While traveling near Bowie, Texas, I came across a remarkable collection of old windmills standing together against the sky. I immediately stopped to photograph them because they reminded me of a large Southern family.

Every windmill was different. Some stood taller than the others. Some were weathered with age. Each had its own character, yet together they created something far more beautiful than any one could alone.

That image stayed with me long after I returned to my studio.

Using my original infrared photograph as inspiration, I created this mixed-media painting with acrylic paint, acrylic markers, Sharpie, and, as I like to say, a few prayers in between. The perspective and countless intersecting lines challenged me technically, but they also became part of the story—relationships are built one connection at a time.

This artwork was completed as a wedding gift on a very short timeline. Looking back, I can’t imagine a more fitting symbol for a marriage. Like the windmills, two people stand together through changing seasons, each bringing their own strengths while becoming part of something larger than themselves.