Have I ever told you I’m a people pleaser? This can be a good thing but it can also be a bad thing. Let me explain.
I’m an artist. I paint paintings and sell them on my Facebook page. As a artist, I try to be open to ideas of what I should paint. The key word in that sentence is “try.” Sometimes when my mom gives me an idea I’ll try to paint it. Well, one day in February my precious mom sent me a picture of a dove sitting on arched window sill. I knew it was going to be a challenge when I glanced at it. But people-pleasing kicked in, so that week I brought it to my art lesson and took on the challenge of a picture that lacked color. My art teacher even thought it was a challenging picture to paint. By the second week of working on this painting, it looked as though I hadn’t even accomplished anything. I felt like I was going to disappoint my mom by not painting this picture. The tears that day came in a constant stream.😭 The next week I started working on a different painting of two blue birds. I also painted over the dove painting I had been working on, not knowing it would turn into one of my favorite paintings.
A longtime family friend tagged me in a picture on Facebook and said, “Abigail, you should paint this! So pretty.” It was a cute, colorful, fluffy bird on a simple branch. It was definitely going to be challenging yet fun at the same time.
I am horrible at drawing, I think. I should practice drawing more, but I don’t. I know I’m going to mess up when I draw, and I hate erasing because it’s so hard for me. I feel like I’m washing dishes without water when I erase anything. Since I can’t use my wrist like everyone else who draws or writes, I use my entire left arm to paint, draw and write. That’s why I’m so strong. 💪🏻😜
Tiny tools to tackle the task.
A couple years ago, I found these “must have” paintbrushes at Hobby Lobby, the place where you say, “What? I’ve been here for 3 hours?!” There were two reasons why I had to get these brushes. First, they were the most adorable mini-brushes I’ve ever seen. Second, I knew they would come in handy when painting little tiny strokes.
As I embarked on this tedious task on March 20th, I knew it was going to get difficult especially when my Botox started wearing off. I enjoyed going to art every Tuesday and working on this painting for a hour and a half. Every week I could see it coming together. One of the challenging parts of the bird was the little claws. Oh, my soul, it literally took me a hour to paint both claws to where I liked them. It took three breaks because my blessed eyes were so squinty, and it does help to see what I’m going to paint! I know that sounds so profound, but it’s true. I really enjoyed painting the fluffy feathers with my adorable mini-brushes. I love painting colorful birds. I’m thinking about doing a bird series sometime soon.
This is how it progressed in five weeks.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
I’m so thankful I have the energy to paint through the jar-tight days. Jar-tight days are the days where I have to pry my left hand open to hold a brush—the days when I just want to quit art altogether and be done, the days where I go to art so tight I can barely see plus my teeth persistently grit and the days where my eyes are squinting but I’m still focused.
Abiding With Joy Studio 
Abbey, that bird is beautiful! You amaze me more every time I look at one of your paintings. Through all of your trials, God has blessed you with the sweetest spirit and an awesome talent. You are such an inspiration, and I love you.
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How inspirational this blog has been! God blesses in spite of all our various handicaps/challenges! Your humbleness and honesty shines through to paint an awesome picture. Our journey through life is constantly preparing us for a time when there will be no more handicaps, pains or heartaches, won’t that be wonderful?!? To God be the Glory, we can be blessed and be a blessing! Love you! ❤️
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In the end, after a long struggle…the bird is beautiful!!!
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What a Testimony to “Never Give Up!” Abbey God uses you to bless others……Your gift of painting amazes me…..and you’re bird is beautiful.
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Abbey that bird painting is gorgeous. You talked about painting the feet, but have you looked at the face. The beak, eyes and the feathers on the face. You nailed it. Thanks for not giving up on this painting even through the jar-tight days. You are such an encouragement.
I love you.
Debbie Z.
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Abbs. . .this gorgeous! Thank you for sharing your heart with us. Those of us who love you and see you several times a week can grow accustomed to seeing you on your jar-tight days. We see this as your normal and forget your struggles. I apologize for forgetting and taking your awesomeness for granted. God has truly blessed you with a great talent and blessed me for knowing you. I love you!
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You absolutely captured this bird in every detail! I’m so impressed with your talent. For those of us who can’t draw stick people correctly you can imagine how awe-struck we are that you can sketch/paint such a beautiful creature all while fighting your own muscles and closing your eyes! I’m deeply moved by your determination and the way you encourage each of us to do our best for the Lord even through life’s struggles. I love you!
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(I thought I had already commented, but I guess that was on Facebook.)
I am amazed and overwhelmed at how the Lord has gifted you artistically, but more significantly in the area of patience. Thank you for sharing the details and the progression of this. It’s quite a testimony!! Love you 😍❤️😘
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Awesome painting!!…
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