Pay It Forward: Artist Ann Burt

This week I am participating in Pay It Forward, sponsored by Holly at A life-size Catholic blog. Those of you who have been reading my writing for a while already know about my appreciation of Ann Burt.

Ann, a decorative painter, lives in Raleigh, North Carolina and is retablo maker. Retablos, popular in 17th to 19th century Mexico, are devotional paintings. Franciscan monks brought the tradition to the United States. Ann discovered the tradition when visiting a sister in the Southwest.

We bought our first retablos for our son's Confirmation: St. Isidore of Seville, after his chosen confirmation name, a St. Bonaventure for our parish priest. Both were custom orders. I have subsequently bought many more retablos from Ann: for housewarmings, graduations and new babies. They are so lovely, unusual and meaningful. Ann has a large selection of prints and you can also custom-order.

I had the privilege of meeting Ann in real life last winter in Raleigh. What a delightful, faith-filled woman! Please check out her etsy page.