Caroline Netchvolodoff

In the summer of 2016, I ordered a $35 oil painting kit that came with a tabletop easel, a sleeve of pinkie-sized paint tubes, and a cardboard canvas, all of which I put to work right away. The result was a very amateur beach scene. I had never had a drawing lesson, let alone a painting class, but I was hooked.

Painting was a way of finding my footing at a time I needed it most. It has since been a steady source of joy and I'm grateful for having stumbled into it.

I started painting the things I love, and the things my friends and family love: animals, houses, nature, landscapes, and the occasional caricature. My work in foreign policy consumes much of my day, but nearly every free hour goes to my family or time in front of the easel.

As people discovered my paintings, scattered across the country, inquiries began to arrive: Could I paint a beloved pet? A wedding chapel? A childhood home? The final resting place for a parent? The answer is yes. I've even delivered on the Christmas dream of a 3-year-old who asked Santa for a blue horse. To her delight, she found a cerulean stallion under the tree.

I'm honored every time someone trusts me to paint something meaningful to them. If there's a pet, a place, or a blue horse you've been dreaming of, I'd love to hear about it.