In the eyes of Houston artist Elizabeth Tran, the best paintings come from deep thought and a peaceful meditation session.

“Meditation helps you find peace, relaxation and happiness,” Tran said.

She said she uses this peace and relaxation every time she decides to put the brush to the canvas.

Although she only got really involved with painting less than two years ago, Tran has been active with art since she was a young girl.

“When I was only about 8 years old I was at school and I would always paint the lotus flower,” she said. “Eventually the elementary school asked me to do a background for a play at the school.”

She said she decided to take up painting again at a difficult time in her life.

“I got older and got married, had children and things got tough,” Tran said. “Of course, everybody has problems, so I started to get into art then.”

She is now balancing painting on top of being a single mom with three children, operating her own business and preparing to enter the world of real estate.

Tran said that she is a very focused person who doesn’t get mad easy, and she loves kids, so she shrugs off the challenge.

“It doesn’t really bother me,” she said. “I usually help out at a different temple and take kids to the Moody Gardens and I’m the only adult. I might as well open a day care.”

One of her spotlight paintings, called “Ocean of Peace,” focuses on Quan Yin, which can be compared to Christianity’s Mary.

“Usually when we draw Quan Yin we have to be clean, take a shower and everything,” Tran said. “Before I did the Quan Yin I would meditate, shower, and talk to her.”

She said after painting the picture, she noticed the eyes followed the viewer from any angle, which she attributes to her meditation. And that’s not the only unique part of Tran’s paintings.

“My paintings glow at night,” she said. “If you turn out the light at night in the pitch dark, you can see it.”

Most of Tran’s paintings, including the Quan Yin, are oil paintings, although she does use acrylic as well. The paintings focus on nature, peace and tranquility, which is why they are dubbed “Serenity Art.”