CHAPTER one — the beginning

Following a ten-year painting hiatus, I was eager to pick up my brushes and begin painting again. Then in 1988, an opportunity to paint presented itself. At last, I could start painting with absolute abandon. After completing several watercolors of recent travels, I lined them up in a row and stood back and looked at them to see if they might make a good series—my heart sank. An overwhelming disconnection washed over me. The paintings of the Pacific Coast were well executed, but they did not speak to my soul—the subject matter felt distant and detached.

Searching for direction, I drove into the quiet of the rural countryside for inspiration. Nature had always reconnected me with my childhood creativity. As if to make a grand announcement, an abandoned one-room schoolhouse appeared on the horizon. The stark vision that unfolded before my eyes captivated me—I couldn’t wait to get back to my drawing table. I hurried home to paint the abandoned brick school building: it was my Turning Point.

As I painted Turning Point, a powerful desire to recreate my rural Midwestern childhood on watercolor paper completely washed over me. It was a journey I had to make, but little did I know it would become a life-changing process that would last over two and a half decades. While I painted, I often jotted down memories. My past unfolded before me—a life that longed to return to Light. If I wanted peace, I would have to bring all dark memories to the Light for healing. I eagerly moved forward—I wanted to clean out every single dark corner.

I hope sharing my search for Light inspires you to shine light on your own past that might need to be healed—to be Drawn Back to Light.

Please join me as I share my journey back to the light