When I was in Kindergarten, my Spanish teacher introduced us to Our Lady of Guadalupe. I fell in love with the beauty of Mother Mary. In our lesson, my Spanish teacher passed out coloring pages of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I carefully colored my page to, what I thought, perfection. I was so proud because I colored within the lines and I held true to the colors of the statue in our classroom. For over thirteen years, my coloring page of Our Lady was displayed in honor on our family refrigerator.

I remember every year telling my Mom “One day when I am a “real” artist, I am going to paint my own Our Lady of Guadalupe!” In high school, my artistic talents developed, but I forgot about my artist dream of painting Mother Mary. I remember in High School, many of my Dad’s artist friends asking me “Are you going to paint religious paintings like your Dad?” My answer was easy and quick “No.” I wanted to paint what I wanted to paint. I enjoyed painting colorful and whimsical animals. 

After graduating high school, my Mom reminded me “Amberose, you have the artistic talent. Why don’t you paint Our Lady of Guadalupe?” My “yes” was immediate. I truly believe it is a miracle and grace from God that my first ever painting of Faith was inspired by the beauty of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What is best yet is Our Lady of Guadalupe is known as the “pregnant Mother of God” and the “Mother of the Unborn.” Our Lady of Guadalupe is carrying baby Jesus in her womb. It’s almost as if it was my first encounter as a sacred artist is with Jesus as a pre-born baby. Little did I know, that in the near future my next painting would be a “Pro-Life” painting of healing, known as the Forsaken Found.