StudioArt
This is art I create in my studio alone with Jesus. The images come to me as I worship and pray. If He shows me, I will look for photos to use as reference based on what I have "seen". Other times I just stand in front of the easel and wait until I see what He wants me to paint. And sometimes I come across an image that ministers to me and I feel led to paint it. Each one has it's own testimony. I pray they will draw you closer to the Lord, and minister to your spirit.
The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection. ~Michelangelo
The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection. ~Michelangelo
Family Tree
30"x40" Acrylic on Canvas
In April '11 I went to New Orleans for a Creative Love Mission and I invited 4 other artists to come along. While we were there, our hostess took us to "the tree" in a park by the Mississippi. It was a place that meant a lot to her. This particular week, the Mississippi was the highest it had been for almost a decade, peaking the day we left.
Once we were there, we all hung out under the shade of the tree. Our host laid down, others walked around, I was busy with my camera. This shot I got of the tree was so beautiful to me, I decided to paint it.
I went away with my family for my birthday in May '11. My mom and dad have a place on the inter-coastal waterway of NC that my mom affectionately calls "the river" and decided to bring my art stuff along. I set up my easel and paints, so during the weekend, I could stop throughout the day and paint a little as time allowed. I had so much fun with my family, it was a very special time. We have been through so much together and over time, have all come to know the Lord. There was such a peace the whole weekend as we spent time sharing about the goodness of God in our lives!
One day, during the weekend, as we were all fishing, we saw a rainbow. There was no rain, it was nestled between two clouds. It went away and came back, this time coming out from the middle of a cloud. Again it disappeared and reappeared, this time reaching from under the cloud to the ground. It reminded me of what the Lord had promised when He gave us the rainbow...He would not ever flood the earth again.
While I was finishing up the painting, the title came to me, "Family Tree". I realized, just like my family in the natural and spirit, this tree was like a family's love, strong, bold, colorful, a shady resting place...and, although it had weathered many storms, it was deeply rooted and planted by the River.
Once we were there, we all hung out under the shade of the tree. Our host laid down, others walked around, I was busy with my camera. This shot I got of the tree was so beautiful to me, I decided to paint it.
I went away with my family for my birthday in May '11. My mom and dad have a place on the inter-coastal waterway of NC that my mom affectionately calls "the river" and decided to bring my art stuff along. I set up my easel and paints, so during the weekend, I could stop throughout the day and paint a little as time allowed. I had so much fun with my family, it was a very special time. We have been through so much together and over time, have all come to know the Lord. There was such a peace the whole weekend as we spent time sharing about the goodness of God in our lives!
One day, during the weekend, as we were all fishing, we saw a rainbow. There was no rain, it was nestled between two clouds. It went away and came back, this time coming out from the middle of a cloud. Again it disappeared and reappeared, this time reaching from under the cloud to the ground. It reminded me of what the Lord had promised when He gave us the rainbow...He would not ever flood the earth again.
While I was finishing up the painting, the title came to me, "Family Tree". I realized, just like my family in the natural and spirit, this tree was like a family's love, strong, bold, colorful, a shady resting place...and, although it had weathered many storms, it was deeply rooted and planted by the River.
Later that year...
Hurricane Irene came through and took out my parents special place. They lost everything, just like the people in New Orleans, where this painting began. It was a long hard day for my parents when we went to check on the camp after the storm. But the Lord met us in our pain, and I was honored to be the one God told to go and be with my parents as they wept over their loss.
We stood together as a family and faced the storm together, we were stronger together.
My dad was a big fan of Scotty McCreary, and his song came on as we got in the car to head back home. We all just looked at each other and started laughing, only God could orchestrate such a perfect song for the end of a long sad day of saying goodbye to memories and things we all loved.
We stood together as a family and faced the storm together, we were stronger together.
My dad was a big fan of Scotty McCreary, and his song came on as we got in the car to head back home. We all just looked at each other and started laughing, only God could orchestrate such a perfect song for the end of a long sad day of saying goodbye to memories and things we all loved.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.
Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can't drown love,
torrents of rain can't put it out.
Love can't be bought, love can't be sold—
it's not to be found in the marketplace.
God's thunder sets the oak trees dancing
A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.
We fall to our knees—we call out, "Glory!"
~Psalm 29:9 msg
And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.
Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can't drown love,
torrents of rain can't put it out.
Love can't be bought, love can't be sold—
it's not to be found in the marketplace.
God's thunder sets the oak trees dancing
A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.
We fall to our knees—we call out, "Glory!"
~Psalm 29:9 msg
Dance in the Storms
Acrylic and Pastel on Canvas 24"x20"
The painting is not of a vision, but more of something I experienced. Recently I went through a horrible storm in the Spirit. It was such a hard time, I could not sleep for 3 days. The last night I was crying out to God...asking Him what I could do...and I heard a song by Jonathan Helser, "I Will Not be Silent". It was so loud in my spirit...I put it on and danced through my whole house. It was warfare...and it brought me peace. Black and White dreams are for intercession, so when I saw this photo online*, I felt it really conveyed what I had been through, and how I felt! Hope it blesses you and reminds you that it is MOST important to worship Him in the Storms!!!
Song of Solomon 6:13 Dance, dance, dear Shulammite, Angel-Princess!
Dance, and we'll feast our eyes on your grace!
Everyone wants to see the Shulammite dance
her victory dances of love and peace.
Here are some of the words to the song...
I WILL NOT BE SILENT
I was born to worship
I WILL NOT BE QUIET
the voice of fear
you can not hold me back no more
Worship is the Key
Worship is my Destiny
Worship is the Victory
that releases Glory
Yeeeeaaaaahhh!
I WILL NOT GIVE UP
what is my inheritance
I WAS BORN TO DO GREAT THINGS
and God is ALIVE
He is INSIDE OF ME!
6/10/11 I heard this song too and wanted to add the words. Significant day related to the earlier storm:
In the Middle
by Jonathan David Helser
In the middle of the storm you are the peace
In the middle of the dessert you are the stream
In the middle of my mess you wash my feet
In the middle of it all there you are, oh Lord
You never leave, you never leave
In the middle of my brokenness you are my strength
In the middle of my nothing you are everything
In the middle of my cry you answer me
In the middle of it all here you are, oh Lord
Song of Solomon 6:13 Dance, dance, dear Shulammite, Angel-Princess!
Dance, and we'll feast our eyes on your grace!
Everyone wants to see the Shulammite dance
her victory dances of love and peace.
Here are some of the words to the song...
I WILL NOT BE SILENT
I was born to worship
I WILL NOT BE QUIET
the voice of fear
you can not hold me back no more
Worship is the Key
Worship is my Destiny
Worship is the Victory
that releases Glory
Yeeeeaaaaahhh!
I WILL NOT GIVE UP
what is my inheritance
I WAS BORN TO DO GREAT THINGS
and God is ALIVE
He is INSIDE OF ME!
6/10/11 I heard this song too and wanted to add the words. Significant day related to the earlier storm:
In the Middle
by Jonathan David Helser
In the middle of the storm you are the peace
In the middle of the dessert you are the stream
In the middle of my mess you wash my feet
In the middle of it all there you are, oh Lord
You never leave, you never leave
In the middle of my brokenness you are my strength
In the middle of my nothing you are everything
In the middle of my cry you answer me
In the middle of it all here you are, oh Lord
Forgiven and Redeemed...
Painting/prints are not for sale
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.
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 other red paint, to see how it would flow. When I finished, there were drips all over the canvas. I thought to myself, well, this canvas is 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 felt the Lord say, take it out and look at it. I kept thinking, "I could 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 I would not be able to sell prints without writen permission from the Production company. So I decided to go to bed and keep looking in the morning.
Then the next day, I got on Facebook and discovered, 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 mattered not to God, 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 fresh coat of paint. As I did, I noticed that the texture, the ridges and bumps were the best part of the painting and I loved how the red glitter from the paint would shine through. As I painted the glitter started to cover the whole canvas. I marveled at how that horrible color I created, from my gold and purple mistake, coming through from the background, was one of the most beautiful colors of the painting.
As I painted it...I kept saying, I love this painting. I started to weep. "Wow Lord, I love this painting." Then He spoke to me. He said, "You were like this, like that canvas, you had made mistakes that were shameful, you had been trashed, used, set aside...and even labeled "a good for nothing failure." But then I, in My love, chose you to be Mine, I have covered your with My blood and made you beautiful and useful again."
If you let Him, he will take the very things that seem to be the biggest weaknesses in us, and made them the most special, unique part. And then...when anyone looks at us...they won't see the shame or mistakes anymore, how we were used and discarded...now when people look at us...they will just see Jesus.
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 other red paint, to see how it would flow. When I finished, there were drips all over the canvas. I thought to myself, well, this canvas is 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 felt the Lord say, take it out and look at it. I kept thinking, "I could 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 I would not be able to sell prints without writen permission from the Production company. So I decided to go to bed and keep looking in the morning.
Then the next day, I got on Facebook and discovered, 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 mattered not to God, 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 fresh coat of paint. As I did, I noticed that the texture, the ridges and bumps were the best part of the painting and I loved how the red glitter from the paint would shine through. As I painted the glitter started to cover the whole canvas. I marveled at how that horrible color I created, from my gold and purple mistake, coming through from the background, was one of the most beautiful colors of the painting.
As I painted it...I kept saying, I love this painting. I started to weep. "Wow Lord, I love this painting." Then He spoke to me. He said, "You were like this, like that canvas, you had made mistakes that were shameful, you had been trashed, used, set aside...and even labeled "a good for nothing failure." But then I, in My love, chose you to be Mine, I have covered your with My blood and made you beautiful and useful again."
If you let Him, he will take the very things that seem to be the biggest weaknesses in us, and made them the most special, unique part. And then...when anyone looks at us...they won't see the shame or mistakes anymore, how we were used and discarded...now when people look at us...they will just see Jesus.
Shulamite Bride Series
Click photo for more in the series
For a season, the Lord was calling me into my studio to paint intimate scenes of Him with His bride. Each one I painted, I experienced prophetically. Sometimes I would get pregnant with them over some time, and others I would walk past my studio and He would just tell me to come in and as I stood before the easel, His presence would come over me and I would begin to experience the painting.
Each one had deep meaning for me and the body as a whole. I hope as you look at them and read the testimonies, you will be encouraged and feel His intimate LOVE for you!
For a season, the Lord was calling me into my studio to paint intimate scenes of Him with His bride. Each one I painted, I experienced prophetically. Sometimes I would get pregnant with them over some time, and others I would walk past my studio and He would just tell me to come in and as I stood before the easel, His presence would come over me and I would begin to experience the painting.
Each one had deep meaning for me and the body as a whole. I hope as you look at them and read the testimonies, you will be encouraged and feel His intimate LOVE for you!
Poured Out from the Mountain
Acrylic 16 x 24
The Lord started talking to me about making a place where He could come and paint with me. Others confirmed it saying, "Jesus wants to paint with you."
I got my art studio ready and bought fresh paints. I felt like a bride on her wedding night when it was time to go in and meet with Him.
I stood before the blank canvas and then He was there. He told me to take my hands dip them in the blue and purple paint and cover the whole canvas. Then He asked me to paint a small mountain on the upper left side of the canvas. Next He told me to take the red for the blood and had me pour it down...further, further...almost to the bottom...then stop. I completed the Mountain and tried to work on the clouds.
Each step He directed me. At moments we laughed and others I cried. At one point I started losing my joy and getting frustrated. I was so into what I was doing, I forgot all about Him. I looked around and He was behind me in the chair, acting bored, waiting and playfully smiling. It spoke volumes of how much we need His presence and assistance to be able to accomplish what He has asked us to.
I still did not know where the blood was going until the rest was finished, then I saw it, the earth. I asked him if I could use a reference photo, and He said yes. I painted it in one stroke and He said, "wow, that was great!" I said, "You are so encouraging!!" and He smiled at me and said, "You are too." That is how He is...loving and encouraging. He told me that day to start buying paint by the gallons because I was going to pour much at His feet.
Besides that one moment when I forgot about Him, He was right there with me, face to face for four hours. Since then I go to an art room in heaven, when I go, He always greets me covered in paint with a big smile on his face. He truly is the best Art Teacher ever!
I got my art studio ready and bought fresh paints. I felt like a bride on her wedding night when it was time to go in and meet with Him.
I stood before the blank canvas and then He was there. He told me to take my hands dip them in the blue and purple paint and cover the whole canvas. Then He asked me to paint a small mountain on the upper left side of the canvas. Next He told me to take the red for the blood and had me pour it down...further, further...almost to the bottom...then stop. I completed the Mountain and tried to work on the clouds.
Each step He directed me. At moments we laughed and others I cried. At one point I started losing my joy and getting frustrated. I was so into what I was doing, I forgot all about Him. I looked around and He was behind me in the chair, acting bored, waiting and playfully smiling. It spoke volumes of how much we need His presence and assistance to be able to accomplish what He has asked us to.
I still did not know where the blood was going until the rest was finished, then I saw it, the earth. I asked him if I could use a reference photo, and He said yes. I painted it in one stroke and He said, "wow, that was great!" I said, "You are so encouraging!!" and He smiled at me and said, "You are too." That is how He is...loving and encouraging. He told me that day to start buying paint by the gallons because I was going to pour much at His feet.
Besides that one moment when I forgot about Him, He was right there with me, face to face for four hours. Since then I go to an art room in heaven, when I go, He always greets me covered in paint with a big smile on his face. He truly is the best Art Teacher ever!
