Family Life
Painting en Plein Air: Creating in Community
I can’t fully explain it, but creating near other creatives is ten times better than creating alone. Picture this: you’re painting en Plein air, in a cute little harbor district, containing restaurants, boutiques, and a coffee shop! There is a lighthouse next to the docks you decide to paint. As you paint, you watch children…
Read MorePainting En Plein Air: Finding Peace with Paint
I painted en Plein air with oil paints for the SECOND time ever! In this episode, I painted at Rockledge Park in Grapevine. This location was absolutely beautiful! We met my cousin at the park and she and my dad and I painted together! For this painting, I used oils on a gessoed panel (links…
Read MoreBeholding Beauty: Doodle With Me
I am pretty sure it was Andrew Kern who first inspired me to consider the concept of “you become what you behold.” He would follow up this statement with, “Behold the Lamb.” Beauty is relegated to the land of personal preference and therefore often overlooked in its importance for our soul. My daughter is sharing…
Read MoreTreehouse: How I Wrote My First LoFi Album
It feels a bit surreal, but I’m calling my first LoFi album “Treehouse.” My vision for this album is to remind my listeners what it’s like to be a child, full of wonder, where everything is new and amazing, where the world is safe enough to explore, and where the mark of Jesus can be…
Read MorePainting En Plein Air: Focusing on God’s Beauty
Hi! I’m Alyssa, the middle child of the Strauss family! I’m so glad you are here! Welcome back to my Art and Faith series! If you are new here, I’ve been beginning a journey learning how to paint en Plein air, which is the French way to say “painting outside.” Beholding the beauty of God’s…
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