December

A Missive from the Field: Issue 1, vol. 1

Photo by Álvaro Serrano on Unsplash

In this issue¹:

• Preface —some thoughts

• Newly Released Work — linkage

• Visual Rambles — snapshots of things I’ve been working on

• Writings — a poem

• Inspiration in the Studio — highlighting things that bolster the spark

• Enjoy the Journey — closing remarks

Preface 🌿

I am honestly not sure what to make of 2025.

Here I am in the middle of Advent (at the time of this missive), mere hours away from the return of the light (solstice) and the celebration of the Incarnation (Christmas), and I have tried multiple times to come up with something intelligent to sum up this year and I have failed.

Again, and again, and again.

I still don’t think my thoughts here will cover it, but perhaps they will come close.

In many ways, I am weary. Over the last few weeks, the only creativity I could seem to summon was that of making a hot cup of tea and curling up in bed at the end of the day. 2025 held what seemed to be an unusally high number of things that were extra hard, heavy, and draining, leaving me feeling like I was in a gruelling endurance race. It also appeared that God Himself was simultaneously walking me through a deep pruning season² as I groped my way forward through unfamiliar territory. In listening to others talk, I know I’m not the only one.

And yet, when I look back, there were also good and beautiful and wonderful things, and thankfully enough of them to keep my kinda mangled hope-muscle feeling a little bit of sparkle.

The hellebore I was gifted this spring bloomed early! Sometimes called "The Winter Rose," hellebores (Helleborus niger) have long been associated with beauty and hope after a period of despair.

I like to treasure these moments, tuck them away in my journal to pull out for a smile on a dreary day. And such is my hope for you, here at the close of the year, that you also had enough beautiful and wonderful things that you can tuck them away to delight in when you need a pick-me-up.

My kids and I set up our Christmas tree a few days ago and the ornament that ended up at the very top nearest the star?

“Hope”

When I noticed it, I heard His voice so clearly: “Heather, do you See?”

It felt like a promise, a terrifying and dizzying Promise for the weary heart that is slowly relearning what Hope looks like. May it also be a Promise for you, too.

May this next year hold tons and tons of Hope that bears much fruit, so much our cupped hands can’t contain it all. ❤️

Newly Released Work 🌱

• “On Identity” (poem) at Heart of Flesh Literary Journal

• “Sword of Truth” (acrylic on canvas) on digital exhibit for Upside-Down Kingdom, at God Loves Art School of Art Ministry

Visual Rambles 🍃

Writings 🌾

All the leaves are gone
Fire extinguished
In a moment,
Whispering turns to sighing
Breath becomes grey
And I count the days until
A light grows in the darkness.

Inspiration in the Studio 🍀

I've really been enjoying poring over James Gurney's book, The Artist's Guide to Sketching, that he wrote with the late Thomas Kincaid³. I don't know how many times I've explored this book since I bought it, but it's still giving me tons of ideas, in addition to helping me come to a deeper understanding of my own sketching practice. It's also inspiring me to want to develop my portrait sketching skills (currently rudimentary).

Enjoy the Journey… 🌿

It's been a gnarly year, fam. Thank you for being here, and thank you for your support. Please be gentle with yourself as we cross the threshold into a new season.
—Heather

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**If you enjoyed this newsletter, please consider checking out some of my other work. 🌿

1. Trying out a new format (always).

2. Let me tell you, absolutely nothing was safe from the shears! Mindsets, practices both artistic and general, relationships, ways of being/showing up in the world. I'm still kinda reeling from it. Grieving a bit. Sighing in relief a bit.

3. Not a paid promo, just a longtime fan.