How I Ruined My Seniors’ Commission
Love’s Unfailing Victory will be in my next print drop! Sign up for updates here!
I’ve been sitting on this piece for a while…and I’m so happy to finally reveal it! The story behind this piece is almost too Providential not to believe.
Everything began in August 2023 when the inaugural senior class (3 wonderful, bright young women) of Chesterton Academy of St. Philip Neri commissioned me to create a painting for their senior gift to the school. As their art teacher, I was thrilled.
We spent time before the Blessed Sacrament asking the Holy Spirit what image He wanted for the school. I led the girls through prayer prompts, writing down whatever words, feelings, and images they had.
I took their prayer and developed this image of Mary at the foot of the cross.
Once I was in production mode, I had about one more day on this painting. Oil paint take a notoriously long time to dry, so I sat it outside of my studio in the sun to help with the autoxidation process. In the rush of the day, I decided to leave it out overnight.
I had no idea that a major rainstorm was about to roll through that night.
By the time I got back to my studio the next morning, the painting was absolutely ruined. Much of the blue paint had washed off as well as Mary’s face. And rainwater had gotten under the foundational gesso layer, creating bubbles full of water and puckering. I wanted to cry.
But after popping all of the bubbles and drying the piece out, I noticed something interesting. The only part of the painting that was left virtually untouched was Jesus’ face. And the texture created by the puckering gave the piece a rough and ancient quality. My friends and family, though compassionated, expressed how cool it looked.
But still, my embarrassment and fear of the painting falling apart over time led me to restart the painting over again.
Bethanne, the mother in charge of the project, came by my studio to pick up the frame for engraving and saw the two pieces side by side. I confessed what had happened and my oversight. Looking at the ruined piece, she became emotional. We talked about it and discovered a beautiful message.
The crucifixion itself seemed like the biggest failure in history - God’s own people killing Him. But through the Resurrection, the greatest failure became the greatest victory. Likewise, my failure at leaving the painting out in the rain could be turned into a beautiful piece, reminding the students and faculty that in the midst of perceived failure, God has the final say.
Through Bethanne’s encouragement and trust that God would protect the fragility of the paint, I finished the ruined piece and presented it to the seniors. They were over the moon and helped me title the piece Love’s Unfailing Victory. The painting was finally presented to the school at graduation - a total surprise for everyone in the room! Deacon Scholl blessed the painting and exclaimed that the Lord Himself had baptized it with the rain!
I truly couldn’t be more thrilled about how God came through on this piece. Again and again, He is faithful and shows me just how much my gifts are not my own. Praise be to God!
