As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15
“The Ernstberger Homestead”, 30×15″, acrylic on canvas by Annie Dash, 2023
This work is dedicated to the memory of Mary Ruth Ernstberger (1931-2022) and Huston Ernstberger (1931-2005), beloved grandparents of Emily Ernstberger Rose, who with her husband Jonathan Rose, commissioned this piece in celebration of the Ernstberger family’s heritage homestead.
It was a great honor to be trusted to create a work of art that celebrates the legacy of this family. My goal with this work was not only to capture the beauty of their family homestead, where 11 children were raised with faith and love, but also communicate the hope, joy, and vibrancy of the Ernstberger family’s legacy. While I arrived in Indiana only a few years ago, the faithful spirit of the Ernstberger family has created a deep and lasting impression.
I painted this work in acrylic from reference photos of the homestead that I took in January, shortly after the passing of Mary Ruth. The painting is how I imagine that the homestead would look in the summertime. A million thanks to Emily and Jonathan for trusting me to complete this work for their family and for providing the many details to authentically capture the essence of this wonderful place.
“The Ernstberger Homestead” was painted with heartfelt dedication with professional archival materials for a lasting heirloom quality piece. I send my love and blessings to the entire family on the passing of their beloved matriarch and hope that this work brings comfort, peace, and joy to the family for generations to come.
The following slideshow shows the painting progression from the images I captured after every painting session. I hope that you enjoy viewing this work as much as I enjoyed painting it.