Catalyst 2013

 

Catalyst Dallas

I had the privilege of attending the Catalyst Conference last month with several leaders and staff from my church.  Wow!  What an amazing experience!  I'm still trying to unpack and take in all I learned and experienced there!  We were able to hear incredible speakers such as Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Jon Acuff, Erwin McManus, Dave Ramsey and two of my absolute favorites, Lysa Turkeurst and Brene Brown! 

Along with the great speakers, we had breathtaking worship with Matt Redman, Anthony Evans and David Crowder.  So very moving and exciting to sing along in person with some of my favorite artists!!

David Crowder - Catalyst

 

There were so many things I loved about this conference.  It motivated me, encouraged me, challenged me, stretched me and moved me.  Aside from the outstanding speakers and awesome worship, one of my favorite parts was seeing other artists in action and the fact that they used visual artists as part of the worship and overall experience. 

This was the amazing Hannah Renae Joiner painting live as her Dad, Reggie Joiner spoke.



Hannah Joiner - Catalyst



Catalyst

We also had an artist on stage creating live with a pottery wheel.  Unfortunately I missed her name, but it was awesome to watch her create!


Creating - Catalyst

I LOVE the images captured by the photographer(s) at Catalyst.  They are works of art in themselves!!


I'll talk more about the impact Catalyst had on me later, but for now I want to speak into the need for more visual artists to use their art to worship and witness and share God's love.  It is my prayer that churches will begin to embrace like never before the visual arts and create opportunities for painters, sculptors, printmakers, illustrators, etc. to have the stage along side the amazing musicians, dancers and speakers who are already there.  I want to see Visual Arts Ministries blossoming up in churches everywhere, opening the doors to artists in the communities than may...or may not...be believers.  I want us to use this gift God has given us to create for His Kingdom purposes...for His glory and honor!!! 

So artists, who is with me?  I know it is happening out there, but are you a part of it?  Lets rise up and make this a mainstay in our communities today! 

Have you thought about praying about a Visual Arts Ministry at your church?

Happy creating,
Jenn

"Inocente"

Red Heart by Inocente

Did you stay up to watch the Oscars last night?  I have always had a tradition of watching the show.  It actually all started when my mom was pregnant with me!  She tells the story of watching the awards while she was counting the minutes between contractions on that night some 30+ years ago!!  Okay, I'm showing my age!! :)  Back then the Academy Awards were on the end of March, and always fell close to my birthday.  Now they are on in February, but I still never miss them!

Last night I was so inspired and moved by "Inocente", the film that won the Oscar for best short documentary.

Oh how I love this story....




Amazing, isn't she!!  When the film directors accepted their award last night along with Inocente, filmmaker Sean Fine shared a passionate plea for unity among artists and unwavering support for the arts in our communities.  “This young lady…was homeless just a year ago. She’s an artist, and all of you are artists. And we feel like we need to start supporting the arts. They’re dying in our communities…We need to stand up and help girls like her be seen and heard.” 

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When he said this I wanted to run up on stage and just hug him, not that I was there to do so, but I applaud him nonetheless!!  What a wonderful show of support for the arts and I believe this includes support for the arts in schools as well!  As an art educator, of course this is a cause that is so very dear to my heart.  I believe with the education budget cuts and higher focus on the state tests, the arts, especially the visual arts it seems, are being done away with at a high rate!  In fact, when I left my teaching job to move to another city for my husband's new job and have our first child, the art program in my elementary school was done away with rather than finding a replacement art teacher!

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We must continue to fight this!  We must stand up and fight for the arts in our schools!  Parents need to be the voices for their children!  Teachers and parenets need to continue to advicate for the importance of the arts.  It has been proven time and again that the arts have a significant impact on the success of student performace in all areas of education.  Here is a great article on the importance of art in child development as well as in academic performace. 

I hope you are encouraged to make a pledge to support the arts!  Expose your kids to the theater, museums, classes, and artists that you may know.  Support them in their passions, especially if they are showing a love for creative pursuits. 

God is the ultimate Master Artist.  He was the first Creator and what is so incredible is that He instilled in us the ability and gift to create for Him!  I'm so very thankful for this!!

"Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand."

Isaiah 64:8

If you would like to see "Inocente" the documentary, it is on Itunes and can be found here!!

Happy creating,
Jennifer









Hello 2013!!!

 

Happy New Year!!!

 

 

 

From my family to yours, wishing you a wonderful, blessed and prosperous 2013!

 

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank.

We are going to put words on them ourselves.

The book is called Opportunity

and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

~  Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Merry Christmas!!!

Hoping you and yours have a wonderful holiday!! 

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'"
~ Luke 2:10-12

Autumn's Palette

Fun in the leaves!!
 

Now that we are approaching the end of September, Autumn seems to be finally on its way.  Here in Texas it stays quite hot into October, but this weekend we are looking forward to rain and cooler temperatures!  I can't wait!!  I just love this time of the year and all that comes with it!  The amazing colors alone make me so happy!  I've got my fall decorations out and I'm enjoying my new Scentsy Pumpkin warmer and yummy fall scents throughout my home! 

My daughter's cute Halloween Painting from PWaT last year!

The Painting With a Twist studio is even getting into the fall fun with Autumn paintings like this one I taught recently!

 

 

 

I've also been having fun playing in my art journal.  I've been wanting to start Art Journaling for a while now and I've finally jumped in.  I just found an old book at a resale shop and began painting pages for the backgrounds. 

 

 

 

For this page I just sketched on the book page words and all. I love the texture and interest the words in the background create!

 

 

Next I used my Portfolio Water Soluble Oil Pastels to add some color.



 
Finally I used water and my paintbrush to "paint" the oil pastels creating the colors of the tree. I don't think I'm finished yet. I'd still like to add some leaves with different types of paper.

 



Oh, I'm so in the mood to create some fun fall pieces!!  I want to paint pumpkins, and leaves, and cute little trick or treaters!!  How about you?  Have you been bitten by the "fall" creative bug?

Happy creating,
Jennifer

Healing

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My One Little Word for this year has been "heal".  After a tough and tramatic 2011 with our family facing unemployment, then a big move, and a death in our family, I felt I needed some time this year to focus on healing, resting, nurturing my heart and being kind to myself. 




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One of the ways I've done this is to work on nurturing my creative soul.  I've gotten back to the basics and have been taking some wonderful online classes from Christy Tomlinson, Junelle Jacobson, Gritty Jane, and Jeanne Oliver.  I've been sketching and searching and playing and trying new things!  I've been allowing myself to rest and rediscover my loves and what inspires me.  I'm working on surrounding myself with other, like minded, kindred spirits who can love, support and encourage me and I them.




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I'm really looking forward to jumping back into my art making and creating now.  I feel like I'm ready to dive back in and create like hopefully never before!  I hope I will in turn continue to heal, grow, flourish, thrive, be strong in my life, and in turn encourage and nurture others!!

Do you have One Little Word that you've been processing, living and nurturing this year?  I'd love to hear about it!!

Happy creating!
♥ Jennifer




Summer Lovin'

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Summer is in full swing here at our house and boy do I wish this was my view!! :) We aren't at the beach, but the kids are home from school and we are trying to survive the hot Texas heat with fun activities to keep us cool.  It is nice in the evenings thankfully, and we've been able to grill and play on our new swing set!  Super fun!!!

I decided one thing to do this summer to keep us busy is to start doing some art journaling!  I'm altering an old book I picked up at the used book store and my kids are having fun with the Smash books from K&Company.  I found an awesome online class, Kidding Around 3, for them to take through Big Picture Classes that provides a journaling prompt daily.  They've been having a blast with it and it is a great way to get them creatively documenting their summer and practicing their writing skills!!  If you are interested in joining us, registration closes tonight at 10:00pm PDT, so hurry on over!!!

Are any of you avid art journalers?  I've been wanting to try my hand at this for awhile but have had trouble finding time.  How do you fit your art journaling in and still balance your other art creating?  Those of you with young kids at home for the summer, how are you keeping them busy so you can get some creative time in?  I'd love some ideas and tips!!

Happy creating,
Jenn