to homes and walls in a world of full of AI and lacking community. Join me as I share each part of my art journey from why I paint, to sneak peaks at paintings, and updates as I attempt to be a non-starving artist.
Dear friend, One of the challenges of being an artist is living in the tension between confidence and growth. What I mean by this is that to create good art, you have to do it with confidence, not doubting your paint brush mark, but placing down paint with confidence and assurance, not fear. When you create with fear of messing it up, or unsure about your paint brush stroke, that paint you put on the canvas holds that uncertainty. On the other hand, if you get too confident (or arrogant), you...
Dear friend, Do you remember the first time you learned something profound as a child? I remember when the concept of "internal beauty" hit me. I'm not quite sure who it was or how old I was, but I remember having just had a conversation with a lady. I must have been young, maybe 10 or younger. I'm not sure, I don't remember much just the realization. "A Quiet Radiance" 9x12 watercolor and oil pastel painting I remember when I left the room, I remember feeling like she was so beautiful. I...
Dear friend, Where do you find your rest? What makes you feel restored and refreshed? I think that at the end of the year and beginning of a new year like we're in now, we're often all so tired. It's cold out, so our bodies are sleepy. We've been working hard on all the things from the year. We've just been through the holidays - some of us carrying big weights of grief during the "most wonderful time of the year"... and it can be so exhausting. This is the theme of December's Starlight...