Inspirations and Reflections

Exodus 31:1-11 … Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you:…

These were the verses that rang in my heart many years ago and were used to show me that yes, I am an artist. So began the long slow dance of merging art with life. Wrestling with fear, doubt, pride, and dreams. Art school and hundreds of commissions later, I have just started to articulate my vision for my work in the world, why it matters, my role in the arts..

Recently I’ve been trying to put some words on my visual style and the reasons behind the work. I want my art to be fun, friendly, purposeful to share the Good News, optimistic and simple. Some things are certain and some are evolving, which I suppose is what growing is all about. Below are some thoughts about my work and influence, perhaps you’ll find them interesting.

On my style: My personality is shy and bold at the same time. I want that to come across in my work because we are all a mixture of contradictions, aren’t we?! Some parts of the work is bold, seen with strong strokes or saturated colors; balanced with soft patterns and detailed marks. When I make something, I am constantly battling with my inner critic and also my other side saying, are we having fun yet? How can I make this more fun? By thinking about “fun” it helps to me to get out of my head and create from my intuition.

On Mixed Media: I see mixed media the same way I see life. To me, life is full of little moments. Those little moments all add up to a life worth living. Mixed Media is also full of little moments; bits of color, texture, pattern, fabric, marks that come together and contribute to the beautiful whole.

On influences: My work has an element of playfulness in the abstractions. This quality is a direct influence of my children, whom I adore. Kids have a way of making every moment fun in their carefree disposition. Nothing is too precious for them. Adopting this playful attitude in my approach to creating has helped me not only to have fun myself, but to loosen up my brushstrokes and artistic choices.

I also find great joy in the shapes and colors of nature. I think of God, the Creator, and how He made an orderly and complex system with much variety. I like to think of these components when I organize compositions.

I also have a loving admiration for so many of the great Masters. I not only enjoy their work, but like reading about their lives and challenges. In some way, I feel connected to them, in their quest to show beauty and honor subjects with dedication and care. Somehow, I feel not as alone in this artistic pursuit when I remember the traditions and legacies of the discipline.

On my work: I am a missionary at heart. I want people to see the world in a different way, to see Him in a new way. Therefore I like to explore Biblical Themes such as peace, mission, redemption, praise, and encouragement to show the excellencies of Christ. My aim is to merge art with mission, by promoting artmaking for the Glory of God.

Thanks for coming along on this journey, though it’s slow and winding, I know the Lord is faithful and His words are true. It’s in Him I trust!