“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”
— Isaiah 60:1
Artist Spotlight:
Joe Tysinger
An Evening in Venice: Red Umbrellas
While on an anniversary trip to Venice, Columbia, South Carolina, photographer Joe Tysinger captured this moment, one he describes best in his own words:
”The rain had settled into a steady whisper as we emerged from one of the many twisting, hidden alleys into the plaza. Every surface had become a mirror, catching the light and casting it back onto the ornate windows and towering white walls. The stark play of dark and light was broken only by the silent figures drifting through the square, their red umbrellas glowing against the night. No one moved in a hurry, yet everyone walked with quiet purpose. The moment felt surreal, and even as the scene fell into the frame of the lens, the photograph could never fully capture its magic. I snapped several shots trying to freeze the moment in time. Each time I look at it now, I am transported back to Venice and the stroll we took under our own umbrella.”
Joe’s original photo included a construction wall on the right that obscured a doorway. After researching the location online, I was able to reference the original architecture and restore the door in the painting.
Joe later commissioned me to transform his photograph into a painting as a Christmas gift for his wife; as a way to give her not just the image, but the emotion of that evening. I was truly honored to bring Joe’s photograph to life through paint. He has a remarkable ability to capture moments that feel like stories unfolding, using photography as his art form to preserve not just what is seen, but what is felt.
This collaboration is especially meaningful because the original photograph is available for purchase alongside the painting. Experiencing them side by side reveals the quiet dialogue between lens and brush - the captured moment and the memory brought to life again.
Joe joins the Arise collection as our newest featured artist, his work reminding us how light lingers long after the rain.
More collaborations and more light to come.
Artist Spotlight:
Chapman Design Group, Inc.
The Lantern: A Beacon of Light
Some homes begin with a floor plan.
The Lantern began with gratitude.
After a tragic fire destroyed the home that once stood on this site, the owners were met with an outpouring of love almost immediately. Within hours, family and friends arrived, offering comfort, helping salvage what little remained, and standing alongside them during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Weeks later, as a quiet but powerful gesture of thanks, the owners presented each couple who had supported them with a lantern and candle. It was a symbol of appreciation for those who had been, in their words, “a beacon of light in our darkest hours.”
Don Chapman, with Chapman Design Group, Inc., was honored to be among those couples.
When the owners later asked Don and his team to design their new home, they offered just three parameters: square footage, budget, and number of bedrooms. Everything else was left to trust and creative freedom.
From that trust, the symbolization of the lantern emerged as the heart of the home, both emotionally and architecturally.
Where Symbol Becomes Structure
The Lantern emerged as the signature element of the home, highlighted by a striking seven-foot circular window that frames where two rivers meet before flowing into Lake Hartwell. This powerful architectural moment anchors the design while framing expansive views of water, light, and horizon.
The circle, symbolizing unity, wholeness, and continuity, reappears throughout the home. The front doors, formed by two half-circles, represent two individuals coming together to form a complete whole. Inside, this motif continues through circular transoms and a full circular window opposite the entry.
Designed for Gathering and Reflection
The design thoughtfully marries quiet personal spaces with generous areas for gathering, spanning the main and upper levels. Resting on an elevated slab with a solid masonry base, the structure’s proximity to the ground makes porch railings unnecessary. The result is uninterrupted lake views, from the porches and from within the living spaces themselves.
Spanning 3,800 square feet, the four-bedroom home is a reflection of thoughtful design, with every material and architectural detail chosen to create a deeply personalized space. Sunlight pours into each room through large casement windows, offering panoramic views of Lake Hartwell.
The Vertical Heart of the Home
Rising through three levels, The Lantern forms the vertical heart of the residence.
The ground level serves as a fully equipped bar, complete with a Dutch door for serving outdoor guests.
A versatile space on the second floor can serve as a home office or a gaming setup.
The third level transforms into a private library, complete with wraparound bookshelves and a custom upholstered reading lounger set beside a seven-foot circular window.
Each level invites pause, reflection, and presence.
More Than a Home
The Lantern is more than a home; its entire design is a beacon of resilience, a testament to gratitude, and a celebration of the light that thrives in community and connection.
Based in Anderson, South Carolina, Chapman Design Group turns homebuilding into a true work of art.
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Contact Chapman Design Group.
Becky Morlok
Some people themselves are a light.
Becky Morlok was one of those people.
Becky was an incredible friend and a steady source of light in my life and in the lives of many others. She loved art deeply and had a gift for bringing out the best in people. A natural encourager and leader, Becky had a way of seeing others clearly and calling out what was good and strong in them.
After a fire devastated her home, Becky and her husband, Ted, gave lanterns to the people who helped them during that difficult time as a simple yet profound expression of gratitude. I still have mine. It’s pictured here, a tangible reminder of how she chose light even in darkness. Becky was a true beacon of light during one of the darkest seasons her family faced.
Even during her illness, she remained steady and strong. Becky made her mark on this world through kindness, encouragement, and love. She showed us that one person truly can make a difference.
As much as Becky loved seeing others shine, we believe one of the best ways to honor her memory is to allow her light to continue - by highlighting artists and creatives who are using their gifts in the way God leads them. In doing so, her legacy lives on, illuminating the work and the stories of others.
* Becky and Ted later named their rebuilt home The Lantern, honoring the light that surrounded them after the fire. The house was designed and built by Don Chapman of Chapman Design Group.
Creativity is intentional; a reflection of our Creator, meant to awaken hope, and reveal beauty.
Arise invites artists to step fully into the light they were created to bear. Art carries light into the world. It gives vision. It reflects truth.
And whether intentionally or unintentionally, it carries light—or darkness—into the world. This space exists to celebrate art that illuminates, encourages, and points us toward beauty, hope, and meaning.
As part of Arise, we’ll be introducing different creatives—through email and here on the blog—so you can see how they use their gifts. Our hope is that by sharing their work and their stories, their light will encourage others to shine as well.
Be on the lookout for the artists whose light we’ll be featuring here, each uniquely gifted, each shining in their own way.
