Inspired by the Living Water.
Textured in Alaska.

Kacie
O'Neill

Textured artwork inspired by the Living Water of Jesus Christ, Alaska's wild beauty, and the peace found in God's creation.

Featured Artwork

Each painting is an invitation to pause, reflect, and experience the beauty, peace, and wonder of God's creation.

Texture Gallery

Texture is where paint, prayer, memories, and God's creativity come together. Every layer tells part of the story. I invite you to slow down, look closer, and discover the beauty hidden in the details.

🎨You Can Explore My Portfolio on Etsy🖌️

About Me

Water has always drawn me in.When I was nine years old, I was baptized. As I looked up through the ripples above me, everything became completely still. In that deep silence, I experienced God's presence in a way I have never forgotten.Years later, at seventeen, I packed my paints into a treehouse overlooking Mount Healy in Alaska and painted the mountain before me. I had made art before, but that day something changed. For the first time, I realized painting wasn't simply something I enjoyed—it was something I felt called to do.As the years passed, another passion began to grow: texture.Texture awakens something in me that I can't fully explain. It slows me down, helps me notice the smallest details, and creates space where I can listen for God's gentle leading. Many of my paintings begin not with a plan, but with a prayer.Over time I have learned to trust Him, even when His direction doesn't make sense to me.There have been moments while painting when I felt prompted to use colors I never would have chosen on my own. One painting in particular taught me this lesson. I was struggling to paint a lion's eye and couldn't make it come alive. As I prayed, I felt led to add orange and fluorescent green—colors I would normally never place together. I trusted that prompting, and the painting became one of the strongest pieces I've ever created.That experience changed more than my artwork.It taught me to listen for God's guidance in everyday life—whether I'm creating, cooking dinner for my family, or deciding where to spend the afternoon. My daily prayer has become:"God, please help us to be doing what You want us to be doing today."Living in Alaska continually reminds me of God's beauty through rivers, oceans, glaciers, mountains, and rain. Jesus called Himself the Living Water, and that truth has become the thread running through both my faith and my artwork.Every painting is an invitation to pause, reflect, and experience the beauty, peace, and wonder of God's creation."Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst." — John 4:14

The Beginning of My Story

The Waters of BaptismI don't remember every detail of being nine years old, but I remember that day.I remember looking up through the water while I was being baptized.The ripples moved gently above me and the light danced over the water, and for just a moment, everything became completely still.It wasn't an ordinary silence. It was deeper than that. It felt as though time had paused, and in that quiet I became aware of God's presence in a way I had never experienced before. There were no words. There didn't need to be. I simply knew He was there.That moment became an anchor for my life, reminding me of when Jesus said,"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
John 14:27 (ESV)Whenever life has been difficult, whenever I have needed peace, I have found myself returning to that memory. Even now, I can still picture the light filtering through the water and the gentle movement of the ripples overhead.I didn't realize it then, but God was planting something deep within my heart.Years later, I would discover that water would become one of the greatest inspirations for my artwork.Every crashing wave, quiet lake, rushing river, and falling rain reminds me of the same God I encountered beneath those waters.Jesus called Himself the Living Water.Because of that, water has become much more than a beautiful subject to paint. It has become a reminder of His presence, His peace, and His promise that those who come to Him will never truly thirst."Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again."
John 4:14

A Treehouse Overlooking Mt. Healy

When I was seventeen, life felt heavy.I remember packing up my paints and climbing into a small treehouse overlooking Mount Healy in Alaska. I didn't go there because I was inspired. I went because I needed somewhere to be alone.As I sat looking out over the mountain and began to paint, something unexpected happened.The anger I had carried with me slowly began to melt away. In its place came a deep peace that I can't fully explain. It wasn't that my circumstances suddenly changed. It was that, in the middle of creating, God met me there.I had painted before, but I had never experienced anything like that.For the first time, I realized that painting wasn't simply something I enjoyed doing. It had become a place where I experienced God's presence in a unique way. Through the quiet rhythm of creating, He calmed my heart and reminded me of His peace.As I looked across Mount Healy that day, I knew something had changed.I wanted to spend the rest of my life creating art.Looking back now, I don't believe I simply found a passion that afternoon.I believe God was gently revealing a calling.Since then, painting has become much more than making beautiful images. It has become a place of prayer, worship, healing, and listening—a place where I return again and again to meet with the One who first met me in the waters of baptism and who continues to reveal Himself through the beauty of His creation.A Scripture That Has Stayed With Me"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
John 14:27

When Texture Came Alive

For years I painted with brushes.I loved creating, but something still felt unfinished.I began experimenting by adding salt to my paintings. That small experiment sparked something in me, and before long I found myself looking around, wondering what other materials I could incorporate into my artwork.Then I discovered texture.The first time I began building layers of paint instead of simply painting on a flat surface, something inside of me awakened.It's difficult to explain.I've always been a sentimental person. I love attaching memories to ordinary things. If I had a wonderful day at the beach, I would bring home sand to mix into my paintings. Around Christmas, after enjoying mandarin oranges with my family, I began saving the little mesh bags they came in and experimenting with them in my artwork.Suddenly the world around me became full of possibilities.Every walk, every memory, every ordinary object became something I could explore.Creating with texture became a place where I could be completely myself. It gave me permission to be curious again, to play, to experiment, and to see the world through the eyes of a child. Sometimes I felt like my own little scientist, constantly wondering, "What would happen if I tried this?"When I think of texture, I can feel everything in my body wake up. There is something about shaping, carving, and building layers that reaches a place in my soul I can't experience anywhere else.Texture slows me down.It invites me to notice every ridge, every movement, every shadow, and every highlight. It draws me into the creative process in a way that feels almost sacred.Painting with Jesus.Building texture with Jesus.Every layer becomes an act of worship.More than anything, texture has become one of the places where I hear God most clearly.Many people ask where my ideas come from. The truth is, I often don't know what the finished painting will become when I begin. I simply start with prayer.Sometimes I ask,"Lord, what do You want this painting to become?"Then I listen.There are moments when I feel God gently guiding each next step, one layer at a time.Creating this way has taught me that painting isn't just about making something beautiful.It has become a place where I give Jesus everything.Whatever is weighing on my heart...Whatever I'm thankful for...Whatever I'm struggling to understand...I lay it all down before Him as I paint.After building layer upon layer, I let everything dry. Then I return with a dry brush, gently revealing the landscape that has been hiding beneath the surface all along.The different materials begin to work together as one. Instead of forcing the painting to become what I imagined, I allow it to lead me toward the next step.Somehow...It almost always leads me back to water.The canvas has become one of the places where God continues to teach me to listen, trust, and rest in His presence.A Scripture That Has Stayed With Me"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."Proverbs 3:5–6

Learning to Listen

There was a time when I believed every painting depended entirely on my own ability. If I couldn't figure something out, I would keep trying until I became frustrated, convinced I had to solve it myself.One day I was painting a lion, and everything was coming together except the eye. No matter what I did, it just didn't look right. I stepped back, tried different ideas, and still couldn't make it come alive. Finally, I stopped striving and simply prayed.As I stood there, I felt God gently place two colors on my heart: orange and fluorescent green. I remember thinking, Those can't be the right colors. They were colors I would never have chosen on my own, and everything I had learned about painting told me not to use them. But I had a choice. I could trust my own understanding, or I could trust the gentle prompting I believed God was giving me.I picked up the paint and added the orange. Then I added the fluorescent green. As those colors blended into the lion's eye, the painting suddenly came alive. To this day, it remains one of the strongest paintings I have ever created.That moment changed far more than one painting. It taught me that God cared about every part of my life, even my creativity. More importantly, it taught me that He could be trusted. From that day forward, I began inviting Him into every painting, asking Him to guide my hands and my heart.Over time, I realized that learning to hear God's voice while painting also helped me hear Him in everyday life. Whether I'm deciding what spices to add to dinner, choosing whether our family should spend the day at the park or the zoo, or making bigger life decisions, I've learned to pause and ask Him for wisdom.One prayer has become part of nearly every day of my life:"God, please help us to be doing what You want us to be doing today."I don't always know what the day will hold, but I know the One who does. My hope is that every painting reflects not only the beauty of God's creation, but also a life that is learning, day by day, to trust His leading."Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."Proverbs 3:5–6

He Will Come Like the Rain

There have been many moments throughout my life when God has reminded me that He is near, but one afternoon has stayed with me in a special way.I was standing outside when I noticed the rain in the distance. It wasn't just falling from the sky. It looked like a waterfall stretching across the landscape, slowly moving toward me. I stood there watching as it came closer and closer.When it finally reached me, I didn't move.I simply stood there as it washed over me.I laughed and cried as it poured down around me.It felt like so much more than rain.It felt like God was washing over every burden I had been carrying. It was a cleansing my heart had needed more than anything.In that moment, the words from Hosea came alive to me:"He will come to us like the rain..."Since that day, I have never looked at rain the same way.Whenever I paint rivers, oceans, waterfalls, or storms, I remember that afternoon. Water has become one of God's constant reminders that He refreshes, restores, and faithfully comes to us, often in ways we never expect.A Scripture That Has Stayed With Me"Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rains that water the earth."
Hosea 6:3

God Wastes Nothing

Life is painful. Sometimes it feels like everything is falling apart.There have been seasons I never would have chosen and chapters that were difficult to understand while I was living them.Yet when I look back now, I don't see those seasons as the end of my story.I see the faithfulness of God.Again and again, He has met me in my weakness, brought healing to places I thought would always hurt, and gently transformed even the hardest moments into something beautiful.I have watched Him take what was meant for pain and use it for His glory and for my good.That doesn't mean every question has been answered or every journey has been easy.It means I have come to trust that God never wastes a single part of our story.Every joy.Every sorrow.Every victory.Every disappointment.He is able to weave them all together into something far more beautiful than I could ever imagine.That is one of the greatest reasons I paint.Every layer of texture reminds me that beauty is often built one layer at a time, and I believe God has been doing the same thing with my life.That is why I paint with hope.Not because life has always been easy.But because I have seen, again and again, that God is able to bring beauty from brokenness.If my artwork reminds even one person that God is still working in their own story, then every brushstroke has been worth it.A Scripture That Has Stayed With Me"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28

Paint With Me and Jesus

Painting has become one of the places where I hear God's voice most clearly. As I slow down, pray, and build each layer of texture, I find myself laying every burden, every joy, and every question before Him.My hope isn't simply to teach painting techniques. My prayer is that these videos encourage you to slow down, create with Jesus, and discover the peace, joy, and healing that can come from spending time with Him.Whether you've been painting for years or have never picked up a brush, I hope you'll join me.▶️ Watch me create on YouTube

▶️ Paint With Me and Jesus

Stories That Inspire

Stories have always been another way I share hope, wonder, creativity, and faith. Whether through children's adventures or novels, my prayer is that every book encourages hearts, sparks imagination, and points readers toward Jesus.

Featured Book

The Essentialist Elephant

The Essentialist Elephant is a delightful interactive adventure where children help Ellie the Elephant declutter her world while discovering that what matters most is Jesus.I created this book with my son, Declan, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. His imagination and creativity brought so much life to the story, and I truly believe all the best parts came from God and Declan's ideas.

My Other Children's Books

Adventures that inspire courage, wonder, imagination, and help children discover the joy of decluttering their hearts and lives so they can focus on what matters most—Jesus.