Staying True

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This spoke to my heart this morning.

Being an expressive artist, requires vulnerability.   When, I am creating, I am looking inwardly, and my art  is a reflection of what I find there.  The more I work on a piece, the  more vulnerable I feel as the reflection on the canvas comes from deeper inside my heart.  It takes bravery to share that with the world.

It is my desire to be God’s vessel.  As I reach deep inside, I want my artwork to reflect the heart of God.  Therefore, I must learn to trust.  To trust in God.  His love and inspiration will never run dry.  I need to trust that the inspiration in my heart is from Him, and I need to trust that whatever is there on the canvas will reflect God’s heart.  The painting won’t speak to everyone.  However, to the one person the message is intended for, it will scream the heart of God.

 “Stay true to you and you will end up incredibly happy”

This quote speaks to me.  It says to stay true to what I have painted. Don’t second guess my work.  Trust in it, and I will be happy.

The desire of my heart

It is every artist’s dream to be able to do something meaningful with their art, and I am no different.

hope sketchIf you have been reading this blog for awhile, then you know that I have been searching for some purpose and meaning to my artwork.

In the last year, my art has become a form of worship for me as I seek God in my creating.  It has become the desire of my heart that other people will be able to connect with my art and see the heart of God.  God has given me this desire of my heart.

A few weeks ago, I shared a couple posts with you about hope. (here & here)

I had been asked to design and paint a mural for the oncology unit of the hospital.  The only requirement was that the painting inspire hope.

I started painting last week.

The opportunity is amazing!  Many people come by daily to see the progress, and I’ve heard all kinds of positive comments!  My best experience painting at the hospital happened yesterday when I could hear an old man grumbling about how much farther he had to walk to get to his room.  The nurse and therapist were trying to get him up to get some exercise.  I heard the therapist say ” your room is just up here.  You can do it. You’re doing a great job.”  Then the little group came around the corner and this patient saw the mural I was working.  Suddenly, he was bright & witty with comments.  For the moment while he paused to chat with me, he was no longer in a hurry to return to his bed feeling tired and achy.

The director wants to create a gallery of murals that will encourage patients to get out and walk around the halls to see them.  I don’t know how many murals that will be in the end, but so far the response has been amazing.
Just a month ago, I was praying that God would use my hands as his own to create art that penetrates peoples hearts.   Now here I am painting God inspired murals to encourage cancer patients.  I feel blessed, and incredibly honored to have this opportunity!

hopeat St. Joseph Medical Center, 6-garden

Creating with nature

Over the summer I did a series of posts focused on creating with nature.  I really enjoyed looking at the creativity that had been inspired by nature.

land art 1I’d like to introduce you to an artist who has mastered the art of creating with nature.   Walter Mason is a land-artist from Germany.

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Click the link for more examples of Walter’s ingenious art installations.

Hope

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When you hear the word hope? What images come to mind?

I’m working on an art piece that I want to convey hope.  I have a jumble of ideas swirling in my head, but what I really want to know is what images come to mind when a person thinks of hope.  Can you help me out?  What do you see?

Wedding Day Weaving

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In celebration of my of 14th wedding anniversary, I wanted to share with you a weaving I did a few years ago honoring our wedding day.

My husband & I got married on the beach of Lake Michigan at sun set.

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I love the idea of honoring special textiles in our lives by including them into art pieces.

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dream catcher copyI’ve also written about a dream catcher that I made last Valentine’s Day using strips of fabric from my wedding & bridesmaid dresses.

What are some ways that you have preserved special textiles from your life?