I move through seasons with my artwork, just as I do in life. Inspiration boards are where I gather what is currently inspiring me. It’s a way for me to catalog the journey.
Calligraphy Lessons :: St. Francis of Assisi :: Muir John Potter script :: G. K. Chesterton :: Monk
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I am a third generation painter. My father is a painter, as was his mother before him. Painting has always played an important role in my life. My training came along side life training. I remember learning about points of perspective, and proportions of the human body, just as I remember learning to ride my bike and dancing ballet. Every school project became an art project. In fourth grade, I made a life size statue of George Washington for a history project. and in middle school, my presentations were shrink wrapped and displayed as fine art. Creating has always been second nature to me. It is a treasured bond that I share with my dad. As I have grown older, creating art has also become a way for me to connect with my heavenly father.
In 2014, I had the privilege of doing some artwork for a fundraiser hosted by Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart, IN. During this time, there was a tragic shooting that took place in our community. In response to this, the hospital asked if I would paint a memorial piece in memory of the shooting victims. It was my great honor to create an art piece entitled “A Three Stranded Cord”. The monument represents the strength of our community during that hard time. It shows that with love, hope, and unity, our community is like a three-stranded cord that cannot easily be broken. This was my first time painting for hurting people. The experience opened a door in my heart and gave me direction for my artwork.
Shortly after the memorial dedication, I was asked by St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, IN to begin painting their oncology unit. When I began, I didn’t realize how much this project would impact my life. As I have watched cancer patients view my artwork, I have seen them gain hope, and determination to keep up the fight, and this experience has greatly inspired me, offering me my greatest fulfillment as an artist.
When people are sick, it is important that they get out of bed, walk around, and have a renewed hope, and inspiration for life. Art can do that.
When people have lost someone dear to their heart, it is important that their memory live on, that others remember their life and are inspired. Art can do that too.
Art can offer hope. It is an inspiration of life. It can soothe the soul and offer healing to the hurting in way that words cannot.
As I dip my brush into the paint and I make brush strokes across the wall., it is my prayer that those who see my paintings are able to see God’s heart for their life, that in the darkness of cancer, His presence is known and His love for His people is felt. This is why I paint.
In this age, contemplative silence is rare and fleeting. We are bombarded daily with the audible, and visual noise that surrounds us. Some days it is impossible to hear a still, soft voice whispering within our hearts, so God uses ART to speak to our souls.
One of my goals for 2015 is to me more intentional with my time. I want to be present in the moments that take place throughout the day, but even more so, I want to see God’s presence in these moments. I want to KNOW God’s heart, and I want to be His hands and feet all day long, everyday.
I have always had a relationship with my maker, I have also always really struggled with spending time daily at His feet. To be brutally honest, it’s always been boring to me.
After attending christian schools my entire childhood, reading the bible feels like reading a textbook. It’s not alive to me, and I HATE that. How can the words of my God feel so dead in my heart as I read them? How can I possibly know God’s heart when his very word bores me?
I passionately LOVE my God with all my heart. I hunger for more of Him every day, and it grieves me that I do not find life in reading God’s word. This is why I’ve decided to join Take Me Deeper.
Every week, for a year there will be a new bible verse to read as well as a devotional to accompany it. Then throughout the week we are to create a piece of art inspired by the verse. I know this is going to be a challenge for me. I have yet to stick with something like this for the entire year, but I really hope that I do. I hope that it helps me find a renewed hunger for reading the bible. I also hope it helps me learn to hear God’s voice in creating art.
Enjoy these printable gift tags as my gift to you!
Yeah – We did it!
Here, as promised, is a gift to you all.
Save this artwork to your computer and use it as your desktop.
Thank you for your support.
Happy Holidays!
Every year I go through a period of time when I am beside myself with wanderlust. I just need to go somewhere – anywhere. I want to be outside, exploring. I want to hit the road and simply roam. This desire of mine has gown more and more intense over the years as I see our family moving closer and closer to reaching our dream of traveling together.
Wanderlust was painted during a time when my feet most fervently needed to wander.
Limited edition 11×14 prints of this painting are now available, but only through my campaign, Healing Souls on the Road!
The lotus is a flower that is rooted at the bottom of miry water. It shows great determination as it forces its way up through the darkness until it finally emerges into the sunlight and blooms as a beautiful flower.
The lotus flower becomes a symbol of perseverance, overcoming, and survival as the miry water is often related to a dark trial in life. Encouragement comes in the hope that at the end, a person will be met with the joy of the sunshine and will bloom as the beautiful lotus flower.
8×8 prints of this original artwork are available now, but only through my campaign Healing Souls on the Road!
Get a set of 6 greeting cards featuring 3 original pieces of art. Each design is letterpressed onto high quality paper making each card a piece of fine art.
Available now only through my campaign Healing Souls on the Road!
“Where other medical units have a need to invest in new robotics for patient care, Oncology does not have that need. I am investing in art on the walls that heal the soul.”
~ Amelia Taggart, Director of Oncology
Art can offer healing to the soul, a place where medicine can not reach. It can offer encouragement and renews hope when words fail to do so. It speaks not only to patients, but to their family members as well. For this reason, art is a powerful resource in providing comfort and peace.
Learn how you can be a part of “Healing Souls on the Road“
artbycarriejoy.com 