Laurie Pace • Studio Stories
Laurie Pace
Treasures of the Heart
This morning I wasn't searching for a painting. I found myself searching for the artist I was back in that time.
Back in the early days of blogging, around 2006, I was painting almost every day as part of the Daily Painters movement. While many artists were creating small daily works, I found myself filling larger canvases—18 × 27, 24 × 30, even 30 × 40—and sharing the journey through my blog.
Those years became more than paintings. They became books. Every year I gathered my artwork and the stories behind the different collections documenting my work and my life as a mom, a wife and an artist.
I discovered many of those books are still available through Lulu and MagCloud simply by searching my name, Laurie Pace. I looked at the shelf above my computer and I saw “Treasures of the Heart”. Turning through the pages began to reveal my younger self at a different time in life.
Creativity knew no boundaries.
There were: children playing. Brides. Portraits, Horses, Boats, Animals of all kinds, Country Bridges, Flowers and even Doodlebugs. I found Flamingos, Hearts, Pears, a woman in church wearing her Sunday hat and pink high top tennis shoes. It was not all about subjects, it was about life.
Somewhere along the journey, life itself became heavier the past 10 years.
Life has a way of changing not only our hearts but our daily rhythms. There were many times my family needed more of me than my art. Life grew quieter in art and heavy in life.
Looking through this book today reminded me of something I had almost forgotten. The treasure was always the joy of discovery.
Every season in life reflects into painting. All the family events, the losses, the illness, the death… even my decisions. I wrote in my blogs about some of it. All of it buried in my paintings.
For nearly twenty years I blogged and you can see 4,300 blog posts, welcoming millions into my studio and my life. Looking back, I realize those pages were never simply about painting and my art.
It was paying attention to all the beauty and life God placed before each and every day. I
believe my creativity begins with inspiration, and inspiration begins with Him. Today He simply asked me to remember.
I am grateful for the artist those years helped shape. My treasure is my relationship with God.
I think it's time to paint today!
