Okay, so I've never been great with journaling (including blogs) but a year between updates?! Bad Erin!!!

Well, truth is I haven't been well. And I have not had much business. So I have taken a job as a website designer and have been very busy with that. And after going through this site to update it - my goodness, how much have I learned since I made this!!!

I am not really offering full-time portraits anymore, as I don't make enough to support myself, but since I have a new job now, I am offering memorial portraits for free now. I will have the site up soon.

My mombadge contract has been up for some time, so there will be no new designs there. I may make some t-shirt designs for other companies (like sevenly) or myself!

If you're local come and see me at the Mercer County Arts & Crafts Fair in Harrosburg, KY. I will be selling pictures and signing them for those who want their picture signed, as well as taking orders for custom portraits. There will be lots of other interesting booths for everything from art, music, household crafts, writing, and more! And of course, plenty of yummy KY food and local attractions! It's being held at the Daniel Boone Fort on October 8-9, 9 A.M. -5 P.M. EST.

That's pretty much all I've been working on lately - getting ready for the Fair.

I'm planning on having the memorial site launched before the fair, so that should be up soon!

Well I've been continuing in my Chiropractic and it seems to be helping me somewhat. Hopefully it will make a real difference in my life soon!

I am working on the new site still, and have been working on a few things for this one.

New things coming soon!

Update: The sale price is no longer available, but I'm giving 25% off on all portrait orders if you order during the fair (October 8-9).

It certainly has been. There have been a lot of changes recently in my life, both good and bad.

So I finally got the guts together to go see a Chiropractor. I've had problems with my spine since I was little, and with a little prompting from God I finally made the decision to try a less mainstream form of medical treatment. Hence the chiropractor. Well, it was not a good day for me when I got to see my x-rays. I won't list all the problems he showed me here, but let's just say I was expecting bad news and I was utterly horrified at the x-rays. I will need intensive treatment for 3-5 years, plus I will need to wear a neck collar for several months, and then ther is still another step after that to getting the neck problems worked out. I cried like a baby at this news! Not good AT ALL!!!

Now for the good news. In spite of all that horrible deformity and misalignment obvious even to a non-medical professional, the doctor said he could help me. Believe it or not, people, that is the first time I've heard that pass a doctor's lips concerning my spine in 18 years. Hope is a beautiful thing!

I start treatments soon, but they are not cheap. So as a way of financing my treatment, I'm offering all sales on portraits at 40% off!

If you would like to help me heal, please order a portrait from me. Even a little miniature! But if you're like me and don't have the money to do that, then please just keep me in your prayers! I am filled with hope and faith that God will use this Doc in a mighty way to heal this broken body of mine, as He has recently revealed my calling and election. It's not in the least what I expected...

I've been called to the ministry. That's what I believe anyway. God is sending me to KSOM, the KY School of Ministry. I will be an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God when I'm finished. Assuming Jesus doesn't come back before that, nor does my Father call me Home, nor reveal that He has other plans for me and I was mistaken. I don't believe I am though, because the doors are opening left and right. He has healed my mind, and now He is healing my body so I can serve His will! I'm totally excited!

Update: I am now offering free copies of a painting I made of this dream. Click here to get your copy!

The night before last I had a really strange and powerful dream. Normally I would not share this on this particular blog but the Lord has directed me to share it.

I am a relatively new Christian and not altogether familiar with many Bible stories that a lot of Christians know by heart. I was not raised in church. So the prophecy of the four horsemen was known to me, but I was not familar with which horse was which nor when they come or what was associated with each. Revelation is not something I had studied much. Keep that in mind as I share this dream with you.

I was standing in a field of some sort... but it was made of iron. There were people all around me and they all had vacant stares. They were just going about their day, not paying attention to anything around them. Including me. They never even noticed when the clouds suddenly began to change and take the shape of a horse. I, who was watching, did however, and I heard myself say "the Pale horseman is coming! Death comes!"

Soon he stood among us. The horse was emaciated and a ghostly greenish gray color. The Rider I could not see as clearly, but I remember pitch black armor with a red emblem on his helmet (a cross perhaps?) and that he carried a black sword.

Suddenly the Horse reared and it's rider began to slay all those that stood around me. They fell like dominoes, and it seemed even as they fell they were oblivious to the fact that they had been slain or that the pale horseman rode among them still.

In fear I watched as the rider came to me and swung his sword at me. Thinking I had been slain as well I fell at his feet. When I realized I was still living and unharmed, I stood up again in wonder. It was at this point I noticed that I was in a normal sized tall woman's body and I had blonde hair. I was wearing a burgundy leather suit with metal plate armor. (In actuality I am quite heavy and have black hair and would be highly unlikely to wear such an outfit!)

After examining my body for wounds and finding none, I exclaimed "I'm alive? Why am I still alive when they are all dead? Why was I spared?"

The pale Horseman responded: "You live because you have the light of Jesus inside you."

Surprised by this, I said: "Me? I have His light in me? But how... I am not worthy."

The rider said then: "No, but he is inside you nonetheless. I cannot touch you." He then rode off among the crowds, slaying others as he went.

I was left in the wake of his destruction, standing in awe.

Such a powerful message I felt I must share. I believe it is a warning that the Pale Horseman (Death) is indeed on his way, and the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ. I, for one, will continue to meditate on this and wait for guidance from the Lord on how to share his message further.

Pray for me, fellow Christians, as I seek His will on this.

God bless you!

I'm finally feeling better! I've added all kinds of new art to the site. Check it out in my galleries section! I have big plans for the future so keep checking back!

I'm still working on the memorial site too so hopefully that will be up soon!

God bless you!

Hello everybody! It's been a while since I posted. I hope you are all well!

I have some new additions to the site: Grandmother Angel and Fishing Grandfather. These are the start of a new site I am starting soon, Artsy Erin's Memorial Portraits. We've all lost someone we love. I hope to help the healing process by prayerfully and lovingly making beautiful portraits for the bereaved. Hopefully God will bless this venture and help many hearts to heal.

Please continue to pray for my Aunt Anna. She is still fighting cancer with all her might! God bless her, she's trying so hard and being so brave in the face of such high odds! We love you Anna!

There was some sad news in my family recently. My aunt, who has been bravely fighting aggressive, chemo-resistant cancer is facing steeper odds than ever. I don't want to say too much, for fear that her family may stumble across this and that it may make them even more upset than they already are. I certainly don't want to add to their trouble! But I am asking that anyone that comes upon this and believes in the power of prayer, to say a quick prayer for Anna. Even if you don't believe in prayer, please keep her in your thoughts! She is such a brave woman and has really fought this battle admirably. I am so proud of her!

I do not want to see her go through more pain, so I pray that our Wonderful Lord will heal her body as only He can, and take away the pain from her, and from her family. I pray that she will know comfort and peace in your arms. And I believe that you will hear this prayer, Lord, and that you will answer according to your will. And be there for all of us left behind, if it should be your will to take her home. Lord your perfect will be done! Amen.

Thank you for listening, and for praying and hoping with me!

This is of my uncle (my actual blood relation) along with Anna and their children. The only one of the family missing from this portrait is Bill and Anna's new baby granddaughter that was not yet born when I made this.

Be strong and brave as always, Anna, we're rooting for you!

"Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14