“It always strikes me, and it is very peculiar, that when we see the image of indescribable and unutterable desolation - of loneliness, of poverty and misery, the end of all things, or their extreme - then rises in our mind the thought of God.” ~ Vincent van Gogh

I once laughed at van Gogh’s work. Young, foolish - what did I know? His paintings struck me as unremarkable.

As I grew older, something about his work toyed with me. The vibrant colors maybe? Perhaps it was the sadness behind the brushstroke. His pictures tugged at my heartstrings until finally I read about his life. I cried. Before that point, the artist spoke through swirling emotional colors that life had not taught me. But now I get it.

His paintings seem over-rated to some, but it takes more than a glance to know the man. If we fail to observe, we walk away empty-handed, missing the heart behind the canvas. I invite you to read about the troubled man and learn of his depth. See what you think about his faith. Different authors highlight different aspects of van Gogh’s life, and while he might have pulled away from “organized religion” in latter years, that’s not such a bad thing. Something tells me he never pulled away from Christ.

At Eternity’s Gate
A Living Message

I love Van Gogh. Decades later, I regret my initial impression and sense a sorrow over our tendency to make snap judgments about one another. Beneath all art is story, and we have more in common with Vincent than we realize.

Perhaps we’ll discuss more about his life and faith in another post. For now, the grandpeeps are coming (yay!) so I leave you with some of my favorite van Gogh quotes:

“I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”

“Christ is more of an artist than the artists; he works in the living spirit and the living flesh; he makes men instead of statues.”

“There may be a great fire in our soul, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke coming through the chimney, and go along their way.”

“If you hear a voice within you saying, ‘You are not a painter,’ then by all means paint . . . and that voice will be silenced.”

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”

“I want to do drawings which touch some people…I want to progress so far that people will say of my work, he feels deeply, he feels tenderly.”

“There may be a time in life when one is tired of everything and feels as if all one does is wrong, and there may be some truth in it. Do you think this is a feeling one must try to forget and to banish, or is it ‘the longing for God,’ which one must not fear, but cherish to see if it may bring us some good? Is it ‘the longing for God’ which leads us to make a choice which we never regret? Let us keep courage and try to be patient and gentle. And not mind being eccentric, and make distinction between good and evil.”

“God has given us gifts so that we can use them to benefit others, and to bring recognition and honor to him. He does not call us to seek self-fulfillment, but rather to find fulfillment through seeking to serve.” ~ Kevin & Kay Brennfleck

“Deep in our hearts, we all want to find and fulfill a purpose bigger than ourselves. Only such a larger purpose can inspire us to heights we know we could never reach on our own. For each of us the real purpose is personal and passionate: to know what we are here to do, and why.” ~ Os Guinness

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” ~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

“Dreaming about a thing in order to do it properly is right; but dreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong.” ~ Oswald Chambers

“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way - things I had no words for.” ~ Georgia O’ Keeffe

Combine journaling, collage art, and painting. . . with faith. . . and what do you get? A happy girl! With spring at my heels, I’m sensing a renewing of my passion for all things creative. Some of you know I struggle with seasonal depression. This past winter was the bleakest I’ve ever experienced. But all this glorious sunshine today is not going to waste! Thank you, Lord, for new seasons, new beginnings!

During the darkest of months, I daydreamed about art. I’d look at magazines, pictures, and the mess in my little studio, wondering if I’d ever do anything creative again. Sure, I was writing - just barely. I decided to store up supplies, on faith, that a new season of creativity was on its way. Yes, and God blessed me with a husband who supports my endeavors. He supplied me with journal books, acrylics, canvas, colored pencils, pens, pastels, and a whole lot of mixed media paper. No excuses now, huh? Guess I’ll send cake decorating on a vacation while I continue to write and dabble in jewelry design. But I most definitely need to make time for art.

If you’re artistic and interested in a group that offers encouragement to Christian artists (beginner to pro) from all backgrounds, join me at Create By Faith. Mixed media artist and teacher, Paulette Insall, hosts this Ning group, which I stumbled upon after finding her blog here. Check it out. It’s fun to be surrounded by so many of God’s creative children.

My art is about the search for connection…to self, to like minded spirits, to family, and to God. The reason that most of my work depicts a sole woman is because these are the stories of my own personal search and the emotions they invoke within my soul. My hope is that the visual stories I create with my art, touch people from all walks of life and let them know that they are not alone…and find comfort in that knowing. ~ Paulette Insall

So! Back to doodling. May the chronicles of my spiritual journey bless your heart, and His. Let me know what creative sparks go off in that head of yours this weekend! God bless you, friends.

“The kind of art that glorifies God is good, true, and, finally, beautiful.” ~ Philip Graham Ryken

Resources:
Create By Faith
Paulette Insall, Artist
Paulett’s Gallery

“But one thing true artists should never do is to abandon their calling.” ~ Philip Graham Ryken

With spring on its way, I hope to take us in a fresh direction - a little housekeeping here, a few changes there, maybe some surprises! While my primary focus is to spur us on to good writing, I’ve met many folks whose creative callings include music and various other art expressions. I’ve also discovered a few latent talents myself, and need to bring those to light. As a writer prone to paint with words, I realize that, whether our creative endeavors become our vocation or avocation, a little encouragement goes a long way.

This week I found such encouragement in a little book called Art for God’s Sake, by Philip Graham Ryken. Have you read it yet? Let me whet your appetite:

“Anyone who is called to be an artist should be an artist! God’s gifts are never to be hidden; his calling is never to be denied. And like everything else that we do, our art is to be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17). The life of an artist - like the life of any other Christian - is a life of daily dependence on the grace of God, with constant prayer for his blessing.”

Never think your creative pursuits are a waste of time. If God planted His artistic seed in you, let it grow; nurture it. Let’s encourage one another. “The church can help in this pursuit by serving as a community of encouragement that affirms the calling of artists and nurtures the artistic aspect of every human soul,” Ryken says.

So stay tuned! I might even surprise you!

Art for God’s Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

. . . And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. ~ I Corinthians 13

Calling all writers! From my Cup of Comfort mailbag:

Love is central to our lives. One of the great journeys we take is the search for that special someone. We have all experienced the initial butterflies when we fall in love, the deepening of that affection as we pass the years together, and the challenges that couples go through as life, well, happens. This quest is exhilarating, profound, and full of sincere and honest stories. Which Cup of Comfort and REDBOOK would love to hear.

The publishers of Cup of Comfort and REDBOOK Magazine are pleased to announce the Your Love Story Contest!

From now until April 20th, readers are encouraged to enter their 1,000 – 2,000 word true love stories. Topics can range from falling in love, celebrating love, experiences that couples have overcome, and more, as long as the love story speaks to the joys or challenges of a romantic partnership.

For more details, click HERE for contest rules, how to submit, prize money.

Those ol’ winter doldrums can linger like the bad weather. Other days are just too full to write. Let not your heart be troubled; I’m brewing some blueberry tea! Here’s to a little tea therapy, a shot of encouragement, and a friendly little push in the right direction:

“Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” ~ Henry Van Dyke

“Go to the effort. Invest the time. Write the letter. Make the apology. Take the trip. Purchase the gift. Do it. The seized opportunity renders joy.” ~ Max Lucado

“They might not need me; but they might.
I’ll let my head be just in sight;
A smile as small as mine might be
Precisely their necessity.”
~ Emily Dickinson

“Expect the dawn of a new beginning in the dark nights of life.” ~ Lloyd John Ogilvie

“Live your life while you have it. Life is a splendid gift - there is nothing small about it.” ~ Florence Nightingale

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8