Like a song, a piece of artwork can bring you back to a moment, help you remember feelings or sensations, boost your mood, and ignite your imagination.  Studies have even shown that viewing art may increase feelings of eudemonic well-being, which is a sense of meaning or purpose.

Artwork is the perfect gift!

Whether you want to help trigger a memory in a loved one about a beautiful moment you shared together:

Honeymoon CafeThis image was taken in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on our honeymoon. I made this piece for my husband on our anniversary. The original negative is black and white infrared and I have added the color through Photoshop. I also removed the waiter's cart from the image.

I thought it would be nice to highlight the table where my husband and I had dined. After I finished the piece and had printed, mounted and laminated the 24x36" work of art, I realized that we had actually eaten at the next cafe over and not this one at all!
I created this piece for my husband on our first anniversary.  At the time, I thought it was the restaurant that we dined in on a date in Puerto Vallarta, on our honeymoon.   I highlighted our table in orange.  It wasn't until I had finished the piece, printed it out and had it mounted on foam core that I realized that we had actually dined in a similar outdoor restaurant right next to this one!   That just goes to show that the artwork doesn't have to have been created from the exact moment you shared, it only needs to represent it in order to bring back the feelings of nostalgia.   My husband and I both still love this piece and remember our honeymoon every time we see it.

Hint at a moment you would like to share together:

Rainbow CactusA rainbow passes through a saguaro cactus in the late afternoon on a cold, stormy day in Fountain Hills, Arizona. There are snow covered mountains in the background and a bright green desert in the foreground. Perhaps seeing a rainbow on a hike in the Sonoran desert.  This image was taken from the Beeline Highway near Fountain Hills, Arizona.

SunsetSilhouettesSunset seen from the Watchtower area at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Blue silhouettes of mountains stack upon each other as they fade into the distance under an orange sky.
Or taking in a magnificent sunset.  This one was from the Watch Tower area of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

View of a Summer Sunset Rain from the San Francisco PeaksAfter walking through an aspen forest on the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, Arizona, we headed back across the meadow slope to the parking lot. As we looked to our right, to take in the view, we saw this magnificent sunset beginnning to color the sky and backlight the distant falling rain. We couldn't help but marvel at the glorious artistry. God truly is the best painter.


Job 5:10
10 He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside. Maybe watching a distant storm at sunset from the safety of a nearby mountain.  This was taken from Snowbowl in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Remember a favorite location or inspire a trip to a new one:

Golden Gate BridgeThis panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge was taken while I was on a very rare trip with some girl friends. It was a trip far outside of my comfort zone. My initial thought when I was invited was, "How could I possibly pack up and leave town without my family?" However, my husband and mother thought it was a great idea and since they were willing to watch my kids while I was gone, I went and I am so glad I did! The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California

RedMountainUnderStormySunsetSkyView of Red Mountain in Mesa, Arizona on a stormy, sunset day. Looking across a lush and very green desert, sprinkled with saguaros, at a red rock mountainscape. The sun is setting and the last light of day is reflecting off the mountain, causing it to glow and show off the reason it was named Red Mountain. The sky looks like a brewing storm, colorful and swirling over the tip of the mountain. To the side of the image, the sky is beginning to clear and a strikingly yellow sky shows through, a cactus on the right of the image reflects that yellow in the last light of day.

What an amazing artist God is! He paints with such a brilliant assortment of colors and His lighting is constantly changing and highlighting different aspects of His creation. Red Mountain in Mesa, Arizona.  Located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation.

Roanoke Marshes LighthouseThe Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse on Roanoke Sound in Manteo, North Carolina. It is on Roanoke Island near the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse on Roanoke Sound in Manteo, North Carolina, on Roanoke Island near the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Sinking DockA white egret soars gracefully by an old dock that appears to be sinking into the swamp. Lake Bistineau, Louisiana
Sinking Dock

Celebrate their favorite flower:

Textured SunflowerThere is something about sunflowers that just begs for a close inspection. A sunflower

Textured Sunflower

Two Yellow TrumpetsTwo yellow trumpet flowers hang from their tree. They are backlit by the sun and snuggled close together. One is larger than the other and seems to be holding it's mate close with one of it's petals. Yellow Trumpet Flowers

Tall Water LiliesThis image of lotus blooms looks amazing as a stretched canvas print! Tall Water Lilies

Rainy Day MagnoliaI captured this image of a magnolia blossom on a really hot, bright, sunny day in Jackson Square of the New Orlean's French Quarter. Well, it was bright and sunny at that moment, however, it did rain off and on throughout the day and it was HUMID! Maybe not humid to most, but for this Arizona girl, it was pretty steamy! So the fact that I've added a layer of raindrops is really quite appropriate. The magnolia is Louisiana's state flower and one of my mother's favorites. She grew up with a giant magnolia tree in her front yard and even I have wonderful memories of climbing that tree when we visited Ganma's house in Shreveport. Maybe that is why I am unable to resist photographing magnolias any time I see one. Rainy Day Magnolia

Or their favorite insect or bird:

Arizona: Yellow and Black Swallow Tail Butterfly Wings SpreadA beautiful yellow and black Swallow Tail Butterfly sits and sips nectar from a thistle.
Yellow and Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Dragon Fly FishingI LOVE photographing dragonflies! This little guy was perched atop a twig sticking out of the water of Lake Bistaneau, Louisiana. The water was dark and murky, but I have transformed it using the power of Photoshop. Orange Dragonfly
Dragonfly Fishing

Golden Light, Hummingbird FlightThis male Anna's Hummingbird or Calypte anna, was checking me out between sips at my Father-In-Law's hummingbird feeder in Tucson, Arizona. The Anna's hummingbird was named for Anna Masséna, the Duchess of Rivoli. Only the adult male has the iridescent, magenta head, youngsters and females have a crown of green instead. These hummingbirds not only feed on nectar, but I was fascinated to find out that they can also catch insects in mid flight by opening their beaks wide and flying directly at their prey. To feed on nectar and tree sap, they use their protruding tongue. Another amazing fact about the Anna's hummingbird is that they have the fastest "shaking ratio" of any vertebrate. They can shake their little selves 55 times per second while in flight. They use this movement to rid their feathers of any excess pollen or dirt that has attached to them.
Anna's Hummingbird

Golden Light Hummingbird Flight

Outstretched EagleWhat a powerful sight this Desert Bald Eagle is as he comes in for a landing.
Bald Eagle

Swimming On The SunI found this male ring-necked duck swimming around the main lake of the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona. Our family was enjoying a nice walk around the grounds there and about an hour before sunset, we walked across the wooden bridge over the lake. Off to the right is a huge wall of growing reeds and directly under that, swam this ring-necked duck. The way the reeds reflected in the water reminded me of the sun, all fiery and gaseous. I was transfixed, I love the way light reflects off of surfaces, especially when that surface then reflects off another. I also really like how the color of the sunlit reeds is a mirror of the color of the duck's eye. Ring-necked duck
Swimming on the Sun

Or their favorite season:

Square Lake Powell Sunset B ShadowedHouseboatsDockedAtSunsetWahweapA row of houseboats docked in the shadows at Wahweap Marina at Last Chance in Lake Powell. The sun is set and the last, colorful light of day is painting the lake and sky around them.
Summer sunset at Lake Powell, Arizona SingleSeagullFliesOutToSeaGodRaysA single seagull soars out to sea, towards God rays streaming through the clouds during sunrise. The location is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in the summertime.

There is such a peaceful feeling to this image, the seagull seems to float in the air, past the dunes, over the calm sea. It has no worries as it flies towards the light of God. When we keep our focus on our Creator, and our eyes on His light, we are taken care of, even if storms do arise, His hand is on us and He makes our ways straight.
Summer sunrise in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Colorado: Bright AspenBright yellow aspen trees stand tall on an incline in front of a blue sky. Their white trunks pop against a colorful yellowish green landscape. Colorado: Backlit Aspen On the High Edge of the ForestIn a forest of aspen trees growing on a mountainside, one stands out as it glows from being backlit by the sun. In the background, colors of more distant trees range from yellow to blue and their muted tones enhance the brightness of the aspen in the foreground.
Fall leaves near Ouray, Colorado
IMG_9096
Natural Bridge in Bryce Canyon, Utah IMG_9037
View from Rainbow Point in Bryce Canyon, Utah

Projected Aspen ForestThis aspen forest in Flagstaff, Arizona is so special to my family. On the trip this picture was taken, we were walking along the trail to the forest and came across a wedding in progress. We didn't want to disrupt the ceremony, so we trudged through the deep (and itchy) grass. Some of the kids were in shorts but even though the grass bothered them, the beauty of this forest drown out all the complaints we would have heard had we been in a different location.

The stillness of the forest floor is animated by the sounds of the wind rustling the leaves high above. This image has been layered with a few different views of the area to create some texture. The result reminds me of projecting old home movies on a surface other than a white screen. As the paper trunks of the aspen are illuminated, it is as if time is layered upon itself with different views of reality and what you see depends upon which layer you are focused on in the moment.
Springtime in the Aspen grove at Snowbowl in Flagstaff, Arizona
Projected Aspen Forest

Remind them that they are never alone and that there is an Amazing God that loves them:

Psalm 42:1When I was much younger, I attended a service at my grandmother’s church. They sang a song with lyrics inspired by Psalm 42:1, “As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee, You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee. You alone are my strength, my sheild, to You alone may my spirit yeild, You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee”. “As the Deer” was written in 1981 by Martin J. Nystrom. The song resonated with my soul and has never left me. Many years later, I was searching for a church myself. I was broken and at a low in my life, I didn’t even trust myself to choose a church. One Sunday, I made it into a church service where they sang that same song and I knew that it was where I belonged for that time.

This image of a beautiful, young dancer, kneeling on the stage with arms and eyes outstretched to God, just begged to be paired with this verse. Along with a couple deer, of course.
Psalm 42:1

Isaiah26_3A painterly, teen girl stands staring off into the distance with her hand over her heart. She is lit from the side and is looking towards the light. A background of lotus flowers and lily pads floats behind her and the scripture Isaiah 26:3 is typed in the center of the image, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.â€
Isaiah 26:3

Rev22_17A bride stands ready in shallow water that ripples around her ankles. She is facing a painterly waterfall and appears to be waiting for her groom.

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wihes take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:17
Revelation 22:17

What about just giving them something beautiful to gaze at day after day to let their imagination be stirred and inspired to think of you:

Grapes in DisguiseThis cluster of flowers reminds me of a bunch of grapes. Originally white, I added the purple in photoshop, along with the texture. I hope you enjoy this image as much as I do.
Grapes in Disguise
Taken at the Huntington Library in Pasadena, California

JeanetteBrownITLPhotoCoalmineCanyonB-26
Captured at Coalmine Canyon near Tuba City, Arizona

JeanetteBrownITLPhotoCoalmineCanyonB-37
Also at Coalmine Canyon near Tuba City, Arizona

Heron In Flight by St. Augustine WallA composite image of a heron in flight in front of a textured yellow wall with water flowing underneath. This is the center panel of a triptych.
All images in this montage were captured in St. Augustine, Florida

Heron in Flight by St. Augustine Wall

FlowingGoldeneyeKoiThis piece was created by layering several images from a day trip that I took to Sedona, Arizona. The butterfly Koi fish were swimming in a pond and are the base image. A close up of showy goldeneye is in the upper right hand corner and in layers are images of a door panel with peeling paint that has been blurred to look as if in flowing motion, and out of focus sparkling water that shows up in circles of large bokeh.

When I was looking for information on all the elements of the piece to write this description, I noticed that all the elements, the Asian Carp, Showy Goldeneye, water, and even the color blue all have symbolicly positive, peaceful, and harmonious meanings according to Feng Shui. This was not intentional on my part, I had to look up what Feng Shui was, but the fact that it showed up in all the definitions of all the elements of these images stood out to me. The only negative was from the cracked and peeling paint in one of the layers, but the fact that the layer in question had been blurred to represent flowing color in motion, seems to redeem the stagnation of the original image.

While I do not prescribe to Feng Shui, I do believe that everything resonates at a specific frequency and when we choose to resonate in peace, joy, and love, we will be able to flow more closely with the plan God laid out for our lives.
Flowing Goldeneye and Koi

Elements captured in Sedona, Arizona

No matter what your reasoning for choosing a specific piece, if you take a moment to think about the person you are purchasing for: who they are, what they love, and how you would like to help them feel, you should be able to find a work of art that they will bring them joy for years to come.  If you would like assistance, I would love to help you.  Just send me a message at [email protected].   I have many works beyond what you can currently find online and have even photographed many places from which I still haven't processed the images.   I'm even willing to travel to capture new images, if the circumstances allow.  Together, we can find something to delight your gift's recipient!

If you are purchasing for someone who lacks wall space, remember that artwork can also be printed on all sorts of useful items.  Some of these include coffee mugs, yoga mats, and even puzzles!

You can find a lot of my current selections here:  https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/inthelight/shop

Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you would like assistance:  [email protected]