I'm heading out on the road soon...it's an ART ROAD TRIP!

This traveling artist is about to head out once again on an art ministry trip. This time it's a month long road trip around the Northwest. I'm loading up my car to head out on the highway. I'm stuffing my backpacks full of art supplies, throwing in some easels and canvas, packing my sleeping bag and a cooler full of nourishment and leaving Boise for the open road. My stops...Seattle WA, Vancouver BC, Bellingham WA, and Portland OR. Stay tuned for creative blogposts along the way. You can follow me at: www.traveling-artist.blogspot.com

Marten Evergreen performs at private party

Marten Evergreen has performed at concert venues and bars, in urban alleys and parks, and now in a backyard! Friday night the artists of Marten Evergreen got to be a part of a special event. We got to perform live at a private birthday party! It was my friend Heidi Tucker's 40th birthday and we held her a 70's hippie/summer beach party in my backyard. Along with normal birthday fanfare, we had a night packed with live entertainment. The birthday celebration was filled with live music, art, and dance. The evening started with live music performed by local musicians Gabe Miller, Kona Estes, and Molly Ellis. It progressed to the live art performance by Marten Evergreen, followed by dance party music by Sarah Goetter. The night ended with a drumming circle around the firepit. 

This was our performance area set up at the end of the backyard in a suburban housing development. 

Here are two videos, taken by one of the party-goers.

Performance: Breathe: YHWH

Performers: Lukas Evergreen, Lisa Marten, Jessie Nilo

Music: Fallen by Volbeat

part one

part two

Here is a photo of Heidi standing with the finished 2D paintings that were created during our live performance. We had stretched primed canvas onto chip board. We prepped the primed canvas by pre-painting Hebrew lettering (the Hebrew name of God: YHWH: Yahweh) and then we hid it underneath a separate piece of canvas that we stapled on top. During the performance, paint was splattered and sprayed onto the canvas and danced upon. Once the performance was over we removed the top canvas to reveal the lettering underneath. 

Marten Evergreen would like to offer the option of hiring us to perform for private parties. To learn more about us click on the Marten Evergreen tab on this blog, check out our Marten Evergreen page on Facebook. If you're interested in hiring Marten Evergreen email me at: revelatorart@yahoo.com or Lukas Evergreen at: lukasevergreen@gmail.com . If you are interested viewing and purchasing any of the 2D paintings that have been created during Marten Evergreen performances, contact us. They are on display at Nebula Shift in the Bistro Building downtown Boise. 

2nd Coffee Studio Location Art Show

So along with the art show displaying 19 of my paintings at The Coffee Studio in Meridian this month (6360 N. Saguaro Hills, Meridian, ID), I now have 9 more paintings on display at The Coffee Studio's 2nd location at 8205 W. Rifleman, Boise, ID (corner of Milwaukee & Emerald). 

If you find yourself in the area of the Boise Towne Square Mall, please stop into The Coffee Studio and enjoy a refreshing beverage, some yummy treats, and take a look at my art show. 

I don't know how long these paintings will be up, but they'll be there at least until the end of August. If you do stop in at either Coffee Studio location, please make sure you say hello to the baristas and tip them well...the owners and employees of both Coffee Studio locations are huge fans of local artists and musicians and have treated us all very well. 

creating a wall mural

I really enjoy commissioned work. There's something really appealing to me about the artist-client relationship where I can be challenged to utilize my skills and talents to create something from my own hands and in the process work at bringing someone else's idea, vision, picture into something tangible and concrete. Occasionally I get the opportunity to be hired to paint a wall mural somewhere. The hard surface of a vertical wall and the placement of that wall in relation to the other objects or spacial qualities of the room, etc., can add it's own challenges to the process.

I liken myself sometimes to a chef bringing their own knives to a job as I come prepared with my roll up pouch of brushes and painting tools wherever I am asked or hired to paint.

Perhaps like a mechanic who probably prides themselves in how much grease and grime is on their hands after a days work, I too find that I revel in the amount of paint color I just seem to naturally get on my hands, my shoes, my clothes, and just about anything in my splatter range after a hard days work painting. When painting wall murals I typically utilize water based latex house paints for the easiest application and clean up process. It also makes it easier for coverage if the wall is going to be repainted in the future.

To start a mural I typically project the image that I'll be painting onto the wall using an overhead projector or an enlarger projector. Then I trace around the outline of the image with chalk to give myself an outline of where to paint. This technique is very helpful when working with detailed images or images that might be well known by the public (like a movie persona or scene). With this most recent mural project (which was in the Book Cellar bookstore located in Vineyard Boise church in Garden City - a neighborhood of Boise) I had been hired to recreate some of my own studio paintings (with some personalized additions and changes) onto a concrete block wall in a bookstore...being that the imagery was well known to me (having been original ideas of mine) I chose not to use the projector. Instead I freehanded the chalk outlines to give myself a general idea of where I wanted things.

My first task was to create the look of a used drop cloth as the background to the three paintings I was recreating. This tromp l'oeil (trick of the eye) effect was part of the request of the bookstore as we contracted. The challenge for me was to make the "drop cloth" look like it had paint spills and splatters with out actually physically splattering and making a mess on the wall. The main reason for this was that the location of the wall that I was painting was above a large music CD shelf and close by were several book shelves and tables with new merchandise on them. I did my best to cover and protect things but I needed to "reign myself in" on my "action painting" expressions. The other reason was that the wall was vertical. Typically a drop cloth is placed on the ground where a painter is painting and so drips and splatters and messes are created from above the cloth. With the wall being vertical I had to figure out how to paint those drips and splatters and messes to look like they had been created from above instead from the side. 

The first "painting" is titled "Fill Me Up". The imagery in this painting is of books, writing materials, and a coffee mug. Reading, studying, writing, while sharing a cup of coffee fits well into this bookstore that is housed inside Vineyard Boise church. I painted a little N4 on the coffee mug (this is representing a motto that Vineyard Boise has regarding reaching out to the community in it's immediate surrounding of Garden City "In Garden City, For Garden City")...it's a reminder that as we are filled up with God's love we must be poured out to others. It's all about loving much and loving well.

The second "painting" is titled "Sing Over Me". The imagery is of three birds flying. The birds represent the presence of the Trinity in our lives...watching over, caring for, and delighting in. Worship (the act of spending time with, honoring & revering, serving & giving, learning & growing, singing & expressing through the creative arts, loving and living for God) is a huge value of how those who attend the Vineyard actively try to live their lives.

The third "painting" is titled "Rain Down On Me". The imagery is of the skyline of the city of Boise. It features a rainy sky pouring out over the city of Boise. The rain represents God's Spirit (filled with love) pouring out over the city we live in to empower us all to love those within our community.

Here is the finished wall mural. Each of the "paintings", which were based on three of my original paintings, together became one large painting of its own. 

One last added piece to the mural...just as I was finishing up, the manager of the bookstore (who enjoys a bit of fun) asked me to add in a "Where's Waldo?" sort of mystery. Upon his request I painted a tiny T.A.R.D.I.S. from Dr. Who hidden somewhere on the "drop cloth" background. It's moments like this that I'm reminded of how much I really enjoy the artist-client relationship! 

Fact is...the police box travel machine actually fits in with the theme of the three paintings I created in this bookstore. When you stop and think about how books and music and movies (all sold in the bookstore) allow us to be carried away into stories, characters, time periods, places, points of view, understandings. They help us to learn from the past and look to the future by engaging in today and becoming who we are supposed to be...it makes sense. 

Fill us up. Sing over us. Rain down on us. 

I really love being an artist and getting to do this sort of thing for a living! 

If you are interested in seeing the mural I created in person (along with several other murals I've painted in the Book Cellar over the past few years) you can stop in to the Book Cellar located in Heritage Hall at Vineyard Boise church (T-F 9am-5pm, Sun 8am-1pm) to check it out. The church is located at 4950 N. Bradley St. Boise, ID 83714. www.vineyardboise.org

Coffee + Art + Music + Community = LOVE Poured Out

 And this is my prayer for you...that you will not only love much, but love well. These are words I dedicate my life to live by. 

Last night was my art opening at The Coffee Studio in Meridian, Idaho. 

I'm the featured artist for August. I have installed 7 mixed media paintings on cardboard along with revealing a new 12 piece mixed media series on wood. 

I love opportunities like this (being featured in a local establishment)...because I get to invite others to come alongside me to also be featured. I'm a firm believer that I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for so many others who have helped me, encouraged me, mentored me, challenged me, and promoted me along the way. And so it is my belief that any chance I get I want to do the same for others...however that can look. 

And in this instance it was a chance to have some local musicians featured, some young people invited in to play, and so many others to be thanked and loved on. 

Here are the paintings I have exhibited for the month of August...

 "Enter the Storm" 

14x30 acrylic on foam core

this piece is about allowing oneself to embrace the storms of life instead of running from them

 "Fill Me Up", "Sing Over Me", "Rain Down On Me"

each 24x30 mixed media on cardboard

these 3 paintings are all about being open for more 

 "All Things New"

24x30 mixed media on cardboard

this painting is about the chance to start over fresh

 "Surfing the Koru"

24x30 mixed media on cardboard

this piece was inspired by my trip to New Zealand in 2011

it's about embracing new beginnings

 "Open Heart" 

24x30 mixed media on cardboard

this painting is about trusting love

 "Hope"

24x30 mixed media on cardboard

this piece is about believing that there is something to hold on to

"There and Back Again: An Heart's Journey to Love Much and Love Well"

this 12 piece series is a story of the journey of a heart through life (as told through tiny paintings & written statements). it's meant to allow the viewer to interact & engage with each "station" as a personal journey, to reflect upon one's own life and enter into the story wherever the viewer connects. at the end the viewer is encouraged to take a pebble or a tiny shell with them as a token of remembrance of their heart's journey.

 the intro piece, stations 1-5

 station 6

stations 7-12

I was so blessed by the turn out of folks who came to the opening. I thrive on interaction with people. I love relationship. It warms my heart to have a room filled with old friends, new friends, and those who will soon be friends...all connecting and conversing and communing with each other. The combination of a great coffee house, delicious drink and food, an engaging art exhibit, live music, and loads of conversations going on is such the perfect atmosphere, in my opinion. 

After viewing the art exhibit, the crowd gathered to listen to the live music and watch me paint.

 Singer/songwriter Janet Lund opened and closed the evening with her original songs (many had an emphasis on friendship and coffee, which delightfully connected into the theme of the night)

 Singer Molly Ellis sang songs we all enjoyed while I painted live. Molly's voice captured all who were present and I found myself singing along as I painted. During her set she invited 3 young girls to come up and sing a song together. The trio stunned us all with their young talent and I was reminded of how important it is to pass on things to the next generation and invite them to be an active part of what we're doing today. 

 Shortly after the young ones sang, one of them came over to me to engage in conversation with me about my painting. I invited her to join me in painting. She gladly chose a brush and went to work on a piece of her own using bright colors I had already chosen on my pallet. It was a beautiful picture as we both were creating side by side to Molly singing in the background. 

Here is the painting I created live. 

"Pour Out Love" 

24x30 mixed media on cardboard

I specifically created this painting with the owners of The Coffee Studio in mind. It was a gift to them for having such open hearts to invite local artists and musicians (like myself and those who joined me tonight) to be featured each month in their shop. The Coffee Studio is locally owned and involved. They truly are people who are pouring out love to their community one cup at a time. 

Thank you all.

Painting Live in a Windstorm

Last night was First Thursday in Boise. It happens every month. Many establishments stay open later to promote business downtown. Art galleries have big opening receptions for art exhibits. Live music can be heard from  venues throughout the city streets. It's a great event to grab some friends and experience some fun downtown.

 I was a part of 10 Barrel Brewing's art event in their parking lot. They roped the parking lot off and created their own beer garden. Accompanied by live music, several local artists were asked to set up to display and sell art and paint live while customers were invited to hang out and enjoy.

 I really enjoy being able to paint live (whether it's during a church service as part of creative worship, or for a big art event with my performance art company, or like last night where I was able to paint and also talk to the public)

 I don't often get the chance to be a part of events where there are other live painters. This was a treat for me last night to not be the only one! I enjoyed getting to watch the other artists create live.

 During the evening I had several friends and 10 Barrel customers stop by to say hello and check out what I was painting. I was working on primed cardboard. I glued another one of my paintings onto it (of the Boise River) that had been painted on canvas. Then I glued on pages of printed words throughout the background. And then using acrylic paints I layered color and texture to bring it all together as one painting.

 And then the wind hit! WHOOSH! We got a huge gust of wind that swept through the parking lot alley. It was part of a large windstorm that suddenly blew into the Treasure Valley. This photo wasn't staged. I really was holding down my paintings and easels from blowing away. Canvases were like sails. My neighbors table took flight and blew into my easel. Artists and others throughout the alley were rushing to save artwork, chairs, tables, and everything else that was crashing down and whipping up into the sky. In a matter of moments our little event came to a halt. And in the midst of the chaos, my friends and I were laughing! It was so crazy funny! Truly...it was quite a sight! I'm very thankful to those who stayed to help me keep things from blowing away and then helped me pack up everything to my car.

 So after things got packed up (and yes, all artists packed up quickly and the musician left, and the guys tending the beer kegs closed down) we took the party inside 10 Barrel! They really do have great food and drink! I love my friends...thanks guys for helping to make my night memorable! 

Here's the finished painting that I was creating live last night. I had completed most of it before the wind hit. I added the splatter once I got home...if I had done that at the event the paint would've made it everywhere but the canvas! 

I love being an artist! Life is such a crazy adventure! 

August Art

1) This Thursday evening August 1st from 5pm-9pm you can find me and my art in the parking lot next to 10 Barrel Brewery downtown Boise as part of their First Thursday event featuring local artists and live music. 

I will have some of my mixed media paintings on display/for sale and will be creating a painting live. 

10 Barrel Brewery
826 West Bannock Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
www.10barrel.com 

• 
  
• 2) Next Tuesday evening August 6th from 5:30pm-8:30pm you can find me and my art at The Coffee Studio in Meridian for the Opening Reception to my art show as I'll be featured for the month of August. 
• 
  
• I will have some of my mixed media paintings on display/for sale and will be revealing my new 12 piece mixed media interactive journey series. I will also be creating a painting live to the live music of singer/songwriter Janet Lund and singer Molly Ellis. 
• 
  
• The Coffee Studio
• 6360 Saguaro Hills Suite 100,
• Meridian, Idaho 83646
• www.coffeestudiomeridian.com 
• 
  
• 3) During the first 2 weeks of August I've been hired to paint a wall mural in a small bookstore, The Book Cellar at Vineyard Boise. This time, instead of imagery from books or movies, I've been commissioned to paint an original "Marten". I'll be recreating my mixed media series I've done on cardboard of "Fill Me Up", "Sing Over Me", "Rain Down On Me" as a wall mural in latex house paints, adding in some changes to make them unique to the people and place. 
• Feel free to stop by, check out the bookstore and see me while I paint during business hours Tues-Fri both weeks.
• 
  
• The Book Cellar
• Vineyard Boise
• 4950 N. Bradley St.
• Boise, Idaho 83714
• www.vineyardboise.org 
• 
  
• 
  

Marten Evergreen performs "Love Much Love Well"

 

 

Here is video of the full Marten Evergreen performance of "Love Much Love Well" performed live at The Meridian Summer Arts Festival on June 29, 2013.

 

Performers: Lukas Evergreen, Lisa Marten, Krysta Nebeker, Caid Jones, Travis Nelson

Music: violin interludes-Caid Jones, first movement-"Tomorrow, in a year" a Darwin electro opera, second movement-"Alive" Adrian Lux.
Poem: original piece written & performed by Travis Nelson
----
Intro: Lukas Evergreen & Lisa Marten creating our backdrop representing Marten Evergreen

Violin Interlude: Caid Jones

First Movement: Lisa Marten, Krysta Nebeker, Lukas Evergreen, Caid Jones
this depicts when we experience disconnection & hurt & pain in relationships

Transition: Poem by Travis Nelson storytelling about 2 people's journey to find love

Second Movement: Krysta Nebeker, Lukas Evergreen, Lisa Marten
this depicts when we experience connection & unity, favoring each other in relationships

Artist Statement: (this isn't the full statement, just a summary)
Journey with us into the obstacles of relational battles as we explore the ruts and roots of love found and love lost. Pop culture and spiritual leaders today are doing a very good job of telling us to love...but are you loving well? Are you investing love with your soul? Do you truly give "shirt of the back" kind of love? Are you dancing in front of the people in your life? ...or behind them? ...or along with them? For those who have been victims of the abuse of love, are you able to reach out to yourself or others with grace to forgive? This performance is not an answer to how to love well, but it is meant to be a launching point for discussion and conversation (individually and communally) about the need for all of us to learn to not only love much but love well.

 

 

 

Creating Art at a Nation-wide Conference

I just got back from one of the most incredible trips I've ever taken art related! I had the opportunity to travel with 4 other art ministers from our VineArts ministry at Vineyard Boise to present art ministry to the National Vineyard USA "All In" Conference in Anaheim, California.

We road tripped down to southern California from Boise, Idaho carrying easels, canvas, art & paint supplies, power tools & lumber. We collaboratively painted live during worship sessions at the conference for 3500 pastors, missionaries, leaders, teachers, musicians, youth & children who attended from Vineyard churches all over the United States. 

During the live painting sessions we created 7 separate paintings that we constructed together into one giant art installation piece. The piece became an 11 foot tall Celtic Cross. Our team  of 5 (plus 2 others) spent 6 months praying, collaborating, planning, and prepping for the piece that would speak to the Vineyard USA churches and to the entire Body of Christ.

We also provided art tables for people to create pictures during the final worship session. And we joined together with the art ministers at Indianapolis Vineyard to provide tables where people could come and get prayed for by our art ministers and receive a creative word or picture.

This kind of art & creativity had never been presented or provided before at one of these bi-annual conferences. It was a huge privilege to be asked to do this kind of work. We were approached by many people letting us know how much they were connecting with the presence of the art & creativity in that kind of setting. This was also a great launching point to talk about art ministry with people representing hundreds of churches throughout the United States.

To read a detailed description of the artwork we created and our artist statement and see photos & video of us creating live, click here: 
The Lonely Art Minister
to go to the blogpost titled:
"All In (Art we made at the National Vineyard Conference" written by Jessie Nilo (the VineArts Director).

a night with DEAN ESTES

Tonight at The Coffee Studio in Meridian (located off of Chinden between Locust Grove & Meridian Rd, at 6360 Saguaro Hills Suite 100), artist/sculptor (and my dear friend and art mentor) Dean Estes will have an opening reception for his art exhibit that will be featured there throughout the month of July. 

Check out some of Dean's paintings and sculpture work at his site: DeanEstes.com

Stop by 5:30pm - 8pm tonight (July 2nd) to meet with Dean, view his original art, listen to some live music by Lance Wells, and enjoy delicous beverages and pastries served by the wonderful baristas of The Coffee Studio.

Meridian Summer Art Festival

The Meridian Summer Art Festival being held at Storey Park in Meridian, Idaho on Saturday, June 29th and Sunday, June 30th.

I'll be sharing an art booth with artist Lukas Evergreen. We're both selling our artwork. I'll be featuring new paintings for sale. We'll be located at stall #34. Come by and see us!

The park is located at the corner of Franklin and Main in Meridian (near the Meridian Speedway). Come enjoy this FREE event with an art in the park atmosphere featuring all LOCAL ARTISTS of the Treasure Valley. This would be a great time to purchase local art as gifts or for yourself. Come on out to the Festival for some great summer fun and help support local artists!

Saturday, June 29th: 11am-8pm
Sunday, June 30th: 11am-6pm

Along with art vendors, there will be food and drink vendors, live performers, and lots of fun!

I'll also be performing live there on Saturday, June 29th with my performance art company Marten Evergreen. Our official scheduled performance time will be 5:45pm-6:15pm in the designated performance area of the park.

We are working on a brand new avant-garde performance piece titled:
"Love Much-Love Well"
incorporating choreographed dance, live painting, spoken word, drama, and music. The piece will be about 20 minutes long (our biggest and longest performance yet!)
You are invited to experience this performance art piece for FREE.

All ages are welcome. Please bring your family, friends and art lovers. Make sure you get to the park in time and find us at the performance area so you won't miss it. Bring cameras & video cameras to capture this new performance. We can't wait to reveal it to you!

For more details about Marten Evergreen (who we are,pics,video)
Marten Evergreen has a page here on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/MartenEvergreen

For more info about The Meridian Arts Festival (what,time,where)
The Meridian Summer Arts Festival has a page here on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/MeridianSummerArtsFestival

we.are.all beautiful.

"To This Day" Project by Shane Koyczan

This message is spoken so powerfully through poetry and animated artwork through film. Creativity is an open door to connect us with each other. It invites us into the adventure of life and beckons us to journey to know ourselves and each other more. Please take the time to watch and listen. Engage with it. Let it sink deep into you and take you where you need to go. This is what creativity desires of us...to allow the imagination to look beyond, into the heart, into who we are, into the real. into beauty.

To Risk or Not To Risk (part 2)

graffiti on building by Street Artist, Banksy

We've been talking about how being an artist requires taking risks.
My last blogpost featured a guest post by Musican, Arts Pastor, Author, Manuel Luz, where he posed a question to artists about risk taking with art. He challenged us to respond about how we take risks in our artmaking.
the-risk-of-art

I want to continue the conversation about risk taking and art. So I've added here Manuel's next post which is a compilation of comments from artists (including myself) who answered his challenge and his question on that first post.

Read this blogpost how many of us artists (including myself) answered a question posed by Musician, Arts Pastor, Author of "Imagine That", Manuel Luz about taking risks with art:
risky-business-how-artists-of-faith-are-stepping-out

I also want to include some dialogue with a couple of well known artists who have taken risk to another level. Not only are they risking their lifestyles and reputations, but they are also risking global ramifications to speak a message through their artforms.

Watch this video of French Street Artist JR as he shows and tells how he takes risks with his large scale global street art to help communities and governments around the world wrestle with change:
use_art_to_turn_the_world_inside_out
*there is some profane language in this video

Read this article interview with performance artist Trek Thunder Kelly about the risks he takes with performance art to help people think differently:
artist-provocateur

Do you think being an artist requires risk? Are you an artist? What risks have you taken or are you taking? Care to join the conversation?

to risk or not to risk?

I’ve read and reread the latest post "The Risk of Art" by author, musician, arts pastor Manuel Luz on his blog "Adventures in Art & Faith" several times. There’s so much in it that resonates with me as an artist. 

I think he is so right…to be an artist is to live a life of risk. I wouldn’t want it any other way. The last two paragraphs were sobering to me. I’ve had seasons when I didn’t risk…and they have been the most dissatisfying and numbing moments in my life. I’d rather risk and find myself wrestling with all that it means to be an artist (and an artist of faith at that!) than to live a life of mediocrity and nothingness. When I allow myself to risk, to feel, to be all present in my artmaking, to collaborate with God and with others (to create in community and fight the instinct to isolate), to let my work speak meaning and passion and depth (even if it’s not what I think it “should” say, but rather allow it to say what it “needs” to say), when I dive in deep and let the art take me to new places (giving myself room to experiment, to learn, to go beyond), when I allow myself to be a catalyst for creative hearts…when I allow myself to risk, I live adventure…I’m alive…and I’m being who I was created to be.

Please take some time and click the link to go directly to Manuel's post and read what he has to say about the value of risking in art. If you'd like to comment on that post, please do so...he's looking for creatives to enter into the conversation with him.

Click on the link below to read the actual post on his blogsite:
http://manuelluz.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/the-risk-of-art/

Manuel Luz wrote the book, "Imagine That" and was one of our main speakers at our Creative Church Conference in Boise last summer.

Painting on People's Lives with Words: A Night with Dean Estes

 At this month's ENVISION meeting, founder Sherri Coffield introduced us to sculptor/painter/teacher/mentor Dean Estes. What does it mean to be an "art minister"? Dean shared with us stories dedicated to speaking life into people in creative ways and how creativity can be a language to speak that life.

 Dean (wearing the hat) interviewed myself and Chad Estes (his son who is a writer and photographer) about how we reach people through creativity. Chad shared with us how he connects with people and tells their stories through photography and I shared some about how I travel doing art ministry and also connect with people through peformance art.

 Chris White and Sam Flowers added some atmosphere to the evening with some hand drum rhythm while singer Iris Gallegos sang some acapella songs.

 Dean demonstrated to us through visual art what it's like when we paint on people's lives with words. Many times we don't know how our words can affect others, but if our hearts are focused on encouraging and inspiring others we can make a difference. Dean painted an image upside down on a large canvas with both hands (challenging himself to work without knowing the outcome).

 Then Dean turned the canvas rightside up. Myself and Jessie Nilo (art teacher/founder of VineArts) came forward and painted together on the canvas. We had not planned ahead of time what we were going to paint, we worked side by side spontaneously working off of each other. We added color and texture to bring the image to life. This was a representation of how we can be influential in each other's lives. Oftentimes we're not the only one who gets to speak life, we work together in collaboration.

 After we finished, Mike Freeman (teacher/pastor/writer) joined in to complete the painting by including the Hebrew word for "soul" (this is what happens once life is spoken into someone...life is breathed into the soul).

Here is the final painting created in collaboration...a demonstration of painting on people's lives with words. This is allowing creativity to be the language of life.

photos by Jessie Nilo and Chele Shepherd