But there are a few ways I've seen painting impact me that I want to highlight. I hope it helps you understand a bit of my heart behind Desert's Blooming, and maybe encourage you to give an artistic practice a try.
It helped me notice the beauty around me…
When you're painting, you have to use your eyes in a whole new way. In order to capture what you see and paint it effectively you have to train your eyes to see different elements of a scene. Looking closely at the colors, lighting, and shapes, you decide which aspects to emphasize and which to minimize.
It’s allowed me to discover my artist voice…
When I started painting, I was inspired by amazing artists and wondered if I’d ever find a unique style. I think so many artists feel the same way. We all want to stand out and be known for something.
The more I’ve practiced painting, I’ve learned what techniques, mediums, colors and styles I like. This is an ever evolving process, and that's part of the fun. But I also discovered what I wanted to express through my art. Often there are strong feelings and thoughts flowing through me while I'm painting. I love the way all of this can be poured into visuals and how it contributes to a distinct style.
It’s drawn me closer to Jesus…
Above all, painting has connected me in a new way to the Creator. By tapping into my identity as a creative, I feel so much more confident about who God made me to be. As I’ve been able to share this part of my life with Jesus, it’s enriched our relationship.
I love to feel his joy when I’m painting. I also find that it's often when I'm painting that I sense clearest what he wants to say to me and others to encourage them through what I create.
If you’ve ever wanted to try a creative medium, my advice is cliche but true: Just go for it! At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter what you create. It’s all about the experience.
If you're looking for a way to process your wilderness season experience, I created some free journal prompts to help you find clarity. Click here to download.
