May 2024 Art Update
Off the Easel!
Here are all the cool projects I was able to finish this month! Which one’s your favorite?
Love’s Unfailing Victory
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.
The Potter’s
I absolutely loved live painting for Haley and Josh’s beautiful summer wedding! I think they ended up looking like a Disney prince and princess!
Eucharistic Pilgrimage
My good friend Natalie is in the middle of a 62 day Eucharistic pilgrimage through the country. I sent her with a print of my painting This is My Body and Eucharistic Healing prayer cards to accompany her and her pilgrims on their adventure.
Follow along with their journey on her Instagram page!
I don’t typically talk about my extracurriculars in my newsletter, but I watched God work so many miracles through these organizations that I just have to share with you. This month, I celebrated many “grand exits” and “graduations”! If any of these speak to your heart, do some exploration or ask me for more info!
Living Waters through Desert Stream Ministries
If you’ve ever had a conversation with me, likely you’ve heard me gush about Living Waters within the first 10 minutes.
This 20 week relational healing and integration program revived my life in 2021 when I was isolating from Catholic/Christian community and had so much confusion and angst about my relationships with men.
This was my 5th Living Waters, 3rd as a small group leader alongside Katie Comiskey. I never get tired of watching men and women giving their relational brokenness over to God. Truly, Jesus is raising people from the dead through the good work they’re doing and I can’t recommend it enough. Everyone should go through one of Desert Stream Ministries’ programs.
Encounter School of Ministry
I just completed my first year with ESM! This amazing organization is supernatural bootcamp - learning how to pray prophetically, for physical healing, and for inner healing/deliverance over others in Jesus’ name.
The Holy Spirit has been poured out on all baptized Christians do perform “greater things” than Jesus, Himself (Jn 14:12-14)! But so many of us don’t know that these great gifts are actually available to us.
This school has helped me step out of my comfort zone (which is growing bigger by the day!) and pray for people, inviting Jesus into the present moment and watching him work. It’s been such an adventure and I’m so grateful for the tools I’ve been given this past year.
Chesterton Academy of St. Philip Neri
As mentioned above, CASPN just celebrated their first graduation! This classical Catholic high school is in the heart of Kansas City and I have been blessed to serve as their art teacher this past year (and next!)
If you’re looking for a close knit school that teaches your students not what to think, but how to think, this is the school for your family.
On the Easel
My mom’s a professional organizer with Bee Organized (shout out) and recently brought me a huge amount of purged art supplies - some of which I’ve never even heard of! In this rest and recovery season, I plan on having some fun and exploring with these tools. Keep an eye out on my Instagram (I just passed 10k followers!!). Also I’m planning an epic print drop for the triptychs. Stay tuned…
MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDAR
Archbishop Naumann will be blessing the triptychs at Holy Name of Jesus Parish on Father’s Day - Sunday, June 16th at the 10:30am mass! Don’t miss it!
Thank You!!
Whewsh! A lot of closed chapters in May, huh? As I wrapped up my last commission this month, along with so many organizations and ministries, I’m tempted to get anxious. What’s next? Will I get more work? But in prayer, the Lord has been so kind and firm: Mattie, now is the time to rest. Productivity has become your idol. Let me take care of you and trust Me. Rest is not laziness or weakness. Enjoy the people I’ve put in your life and drink deep from the well I offer you.
Pray for me, I’m praying for you!
God bless you!!
