This is what I’m wrestling with. I’m really enjoying the process of new mediums, new techniques, and interpreting the voice of God thru visions on a daily basis. HOWEVER! there is this thought that these will all be displayed. So I have the pressure of producing a finished product. If there were no public showing, the pressure would be off, or if there were much more time to work on the piece it would also relieve the pressure. Jim and I joked about renaming it ’52′ and doing one a week. I just think that its responsible to want to put out work that is worth looking at and not just all my experimentation in my garage. Anybody else wrestling with this?
Creative Sketches or Finished Product?
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Have you ever looked through someones sketch book? Think about your favorite artist and have the honor of looking at his or her sketchbook. How cool would it be to see those initial markings. I was just telling Crystal yesterday, rather than coming up with a masterpiece everyday, think of one thing you like and repaint it. By the end of the week you will have worked on that concept for 7 hours. Try to repaint the same piece over and over. Let go of your expectations of what a “finished” piece should look like and enjoy your time now of experimentation. We have a whole year to do this, think of the turtle not the rabbit. The concept I think is evolving and with other projects of this nature it is important to expose ourselves… to be different in the fact that we will fall off of our “normal good art or finished art”. Have faith and know that the first paintings, the first month, will be different than the last month.
I was reminded of newly saved Christians. How sometimes they see the pastor that prayed for them and they just give up because they will never be as “good” as a pastor.
Yet, they are just a work in progress as we all are. Even if you can’t think of a painting to paint this process is a symbolism of our walks in Christ. Celebrate your talent! Everyday we celebrate Jesus’ grace in our lives yet we too are not perfect or finished but we are always on display as an example in our walk as a light and salt of the earth!
Thanks. This helps a little, but there are still many sketchbooks I have looked at that I felt was a waste of time because they were crummy
Since I am experimenting with new mediums that are unknown to me, some of the ‘sketches’ fail and are very uninteresting. I suppose if I just stick with what I know the sketches would prove to be somewhat worthwhile to see. That is the dilemma.
My motto is becoming… It is was it is. I have recieved some major healing about this. I have realized that in my letting go of these expectations God is able to speak through the peice. My struggle is not against the painting…Its more what is starting to manifest around in my personal life. We struggle not against flesh or bone (Ephesians 6:12).
Blessings Josie
Do not worry about if the paintings are finished or not. GOD Himself never worries whether we are finished or not and yet we still are presented to the world. Perhaps we do not make the same impact with a practice piece as we do with a masterpiece but is tht not the point of this entire project… to share our growth in GOD. By the end of this project your pieces will look more thought out; include more detail; include deeper thought, and ultimately divine creativity. This is exactly how GOD views His soon to be masterpieces. So dont be discouraged, rather be patient like GOD and watch yourself grow.
Ahhh, sweet surrender. To lay aside pride and perfectionism and bathe in His power and grace….I have battled with this for nearly 60 years and found myself lacking, slacking, and producing nothing at all. This incredible project is more of surrender from the fears and doubts of what others (and I) might think and an entry into a time of devotion and belief that HE is able to have and express himself through me…Devotion to the greater creator, and devotion to His nearness and the rest found in spending time with Him. As we sink deeper and more meditatively into what it is He is wanting to say to -through us, perhaps it will take 365 slightly imperfect expressions to reveal a greater more perfect picture of HIS incredibly beautiful nature demonstrated through the work of our hands. A year from now we will undoubtedly have been changed, and in Him making a far greater statement about His “work” in us rather than our work “for” Him. Humbly submitted.
I like what Susan said about this “is a symbolism of our walks in Christ.”
I attended the show this past Thursday and i just want to let you know how you have inspired me to take time with God and how I can use my talent at the same time to bring me closer to Him. Thanks for posting your feelings and suggestions – they are ministering to me as well.