allowing yourself to worship God creatively through the arts

Today i got to be a part of a team of leaders from VineArts that went to a local university in the Boise area to facilitate an ART & WORSHIP day for over 60 students. We had prepared 3 rather large canvases beforehand that stood up near a wall. We had outlined some Carravaggio paintings of Christ (the left painting was Christ being whipped, the center painting was Christ coming down off the cross, the right painting was Christ with his disciples after he has risen) in which the students would then add the color during worship (however wherever they wanted to).

There was a band playing worship music as a way of helping people focus...but this was an opportunity for the students to experience a different way to worship God...through art. It was a chance to allow the creative parts of the hearts to be set free.

Every once in awhile during the 3 hour block people read out Scriptures that were speaking to their hearts as they participated in the art. Sometimes people read poetry that they had written right there on the spot...inspired to express through words. One of our leaders read encouraging quotes and told stories of moments when God brought healing to people's hearts in a creative way.

Many of the students had no art background at all. It was really cool to watch them let go of any apprehensions and fears that they carried. They each got up there and put paint brush and paint to the canvas...together, side by side. It truly was an amazing thing to be a part of. I enjoyed the conversations that people were having with each other about the subject matter of the paintings. And those of us who were leaders were able to not only help in regards to pracitical things (like mixing colors, changing out brush water, etc.) but we also had the chance to get to know the students and learn about who they were and where they were at in their lives.

Once the time was ended and the paintings were finished we all spent a moment in prayer together. Later when the students had moved on, those of us on the leadership team made grids on the back of the paintings and CUT them up in 12x16 rectangles. Each student will take a piece of the whole home with them. The piece is represents a memory of this very special art & worship day, and also as a reminder that God is continuously painting their lives (sometimes with dull colors, sometimes with bright colors)...and perhaps they can't quite tell what the whole picture is about if they're only looking at themselves. The point is...each of them is a piece of the bigger picture. That's what being a part of the Body of Christ is about...that's what it means to be part of the Kingdom of God. We each play a very important role and we need each other.

CIRCUMCISION of the heart

This is an edit to the post below...the photo above is the finished painting. 

This painting is NOT FINISHED. It has been a process of about 6 months to get to this point. I was given a word picture about God holding a heart and massaging it to bring it back to life. I was told that I needed to paint it. It took months of grappling with the concept, spending time in prayer, and researching. And finally this last week I began to put paint to canvas.

I don't even know what the title really should be yet. The painting is about God taking our hearts and doing surgery...indepth cleansing, deep healing, cutting out the old dead and grafting in new living...all through the death and resurrection of Jesus. This surgery can be painful as He cuts deep within our old man, and the recovery can take years, but the results are healing.

There are many layers to this painting...and there are still many to come. I did part of this at the VineARTS Gala themed "Hearts and Hands"...experiencing God's healing through the arts. It is a 36"x48" canvas (that by the way, had been sitting around my studio for years without a vision for what to paint on it). I'm using oils, latex house paints, acrylics, images on paper, Scriptures, ink words, objects.

It's a big canvas so I am painting it on the floor...hovering over it, dancing around it, kneeling beside it.

I started out putting oil paints (specifically Oil Bars) down with my hands. Then I painted latex house paints with brushes over the top of the layer of oils. I let the latex tack up and then in various areas rubbed away the latex with a cloth (creating a really cool effect that looks like weathered paint on wood-as the latex lifts off in areas and the oil shows through). Then I did some splattering with more house paint. At the Gala I then began applying the images, I've printed out, with Mod Podge (an acrylic glue that dries clear and you can add paint to it and also paint over it and wipe off and still see the image below). I also began writing words and phrases all over the canvas with a Sharpee and also paint pens. Then I took acrylic paints...and with my fingers I applied that in various random areas around the images to begin blending everything together as one.

Next I will do more of the same (write words, blend with paint)...perhaps also adding in some objects here or there). And then to finish up I will paint a large circle of white & black with a brush...sort of all encompassing....and then splatter the latex house paint (mostly red and white) out from the circle (giving a bloody effect)....cuz this painting is about the blood spilled for us...and the transfusion we need of His blood.

When I finish I do a new post with the final piece for you to see.

VineArts Gala

This coming Saturday November 8th from 7-10pm in Heritage Hall at Vineyard Boise, the VineArts is having a Gala. It's a semi-formal event to celebrate how God heals through the arts.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students & clergy.

They'll be live jazz music, a guest speaker, visual artists creating on-site, a dance performance, video productions, and hors d'ourves & desserts.

Sidenote: Myself and several of my artist friends will be creating art on-site and speaking that night. I would love it if any of you in the Boise area could come out and join us for this special VineArts Gala...tickets will be sold at the door.