A few summers ago, I found a tiny wentletrap shell along the shoreline—so small it could easily be overlooked. It required intention and focus to notice it, a quiet reminder that some of life’s most meaningful details are easy to miss if we are not paying attention.

The wentletrap, meaning “staircase,” became the inspiration for this painting during a deeply difficult season in my life. My daughter began experiencing symptoms similar to those of a stroke, and as a young, otherwise healthy woman, the uncertainty led to a long and overwhelming series of tests and questions without clear answers.

In that space of fear and waiting, I turned to painting as a way to search for peace and clarity. As the form of the shell emerged on the canvas, I was reminded that, like a staircase, life does not require us to see the entire path ahead. We are simply asked to take the next step.

This small shell—once hidden in the sand—became a quiet symbol of faith for me. A reminder that even when we cannot see the full picture, we are still held, guided, and given what we need for the step in front of us.

Numbered prints are available of this original.

Wentletrap-One Step at a Time