When In Church

“When In Church”
Acrylic
2026
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This piece is about preparation..the memories, rituals, and quiet moments that shape who we become. It lives in the space between growing up and still becoming.

A key element is the contrast between the highly detailed dress and the intentionally childlike flowers. That contrast reflects the tension between what is fully formed and what is still developing. After months of reflection and prayer, I chose to leave the flowers underdeveloped, mirroring my experience navigating faith while growing up between the Apostolic and Southern Baptist churches, where the process of “getting ready” looked and felt very different.

The shoes reference the women I admired in church. Service after service, watching their grace, confidence, and care as they prepared. As a teenager, wearing similar shoes was seen as being “grown,” but for me, it was about chasing a feeling I had witnessed: intention, beauty, and self-expression.

The piece also honors service within the church. From the pulpit to the greeters and those who prepare the sanctuary, every role matters. The way someone welcomes you can shape your entire experience.

The distant, childlike flowers echo my earliest drawings in church and Vacation Bible School. Thee ever so humble, small beginnings that planted seeds for who I am now.

Ultimately, this work reflects preparation, memory, and becoming….how faith, observation, and care quietly guide our growth.