Adore HIM Creations

Praying in Color April 2012

Another month of transformation!   I am finding that keeping my right hand occupied while praying has revolutionized my prayer life.  My prayer time before was more about a dialogue - me talking to God- lifting up  family, friends and issues.  There wasn't a time for HIM to speak to me.  Or I would fall asleep, or think about a thousand other things while I was praying.

This is different.  Prayer is not something that I have been good at. I would tell people that I will pray for you, but found that after I said that it never entered my mind again, until I would see them and then feel guilty that I hadn't prayed for them!   This is a tool to help me keep my word, and actually pray for the person/issue! It is a way to concentrate, to re-frame my life, to have it flow through me to the page.

At our workshop "Living Life as Prayer" with Connie, she talked about the reasons we don't pray:

1.  the distractions of life

2.  the fight of my will

Living a life of Thanksliving ( yes, I didn't spell it wrong) is a new way of living life and complements my prayer life.  My Thanksliving book is set up the left page is my list of my 1000 gifts ( Ann Voskamp) and the right is my praying.   God wants more than 10 minutes a day, He wants me to see the cross and live a life of redemption, to not turn from Him daily through my life interruptions.   To live a life of mental dialogue with God all day and quiet time with him where the Holy spirit is allowed to indwell in me and speak to me through my hand to the page. 

The first picture is what I began with back in January.   The second is how I started with using watercolors to color the leaves at the beginning of April.  Then God gave me this verse

John 17:15,17  "....protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

I decided to print that and add to my page. This month I just wrote names/words and then said that verse over the person.  It was very powerful!

 

I want to encourage you to try new ways of prayer, to allow yourself to be transformed by new tools that can draw you closer to God.  Don't reject my work because you say- "she is a good artist, she is so creative and I AM NOT."   You are creative, God created you and gave you the gift of creativity, use it in your way to come closer to HIM.   He will meet you wherever you are!

May God bless you this week and draw you closer to HIM.

 

Technique Tuesday- Psalms faithart journal & video

So today I am going to demo how I create a faithart bible study.

My bible study that I began, is a project that may take me a long time as there are 150 psalms. I am not holding myself to any time frame when it "must" be done, just enjoying the journey.  I am learning a lot and here are my bible study reference links.

Christ in the Psalms- book

ScriptureStudies- online

I have learned so much about the Psalms.

This is from the intro:

"The Church's full format of prayer includes, among many other components, the weekly recitation of the entire Book of Psalms.  Indeed, "among" is scarcely an adequate preposition in this case because of the very special place psalmody hold in the Christian life of prayer. From the very beginning of her history, when the Church of God turns to Him in love and dovotion, the words of the Psalter form the expressions that spontaneously, as by an impulse of nature, rise from her heart and take shape in her mouth. The psalms find their truest context in the heart and on the lips of the Church. Those whose lips constantly move with the syllables of the Psalter give living expression to the deepest being of the Church."

When we pray the Psalms, we are faced with a particular challenge not usually found in other prayers. This challenge arises from the Psalter's diversity of voices, or faces. 

"Conversation" is especially a trait of the Psalms, where we discover, not only ourselves speaking to God about Christ, but also Christ speaking to His Father about us and so on.  The voices will vary, not only from psalm to psalm but also during the course of a single psalm. "

You will see my book as I have completed faithart journaling  for Psalm 1-3. I hope you enjoy and will love to hear comments or questions. I would love to have any of you join me in this bible study!

 

Psalms study- faithart journaling

I wanted to share my update on my faithart journaling of the Psalms.  I was able to study and complete Psalm 1 and 2. I am using two sources.  One is the book "Christ in the Psalms"  by Patrick Henry Reardon and the other is an online source that is excellent and free .  Scripture Studies- Psalms

Here are some pictures and I will make a video tomorrow for Technique Tuesday and tell you more about my faithart journey!

Enjoy the pictures.  I am loving the study and learning so much. I have loved the Psalms for years, and thought I knew what they were saying, but now realize that first you must identify whose voice is speaking and to whom. 

The tool I used to solve the problem of adding the entire Psalm to each faithart page was to make a tag. Then I had to figure out how to add it.  My daughter was so clever to help me use the tools I have ( and forget to use- but just had to have!).  It is a puncher from Staples -ARC . It is used to create your own wire bound journals.  I bought it thinking I could use it for my faithart journals, but, it doesn't cut through thick pages, so, didn't work the way I thought it would. However, it is perfect for punching the side of a tag to add to a wire bound art journal book!

 

Technique Tuesday- new faithart journal and video!

I made a video about the challenge of white pages when journaling. I show you how I use spray inks and do the positive and negative for each stencil. I am creating a faithart journal that I will be using as I walk through the book  "Christ in the Psalms "( Patrick Henry Reardon).

 

 

You can get  the book here at Amazon.   I purchased this book when I attended a weekend seminar about praying, and am loving reading it. I am learning so much, and as the Psalms were the first place I began to read in the Bible, it was the perfect book for me.

Here is a review of  I totally agree with.

"In a time when many Christian traditions are opting to negate the Christological nature of the Pslams, Fr. Patrick argues persuasively that the Psalms are the backbone to a proper understanding of the human condition, the heart of God, and the nature of Christ's incarnation. Following the traditional exegetical method of understanding the Old Testament in light of the resurrection, Fr. Patrick illuminates the psalter in a manner both academic and devotional. Apart of Lewis's book on the psalms, there is really not much else out there of this quality in both regards.

No previous knowledge of Greek or Hebrew is needed. It is not an intimidating read at all and it is the type of book that you will want to read over and over through the seasons. Very highly recommended!"   Matt

"This book is a great way to begin to identify those Psalms (which are many) in which the Messiah is either directly speaking, is spoken of, or is inferred. It also points out many practical applications of the Psalms to the life of the church." Meadowhaven

I am slowing reading, absorbing and taking notes. I am such a project person, that I immediately wanted to do a complete faithart journal of all 150 psalms!.  Then it hit me - it  would take me so long, so I  pushed that thought away and stopped pursuing the journal idea. ( of course it was God's prompting, not my idea)

 Last week I was talking to my friend Connie, she mentioned a study she is doing about the names of Jesus and her comment " it may take me the rest of my life to finish it"  really hit home with me. So what if it takes me years to complete this. It is not the finished project  but the journey and the heart change in me that is the most important. So, I begin.

Hope this encourages you to find a book that you can dig into and create your own faithart journal.

Stay tuned for follow up stories and pictures!

Workshop Schedule 2012

For complete schedule and workshop information, please see the page (found on the right column under features).  New classes and dates have been added.

For Such a Time as This

I was a guest vendor at the event "For Such a Time as This" at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church this past Saturday. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear about a young woman ( Katie Stam Miss America 2009) tell her testimony. I learned a lot about Miss America as a scholarship program.

Here is a picture of our vendor booth, and this even was confirmation that  I am only going to do Church events as my faithart is welcomed and loved here.

Prayer Planks, mini marvels and my special canvases were the big sellers. 

I want to share one of my recent God moments.

On Friday I was preparing for the show and felt led to make some smaller faithart for Saturday. One of my best sellers last year was a piece entitled Sing, Sing, Sing from the song that I love by Chris Tomlin.  I wanted to make another praise piece to share. Connie from Prince of Peace gave me a few of her hymnals that they are not using and we have been using them for craft projects. So I found the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy and copied it on heavy copy paper and collaged it to 8x10 canvas ( I made 4 at a time).  I then did my stencil/texture technique around the edges and then added a home made stencil I have from a picture of a woman with raised hands worshiping God.  I added her in the middle over the music and felt it needed something more. I looked through my stencil file and realized that I had the same praise woman in a smaller size so added that to the right and as I was finishing up the reverse addition on the left , my eyes read the words underneath and God spoke to me. The last stanza of the hymn  "God in three person, blessed Trinity".  I looked up at the title "Holy, Holy Holy and realized that God had given me the idea and had guided my hands to create this.  I felt so loved my Him and blessed at the same time. 

Here is a not so good picture of one of them, as it was late when I finished Friday night and didn't have the proper light to take a picture.  This is from the event.

They were a sell out in the first 30 minutes!

I shared the story with each buyer so that they knew that God was blessing them with the picture in their home....

 

I also designed a special prayer plank for a gift for Katie and here is a picture of her receiving it  with Katie. My daughter Vera is the manufacturer of the prayer planks, so thanks Vera!

Check out more pictures  of the event and some beautiful craft decoration ideas from Connie's blog , called Vintage Grace.

 

Makoto Fujimura- inspiration

Makoto Fujimura is a renowned Christian artist working from New York's art scene.  He has begun  a monumental project- illustrating the 4 Holy Gospels.

The Four Holy Gospels is an exquisitely designed and produced edition of the four canonical Gospels in the English Standard Version, published in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version (KJV) Bible in 1611.

 

“[H]aving Mako’s art, which is non-representational, next to the words of scripture invites the reader to take the words of scripture and sort of see what they see in the art and how that connects with the words that they’re reading, because the words are transcendent. And the art, in a lot of ways, reflects that transcendence.”

– Alissa Wilkinson

I love the first comment from Valerie Dillon- Art Gallery owner

".... there is  a line in the contemporary art world...  this is the line....you can paint AND you can worship...  but don't do them together.. and if you step over that line you are in essence....  setting yourself up for Crucifixion...."

Makoto Fujimura - The Art of "The Four Holy Gospels" from Crossway on Vimeo.

 He is able to take his craft, his experience, his creativity and his FAITH and say " this is who I am" in his art.

May I be so blessed by God to take my craft, experience, creativity and faith and create faithart at Adore HIM Creations.

 

 

Guest Artist Series 2012

I have been working on this project for a few months and am so happy to announce the Guest Artist series at Adore HIM Creations studio. 

I have met so many wonderful talented artists that allow God to create their art and I wanted to share those experiences with  you!   So mark your calendars for  Saturday Feb 11/2012  9-5.  Sign up quickly as there are only 12 seats available. 

The first guest artist is

 Pattie Ann Hale

Pattie Ann is a fine artist, writer, and teacher with a  focus in worship and prophetic art.      Pattie offers seminars and workshops in which she guides participants in experiencing the   visual language of the Spirit. Her experiential workshops often focus on wholeness and healing.

Pattie is an accomplished teacher, having taught art classes in various mediums and has led  community art classes for children and the elderly .  She has been involved in several    community, national and international art shows, special gift collaborations, and mural  projects for community and ministries. She has had several solo shows in galleries, community centers, and churches, Her art is collected nationally and internationally. Hale is writing a book titled: A Sacred Revolution – The Power of God in the Arts, which will be released in the near future. 

Her website is found at  http://www.pattieannhale.com

 

Arise & Shine

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

 Through an exploration of Isaiah 60, workshop participants will take a multi-sensory journey through the depths of the mind, soul and spirit, progressively identifying and moving out of shadowed areas and further into the light of God and His Radiance. This workshop will be a visual, auditory, and tactile exploration of the glory of God. As we engage the scriptures through music, movement, and the mixed-media project, participants will symbolically and prophetically      experience the transformation of moving out of darkness and into light. Though mixed-media techniques will be obtained, the focus is on the journey. “Out of the heart comes the art… so I want to help your heart shine,” says Pattie Ann Hale.

 The cost of the workshop includes a birch panel, specific fabrics, select papers, and various other collage elements, which will make up the mixed-media project. All materials and tools, including paints, paintbrushes, markers, pencils, adhesives etc. will be provided. The participant does not need to provide anything for this workshop but is welcome to bring additional personal collage materials and supplies if so desired.

Saturday February 11  9:00 to 5:00 pm  

  $100

Class size is limited to 12 students and requires a 50% deposit due by 2/1/12.  

Final payment is due 2/11/12.  A gourmet lunch is included.

 Join us as we experience God's presence in our art!

 

 

To sign up please email me directly at diane@adorehimcreations.com

The next Guest artist will be Connie Denninger.  Save the date of April 28 for "Living a Life of Prayer" with Connie Denninger.

 

endings and beginnings

Today was open studio and we had 4 women here crafting- creating and sharing. What a wonderful way to end 2011.

2011 was the beginning of Adore HIM Creations becoming a real studio, creating art to sell and expanding my artistic horizons. What a blessing it has been to spend my time creating art that brings glory and honor to God. I have been blessed to help others see the creativity God gave them and to help them allow that creativity to soar. Look at this piece from Penny- one of our regular students. Love how she gave expression to the word peace.

   And Denise, my beautiful friend and sister in Christ. She made this piece to hang in her office at work. I am so proud of how she has allowed her artistic talents to become freely expressed. This picture doesn't do this justice, the cross is luminescent and glows.

Tracy and her daughter made this beautiful present for her son and his new wife. A beautiful reminder of Gods' plan for marriage.

 

Are you getting ready to discover your one little word for 2012? If so, check out the One little word page here at my blog for ideas, worksheets and lots more links and info!

Also, stay tuend for new classes in 2012 and a brand new launch of my

"Guest Artist " Series for 2012.

May God bless you and keep you and may you find new ways to creatively express God in your daily life, art and heart.

Happy New Year!

 

Captivating Book study- cover

                          This is a great book Captivating,  so insightful and helpful to refocus me and to provide healing in those areas where my pain is a deterent to my walk with Christ. We are part of a large group on Facebook that is doing an online journaling class led by Patti Hale.

I am leading a small local group here in Northern VA and we meet weekly to discuss the chapters and to work on our art journals. Here are some pictures of my group ( missing Michelle) God is binding us together in a deeper way and we are drawing closer to Him.

 

Here are some pictures of my pages and my cover. I worked for about 3 days on the cover. I had inspiration from Anna ( from Poland) and this is my version.

First I collage a lot of papers onto the cardboard covers. Sprayed with Adirondack inks and Glimmer mist inks.  Added some creme color paint to tone it down, and then sprayed a gloss varnish over it all.

The embellishments:  I wanted to create a "cross" of embellishments that would signify the love of God in my life.  I cut up a old frame and used them on the right and left side, then added wooden cut out designs ( I found at Michaels a long time ago) as the top and bottom of the cross. I used alcohol inks on the plastic letters. I included a pearl heart as the inside of the flower.  Added lost of other metal embellishments and glued them with a hot glue gun. Masked off the rest of the cover and used Glimmer mist spray on the embellishment.  I wanted to stitch on the outside edges, but I used really think cardboard ( the covers from my watercolor pads) so used my Tim Holtz stitching stamp instead.

Here is the back of th e front cover and the inside and outside of the back cover. I am planning on connecting my book with wire bound using my Cinch.

 

Watching Wednesday

Just saw this fantastic video from the Worship Studio. Take a few minutes and watch and you will be able to experience a glimpse of my experience at the Gathering in Sept in NC.

 

This was a life changing experience for me and opened my eyes and heart to new ways to worship God.

 

Here are some pictures of the work produced at our studio on Friday  last week. Another opportunity to enable others to express their God given creativity!

 

Faithart Projects

I have been blessed  by the Father with His gift of creativity. My prayers have been answered - prayers for finding my style, and what God wanted me to create to bring him glory and honor and turn the hearts of others to Him.  Here are some of the canvases that I have created that will be for sale at the Craft show this weekend.

I pray over each one and ask God to bring the person who he wants to hear the message in each one. Thanks for your encouragment and support!

Captivating Book study

We began our "Captivating" book study yesterday. I had read the first chapter last week in preparation.  I am enjoying learning more about my heart and what God placed in it and how He wants me to live. So far the book is very interesting, and I am spending time with God reading and creating!

I am creating single pages, and will bind them all when I am done witt the study.  I  like to make the cover at the end, so that it summarizes all the insides.

This page is about the split sides of me. The first is the side that says "I am not enough" and the other is the side that says " I am too much".  Wow I so identify with these 2 statements.  I vacillate between the two.

Techniques:  I uses Adirondak sprays with the number stencil on the paper. I created the 2 inserts on my computer with a picture of me that I ran through the digitizing program.  On the tag, I embossed it, painted it with inks and glimmer mists.  I sewed the tulle on, made the flower out of paper ( see my video on how to make these flowers ) and then added the paper tag and circle tag.  I stapled the embossed tag onto the page.

the corresponding page is about how women feel unseen, unsought and uncertain.  I used the small insert and journal-ed on the back.

Technique:  stencils and Adirondak sprays for background.  Chipboard letters painted and then added Ranger crackle and stamped the words.  The butterfly is made from a diecut, inked and glitter glued. 

 

I am hoping for new insights and Good revealing Himself to me.

 

Captivating Book study and art journaling videos

On November 1 I am participating in a new online book study.   It will be led by Patti Hale and you can join by going here  .

Patti is my new friend from The Gathering.  check out the video about the weekend, and make plans to attend next year.

We will be reading Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul. We are going to do a chapter a week and journal our experience.

I wanted to share with my  friends some of my experience in art journaling, so if you want to know  how to begin, what kind of books to use, how to do a topical journal, watch my 3 part video below.

Enjoy!

 

  

 

Watching Wednesday

Today I am going to begin a new series on watching Christian artists that I met at the Gathering in NC last month. To learn more about that retreat and other Christian artists go here.

Christine Council is in her own words

a sinner saved by Grace, lover of God, minister,
worshiper, artist, singer, writer and photographer

Her work is an expression of her walk with Jesus.

How long have you been an artist?

I have been an artist all my life, but started painting deliberately about 19 years ago.  Something inside of me wanted to create art, even as a child. So one night in 1992, armed with only 6 tubes of paint, I painted my first painting. When I showed it to my family, they didn't believe I had actually painted it--that was all the encouragement I needed!!  Not long after I started painting, I would take my art to work with me to show the resident artist, then coworkers would see my artwork and commission me to do portraits for them.  As a single mom, the extra money came in handy, it seemed the Lord would bring commissions to me at just the right time.

I started dreaming of teaching children art, so I got job as a teaching assistant for a local town art center.  I loved it, and eventually I became a teacher and started my own art school.   I designed my own year long fine art curriculum for home schooled students and began working out of my trunk, teaching art classes in local churches.  www.rainbowskiesandbutterflies.com  I stopped a couple of years ago when my son left home, but I hope one day to start again in a more permanent location.

---

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How did you come to know Jesus?
Caught up in a cycle of drugs, alcohol, unhealthy abusive relationships, and completely broken by life, I became pregnant...and it wasn't the first time.  Twenty five and unmarried, I humbly asked God to “save” me.  I just said very plainly to Him,“I don’t understand what it means to be saved, and I do not understand who Jesus is, but, if you ARE God, surely You can show Yourself to me.”  I changed my journal entries that day from “Dear Diary” to “Dear God”.  He was faithful to answer my prayer and 4 years later I was baptized in water and was filled with the Holy Spirit 3 years after that.  It was in those times of writing that God started talking to me.  One word, or sentence at a time, I would just write what I heard.  When I would go back and re-read it, I knew it was not my own imagination, but His voice I was hearing. 
My favorite scripture is the story of the sinful woman that went into the room filled with the religious leaders, anointed Jesus with the costly perfume, and washed His feet with her tears.  Like her, I have been forgiven much, and so I love Him much...I am His Princess Bride.

God moved her to give me a print of this work on the last night of our worship time. I was so blessed to receive it and it sits on my desk and reminds me of how much God loves me!

Please spend some time getting to know Chrisie!

Forgiven and Redeemed...

Father Forgive Them Acrylic 24 x 36

A couple of years ago, I attempted to paint prophetically up front at a church in Va.   I painted the canvas yellow...and started to paint words with the color purple like, King of Kings, Glory...etc.  I was so nervous...I messed up a word...and completely mispelled it.  In a panic and so ashamed...I just started blending the 2 colors together to make an ugly swirl of shame...and then eventually...because I wasn't sure what to do, I just set the canvas aside.  Some people actually came up to me and said, "What are you going to paint on there?"  I had no idea...I just wanted to hide it.

Late last year, I was led by the Lord to paint For You! Liberty.  To prepare I needed to see how the red "blood" would drip, so I used this discarded canvas as my trial run.  I covered it with drips of red glitter paint and another thick liquid red I had gotten at the art store.  I left these raised streaks all over the canvas, let them dry so I could see how they would turn out.   Again, when I was finished, I put the canvas aside, because I thought it was ruined.   It not only was covered in paint, but there were bumps and ridges from the drips. 


This week I was cleaning up my art studio and I came across this canvas again.  But this time, I started seeing something in it, on it. I kept thinking, "I should paint something with the blood of Jesus dripping on this canvas".  So I looked online and found this photo, from the "Passion of the Christ."  It touched me.  Moved my heart...  So I considered painting it...but since it was a photo from a movie, I knew it was copyrighted...and so I would not be able to sell prints without writen permission from the Production company.  So I decided to keep looking...

Then the next day, someone tagged me in that very same photo!!   So there it was...I was tagged.  Then I knew I was supposed to paint it...as worship...whether or not I could sell copies of it...maybe people will be touched by just looking at it and possibly even saved...

So I started painting.  

I took this old discarded canvas, a canvas that had once been a source of shame for me.  A canvas that had been used and set aside...that seemed to be good for nothing...and I began to cover it with a the image of Christ.  As I did, I noticed that the texture, the ridges and bumps from the streaks of blood were the best part of the painting and I loved how the red glitter would shine through.   I marveled at how that horrible color I created from the swirls of gold and purple in an attempt to cover up my mistakes, how it was coming through from the background, and was now, one of the most beautiful colors of the painting.  It was like His Glory and Royalty were radiating through to overcome the shame.

As I painted, I wept and thanked Him.  I felt His presence so strong as I did.  I just kept saying, "I LOVE THIS PAINTING!" because it was just speaking volumes to me.  Painting this made me think of what He did for us.  We, like that canvas, had made mistakes that were shameful, been trashed, set aside...and even labeled "good for nothing failures."  But then Jesus, in His love, chose us to be His, He covered us with His blood and then made us beautiful and useful again.  He took the very things that seem to be the biggest weaknesses in us, and made them the most special, unique part.  And now...when the Creator looks at us...He doesn't see the shame or mistakes, how we were used and discarded...now when He looks at us...He just sees Jesus. 

Technique Tuesday

Hey, went to NC Oct 1 and then to Richmond VA for my son's wedding Oct 8, so not a chance to do a new technique video. However, found this one today and it is a great technnique video for art journaling. Enjoy! Art Journaling with Dyan Revealey

 

Technique Tuesday

I wanted to share a blog hop that demo's stencils today!  I love stencils and Julie Balzer has designed some new ones for Crafters Workshop. So, please stop by and check out the blogs that share stencil love in art journaling, scrapbooking and canvas work! Start with Julie at Balzer designs and see some great work, and videos!

Balzer Designs

• Mou Saha
• Kelly Purkey
• Amy Tan
• May Flaum
• Roben-Marie Smith

Watching Wednesday

This week I wanted to show you a special project that I got to be a part of.

Ryan is a Eagle Scout from VA Beach. He was moved to create a special gift project for a family in VA Beach  who suffered a extreme loss about 2 years ago. A couple who were trying for a long time to have children, were blessed to get pregnant with twins. Sadly, the outcome wasn't what they hoped and dreamed for. One of the twins died at birth and the other lived for a few weeks. Each day as they went to the hospital they walked down this long sterile hallway. They mentioned that it was so depressing to walk down that corridor many times each day to see their child.  Ryan decided to create some faith art for the corridor. We made one piece last year and then it has taken a long time for the hospital to approve, and for him to do fund raising, and create special enclosed frames.

Well, finally we were able to finish the project last Saturday. Ryan, Ethan and Daniel- his fellow eagle scouts arose at 5:30 am for the long drive to our studio. We were able to prime the boards with gesso, paint the backgrounds and add the embellishments. We made 5 more paintings (24 x 40). Ryan's dad Pat created the frames and used plexiglass for the covers.   This is the first one we did over 18 months ago. The picture was one I got at a yard sale as a set of 4 for $5. They had some ugly old painting, that we covered with gesso and paint.

Since the pictures will be in a hallway, the hospital requested they be protected with a plexiglass cover. So here is what Ryan and his did did.  It looks great!

Ryan named the project "Healing Flowers".

 Here are the other 5 pictures.

Great job Ryan, Ethan and Daniel!

New page- Workshop Schedule online!

For those local to my studio, I have added a page to the blog where you can see the schedule and can email me with your reservation for any of the workshops.

This fall we will continue the faithart canvas  workshop on Saturdays and the Bible Verse Tag Workshop will now be on Sunday afternoons.

Another new workshop will be  held in November and December where you can come to the studio and make Christmas gifts for your family and friends!  Stay tuned for the complete information about the projects.  Hold the dates 

November 12 and Dec 3 for the Holiday Gifts Workshops.

 

Adore HIM studio classes

I am leaving for vacation today and will be gone for a week. We have had 3 classes this past week and the work God is creating through His people is amazing.

1.  Youth for Tomorrow in Bristow VA- Vera went on  a mission trip to  work with these kids and I came each afternoon and we did art journaling.  The girls each created a collage cover journal.  Can only show the work not the faces, but look at the beauty God is creating out of the ashes of pain!

  2. Bible Verse Tag class was last Thursday night and we had 7 students who made beautiful tags.

Our bible verses for this class were

"This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you shall find and knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

3.  Last night 8/1 was the faithart canvas class. It was wonderful to see how creative each woman was. This class uses a 12x12 stretched canvas, gesso, stencils and lots of acrylic paints to create a beautiful textured canvas.

Aren't they magnificent?

I won't be posting anymorethis week and next, need a vacation!

Stay tuned for lots of new classes, projects and Gods work at the studio this fall!

I will be back online on  Aug 15 .

becoming free friday

Henri Nouwen suggests that  “[t]he word patience means willingness to stay where we are and live out the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.”

Sometimes that is so hard to do!  To wait, to be patient, to let God have His way in my life. That is so difficult. It is the same way in my art. I want to just grab the colors, the sprays and begin to lay the color down, to move with abandon, to be free in not thinking about what I am doing, to just create!

But, if I take the time to slow down, spend time with Him and seek his input, then the colors are richer, they make more of a statement and work together to tell His story, not mine.

becoming free is learning to be patient and to work with HIM.

Simone Weil writes,  “Waiting patiently…is the foundation of the spiritual life.”

Is my spiritual and artistic life growing?  I know that studying His word and spending time worshiping Him, I am creating a deeper bond with the creator of the Universe. My artistic life is growing, as I patiently wait for his  creative prompting. This work is in progress. I am patiently waiting for His instructions........