Go Light your World

This is the song that is featured in my oil painting “Candle and Bible” video. The music in the time lapse video is an instrumental version, but the lyrics are why I chose this song for my painting. I put the above singing video (if you are reading this inside your email you will probably have to click through to my site directly to play the video), together for you this morning with the lyrics on the screen. It’s a song that was sung by Kathy Troccoli (the version I was first introduced to) and also by Chris Rice (song writer) who I was able to see perform in person for an emotional charity event to benefit a family who had lost their teen children to a drunk driver. Below is the painting video where I used an instrumental version of “Go Light your World”.

Watch me paint this art in about 1 minute (time lapse video).


Singing to You

See oil painting “Mountain Landscape” come alive in 2 minutes (time lapse)

I was thinking of this song today, and decided to sing it to you when sharing my art on today’s blog. It’s how I feel when we have empathy for our fellow humans- our sorrow when troubled times come- and how even if we’ve never met, we lift each other up. May you know that you are never alone. You are loved by God, and there is a special kindness among the best of us that raises us all up, to stand on mountains. God bless you and keep you, this day and always.

Natalie singing “You Raise me Up” cover


New Year’s Resolutions

Watch this oil painting “Serenity Piano” come to life in just over 1 minute (time lapse)

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? I thought I didn’t have any, except for my ongoing lifetime goal of 1k finished oil paintings, but today I came up with something I’d like to do. I want to do more of my own music for my oil painting videos. This one (above) was an experiment where I composed something for this piano video. The song has lyrics too, but I even though I’m the one who wrote them, I don’t remember what they were. I’d have to look those up. Anyway, the song is a bit rough and I’d planned to try this again with a more serious effort. I never did get back to it though.

I will commit myself to creating original music for… let’s say, at least three of my new paintings videos in 2022. I’ll let you know when the music is my own. I don’t mind if it’s not very good. The goal is to simply do it. I will improve over time (or will stop doing it, feeling as if composing/playing my own music for a short while was enough, we shall see!). Either way, I will have done it.

So much to do in 2022! Dream big, play hard! Remember, it’s a TIGER year!


O Holy Night

Singing “O Holy Night” with my daughters (I am the one in the middle)

This song is part of the 45 minute Christmas variety show featuring 2 oil paintings, singing, and dancing: 2021 CHRISTMAS SHOW. Please share with anyone who would enjoy a free joyful event to watch over these special days. It’s Christmas Eve, dear friends. I hope that you are tucked away with people you love and are ready to celebrate Christmas.

God bless you and your family, this day and always.


Take my Hand

Watch oil painting “City of Savannah” (city near me) come to life in 2 minutes, time lapse

I shared this painting here on the blog in June, in a post called “Timeless“. Today I want to share something else, not about the painting itself, but about the music I chose for the above video. I sang the song for you this morning and added the lyrics. It is an old hymn that may be familiar to you:

Natalie singing “Precious Lord, Take my Hand” (hymn used in painting video “City of Savannah“)

I knew most of the song by heart, but I had to peek at the words for the second verse. It helps to memorize comforting songs because during times of crisis, these familiar words may pop into our heads; playing a song that we need to hear. Has this ever happened to you?

It’s a surreal experience to be in an emergency or grief moment of extreme stress, and “feel” a song playing inside our head. Sometimes a song that is meaningful to us will literally play- perhaps in a grocery store while we’re picking up a few supplies during a very tragic day. Whatever is happening to us, when we are open to spiritual “music”, we will hear it.

By music, I do mean any sign of comfort. Music isn’t the only language that reaches us. But, it’s an important one, and I wanted to talk about that with you today. I hope that you are feeling strong and positive, despite these trying times. God bless you and your families.