Northern Lights

A painting on a pumpkin? What? Why? How?

Our fifth child, Lucia, was stillborn three years ago. I’ve always wanted to put a small painting at her grave but doing so isn’t easy since it is out in the open air and can’t be anchored. So I found a half price “reject” pumpkin that wouldn’t stand up on end but had a perfect flat side that worked for a canvas here. The working space was probably 8x10?

I actually did this last year with oils, and it took a scant 90 minutes thanks to having painted this composition once before, as well as leaving certain elements out. I had fun and was happy with how it turned out. It lasted 2-3 weeks at her tomb before I had to discard it.

I tried to paint another pumpkin this year too, but the pumpkin was bumpier and more difficult to pull off well.

Happy with mountains, auroras, and big trees. Everything else was challenging, but truly a fulfilling painting challenge that I hope to keep trying year after year. “The light shines in the darkness”-John 1:5

Lucia, our light, say hi to Jesus for us!