Today, as I stood in my soon-to-be art studio, preparing my workspace, I found myself reflecting on the journey that led me here. The decision to open an art studio was not just a step, but a leap of faith—a venture into the unknown that required me to trust in the Lord completely. The process has been one of deep reflection, courage, and unwavering faith.
Many do not know this, but at the end of June, our house caught fire, and we are currently relocated to an apartment while they rebuild our home. I had set aside actively looking for a studio, deciding that the timing wasn’t right and that I would have to wait until next year. I knew this year my business would require more time due to being displaced, so I set my path to work through it. I couldn’t fathom this venture during such a challenging time—but God knows, His plans are so much better than mine.
As I began to create for the first time in the studio, watching the pigments move across the paper reminded me of the parallels between watercolor painting and this journey of faith. Watercolor is a medium that embodies unpredictability, change and beauty. The pigments, once laid on the paper, take on a life of their own, merging, spreading, and transforming in ways that can’t always be controlled. There’s a beauty in this unpredictability, but also a challenge. As an artist, you learn to embrace the fluidity, to work with it rather than against it. You trust that the colors will blend in ways that enhance the piece, even if the outcome isn’t exactly what you initially envisioned. In many ways, my journey to opening this studio feels just like watercolor painting. When I first felt the call to create a space dedicated sharing the love of creating with others, I had a vision—a dream of what it could be. But like the pigments in watercolor, the path hasn’t been entirely predictable. There have been moments of uncertainty, times when I’ve had to let go of control and trust that God’s plan for this studio is far more beautiful than anything I could design on my own. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Opening an art studio is not without its risks—financial, creative, emotional—but I have chosen to trust that God is leading me through this process. Just as the pigments move across the paper in a watercolor painting, sometimes blending unexpectedly to create something new and beautiful, I believe that God is guiding my steps, shaping this journey into something even more incredible than I could have imagined. In those moments when fear and doubt creep in—when I worry about whether this studio will succeed, whether my art will touch others in the way I hope—I remind myself of the beauty in letting go. I remember that just as I trust the pigments to find their place on the page, I can trust God to guide me, to bring this vision to life in His perfect way. Each brushstroke, each wash of color, is an act of faith, both in my art and in the journey I am on. As I prepare to open the doors of this studio, I do so with a heart full of trust in the Lord, knowing that He has led me here and that He will continue to guide me as I step out in faith. So, as I stand in this studio, surrounded by the tools of my craft, I am filled with a sense of peace and anticipation. I know that just as watercolor creates beauty through its fluidity, this journey—unpredictable as it may be—will also unfold into something beautiful and God-designed, as long as I continue to trust in Him. I pray that through this studio, others will find beauty in trusting God and lean not on their own understanding but follow Him.
