Painting Live at Churches: Connecting in With the Conversation

 here i am painting live during a Presbyterian service (which included choir songs, Scripture reading, prayers, children sermon, sermon)

this is the finished painting. mixed media (venetian plaster, acrylic, paper) on foam-canvas soundboard. the message was about how selfishness separates us from God and from living fully from love.

One of the really fun things I get to do as a live painter is connect in (through creativity) with the conversation that God is already having with people. I will often be invited by various churches to paint live during their worship services. Depending upon the format and style of worship and the relationship I have with the pastors and leaders at any specific church will depend upon how long I have to paint, and what the painting may entail. 

I've been painting live at churches and various events for about 6 years now. I have found that being a live painter is just like being a speaker or a musician...it's never really about me or the art form itself...it's always going to be about the message that is "heard". To make sure that I am connected in with the conversation, I spend time communicating with the churches ahead of time. I spend time praying, researching, preparing to paint. I make a point to connect in with the pastors, the lay ministers, the music leaders (whoever is involved in the implementation of the service) so that I become a part of the collaboration of the service. I become a part of their whole for a moment in time. 

Like most professional live painters, when I'm painting at churches locally (other than my home church where I serve) I do charge a fee. The fee is handled much like I handle commission work. It is mostly to cover the cost of paints, supplies, and the actual painting time. The painting is then given to the pastor and the church once it's completed. 

When painting elsewhere's on my overseas art ministry travels I'm flexible with the fee (again, depending upon relationship and purpose of the ministry I am doing for specific pastors/missionaries/lay ministers). Often times I don't charge a fee for painting live while I'm out on my travels (as my room & board is always taken care of by my hosts and the painting is part of the ministry I am giving to them). 

Painting live gives me the opportunity to connect in with the conversation that God is already having with people. It's a chance to listen in, and then enter in (through creativity) in a collaborative way with God, with the pastor, with the people. 

It's never about me or the art itself. It's always about the conversation. What is being spoken. What is being heard. What is being released. What is being received. 

Sometimes I get to paint live with other artists. This creates an additional opportunity of collaboration in the conversation. It takes hearts that are willing to be open, pliable, confident, and humble. It's like a dance with paint.

In the last 2 months I have had the privilege of painting live at 2 local churches (one is a Episcopal-Wesleyan liturgical church and the other is a non-denominational charismatic church). 2 different styles of worship. Both churches I was able to paint during their full morning service (an hour and a half each). Both churches asked me to paint something that would coincide with a new vision for each of the churches (Scriptures and words that were already given to the pastor). 

The first church: the conversation was about preparing for the Harvest (a metaphor for God's Spirit to awaken hearts).

here i am painting live during a Liturgical service (which included traditional hymns, Scripture reading, prayers, sermon, communion)

this is the finished painting. mixed media (acrylic, paper) on plywood. the message was about preparing for the Harvest of God's Spirit growing within our hearts.

The second church: the conversation was about preparing for the Rain (a metaphor for God's Spirit to awaken hearts).

here i am painting live with another art minister, collaborating on the same painting during a Charismatic service (which included rock music worship songs, sermon, communion)

this is the finished painting. mixed media (acrylic, chalks, paper, wood) on 2 wooden closet doors hinged together. the message was about preparing for the Rain of God's Spirit awakening within our hearts.

One of the things I find fun about painting live at various churches is that regardless of the locations, the worship style, or even the actual imagery to be within a painting...oftentimes the message in the conversation is very similar. This isn't my doing...these situations were completely separate and unrelated, and yet...I believe this is God's heart coming forth through the conversation. 

I love when I get to paint on people's lives!