The Heart of the Matter

photo of Laurie Pace working on a large floral commissioned painting

©Laurie Pace Graphics One Design 2025

Work in Progress

Oil on Canvas Commission by Laurie Pace

The Heart of the Matter

Life is a work in Progress

In every relationship—whether a friendship, family bond, or serious partnership—two people are often drawn together by shared interests, emotions, or experiences. Connection comes naturally. However, discovering a safe place within that connection is not always easy.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56: 3

Trusting someone with your heart and your most precious inner thoughts requires vulnerability. It takes courage, wisdom, and time. Many people believe trust should come quickly, but in reality, it must be built carefully. Human nature, influenced by emotion, desire, and personal gain, can easily guide us off the right path. We are imperfect beings, and without discernment, we may place our trust where it does not belong.

Scripture reminds us that true restoration, safety, and joy ultimately come from God. Psalm 53:6 points toward hope—hope that deliverance, healing, and renewal do not depend solely on people, but on the Lord. When we look to God as the foundation of our relationships, we gain clarity about boundaries, intentions, and purpose.

In today’s culture, relationships are often viewed through the lens of “What’s in it for me?” This mindset prioritizes self-interest over mutual care, commitment, and integrity. When relationships are built on personal gain alone, disappointment and broken trust are often the result.

God calls us to something higher. Relationships were designed to reflect love, honesty, patience, and selflessness. When we allow God to guide our hearts, we learn when to open up, when to wait, and when to walk away. Trusting God first protects our hearts and helps us form relationships that are healthy, meaningful, and lasting.

True safety is not found in human perfection—but in divine guidance.

In the days ahead, I want to explore how human nature, boundaries, and faith shape the way we trust — and why God remains the safest place for the heart. Although my husband comes a close second. Elle

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Laurie is an international artist, her paintings are collected in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, DuBai, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, St Thomas, Romania, Greece, Croatia, and Ecuador.

EXHAUSTED Woman Figurative Oil Painting, Art Deco Painting, Art Abstract Painting, Women in Kitchen Oil Painting by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

'Exhausted' 24 x 24 Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie © Laurie Justus Pace Graphics One Design 2010 My Website Thinking ahead to the Thanksgiving celebration next week, I remembered back to those previous dinners that I cooked, served, ate quickly, and cleaned up. This is how I felt. It is probably strange...even for me but I had the best fun sketching it out and painting it. We lost another dear family member this week. She has celebrated her 'continuation' day and is now with her mom and dad and her other cousins. She leaves behind a family that will always celebrate her gentleness. My aunt was special to all of us. She loved each of us dearly for who we were and was always ready with a hug or a 'good job'. My memories are of breakfast pastries smeared with butter on top. It was not like they were not sweet enough as they were, but at her small kitch...

Sleeping Cowboy . Ernest Hemingway . Sunday, a day of rest . Western Painting by Texas Artist Laurie Pace

© +Laurie Pace Graphics One Design 2019 Sleeping Cowboy Commissioned Painting for one of our oldest friends. 2004 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOLLOW MY BLOG ON INSTAGRAM @lauriepaceblog Available Paintings by Laurie Pace “I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know?” Ernest Hemingway I really enjoyed painting this scene. It was restful to me as the artist and loved by our friends. Sunday is the day of rest. I smiled when I found this in archives and thought it perfect for this day. If you live in Texas you know that we still have 'rules' about not selling liquor before noon. If you live in Texas and are in your late thirties and up, you might even remember Blue Laws. Stores were simply NOT open...

Line Shape Form and SPACE, the fourth element of Art by Texas Art Teacher Laurie Pace.

Line Shape Form Space Frank Lloyd Wright said: "Space is the Breath of Art." By definition: Space is an element of art; space refers to distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece. Space can be positive (white or light) or negative (black or dark), open or closed, shallow or deep and two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Sometimes space isn't actually within a piece, but the illusion of it is. With little ones we always have donut day when I teach space...but we cannot do that over the internet. So I took up my pencil and looked around the studio. I spotted first one of my stools in the studio... so I quickly shaded in the space around it. Then the coffee cup holding my hot tea.... and then just a jack that was sitting on the table. (More of my work further down in the blog.) So how can you turn this into art that it works in a composition? Here is an example by M C Esher. ...

Laurie Pace - Fine Artist

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