WHO is He?
The Names and Character Qualities of God Found in the Book of Psalms
It started with a simple idea: create a work of art on the names and character qualities of God revealed in the book of Psalms. . . .
THE INSPIRATION
During the spring of 2007, God placed this idea in my head. I had no clear direction, but figured I would begin studying the book and meditating on each chapter. Early in the process, I thought that maybe a continuous, horizontal display of the list of names and qualities I uncovered would make a nice work of art. Although this idea came, it lacked excitement for me and I abandoned it.
After a busy spring, God took me to a two-month period of rest with little to no inspiration to create. As I prayed through this time, I began looking forward to an upcoming trip to the CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts) conference in Pennsylvania. I made the most of this time of retreat at the conference by spending much of it with God. In these times, He began to speak to me in a variety of ways and clarified the next direction to proceed both in my own artwork and in my involvement with the visual arts at Lincoln Berean. During one evening session I began doodling lines and shapes, and they
seemed to relate to the character qualities and names of God found in Psalm 1. That doodle opened the flood gates. God ignited an unexplainable fire. Over the summer, I read the chapters and listed what I found, which caused me to learn more about my God and who He has created me to be.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
The whole project was amazing to work on, and I can not help but praise God for the privilege of creating and communicating with him through the time spent on this project. I know one day I will look back and wonder how this all got done, and I know all I will be able to do is stand in awe of God and his ability to move in and through someone and accomplish what only He can for "with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)
My hope is that the work will inspire and encourage visual art as a way of worship and challenge people to discover what it is God has made them for. I believe that there is nothing like being in the exact place God designed for you to be. He is the igniter of passion and the accomplisher of impossibly enormous things. God is able and to Him be the glory. -Ann
THE PROCESS OF CREATING
After several chapters were read, I would go back and look over the list I had written, ponder God's character, and sketch images. God just kept
things flowing; and at times I'd draw one to two images, while other times eight to ten would just seem to fly at me. This happened during two days over Christmas 2007, a time when 45 sketches were completed - which finished this step of the process. What an exciting two days! Each sketch was transferred onto a pocketed banner for easy hanging and shipping in the event this might be a traveling show someday - a glimpse of the direction God was leading me.
I began sewing banners, applying gesso, and under painting them. When about ten banners were ready, I began drawing on the images I sketched onto them and then writing out the words from my lists. This process proved to be a learning experience in a number of ways, as I discovered which media to use to write the words and how to make some images stand out from under the paint. I was once told that the best way to get better at what you do is to keep working at it and practicing it. You can go to as much schooling as possible, but the more you create the better you will be. The learning process was incredible. I learned more about the materials I use, how I work, and the drive God has given me. After materials were collected and canvases prepared, I began painting the images. Painting was the real worship time for me, as I could relax a bit, just soak in God and meditate on who He is - which
is where the title for the series originated. This painting time which I refer to as “in-between time” often took the longest, as the steps before this usually
lasted about five days and the final steps, after painting, lasted about one day. I worked in sets of 10-12 banners on average until I reached Psalms 100, and then I worked on 20-25 at a time. Each image contains a grid for painting, often using the word Lord or God as many times as it appeared in the chapter. On rare occasions, were Lord appeared less than ten times, I used a random grid of intuitively made marks. I challenge you to search for every Lord and God in each work. Some paints were laid down randomly, others in a more organized fashion. Once painting was complete, I would trace the lines of the grid in charcoal, splatter paint, and then sign each piece. To finish the piece, I added metallic and glitter spray paints and then a sealer. When all pieces were completed, I photographed and measured each.
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
Early in the process, I set a goal to be done with the entire project in the summer of 2009. I figured that two years was a good deadline for completing 150 works of art, while being a mother of two boys, three and one. Little did I know that God had other plans as the series was completed March 7, 2008 - just nine short months after it began. What an amazing God thing! God also answered every prayer for financing as earnings from a commissioned work funded materials for the Psalms project.
The Names and Character Qualities of God Found in the Book of Psalms
It started with a simple idea: create a work of art on the names and character qualities of God revealed in the book of Psalms. . . .
THE INSPIRATION
During the spring of 2007, God placed this idea in my head. I had no clear direction, but figured I would begin studying the book and meditating on each chapter. Early in the process, I thought that maybe a continuous, horizontal display of the list of names and qualities I uncovered would make a nice work of art. Although this idea came, it lacked excitement for me and I abandoned it.
After a busy spring, God took me to a two-month period of rest with little to no inspiration to create. As I prayed through this time, I began looking forward to an upcoming trip to the CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts) conference in Pennsylvania. I made the most of this time of retreat at the conference by spending much of it with God. In these times, He began to speak to me in a variety of ways and clarified the next direction to proceed both in my own artwork and in my involvement with the visual arts at Lincoln Berean. During one evening session I began doodling lines and shapes, and they
seemed to relate to the character qualities and names of God found in Psalm 1. That doodle opened the flood gates. God ignited an unexplainable fire. Over the summer, I read the chapters and listed what I found, which caused me to learn more about my God and who He has created me to be.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
The whole project was amazing to work on, and I can not help but praise God for the privilege of creating and communicating with him through the time spent on this project. I know one day I will look back and wonder how this all got done, and I know all I will be able to do is stand in awe of God and his ability to move in and through someone and accomplish what only He can for "with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)
My hope is that the work will inspire and encourage visual art as a way of worship and challenge people to discover what it is God has made them for. I believe that there is nothing like being in the exact place God designed for you to be. He is the igniter of passion and the accomplisher of impossibly enormous things. God is able and to Him be the glory. -Ann
THE PROCESS OF CREATING
After several chapters were read, I would go back and look over the list I had written, ponder God's character, and sketch images. God just kept
things flowing; and at times I'd draw one to two images, while other times eight to ten would just seem to fly at me. This happened during two days over Christmas 2007, a time when 45 sketches were completed - which finished this step of the process. What an exciting two days! Each sketch was transferred onto a pocketed banner for easy hanging and shipping in the event this might be a traveling show someday - a glimpse of the direction God was leading me.
I began sewing banners, applying gesso, and under painting them. When about ten banners were ready, I began drawing on the images I sketched onto them and then writing out the words from my lists. This process proved to be a learning experience in a number of ways, as I discovered which media to use to write the words and how to make some images stand out from under the paint. I was once told that the best way to get better at what you do is to keep working at it and practicing it. You can go to as much schooling as possible, but the more you create the better you will be. The learning process was incredible. I learned more about the materials I use, how I work, and the drive God has given me. After materials were collected and canvases prepared, I began painting the images. Painting was the real worship time for me, as I could relax a bit, just soak in God and meditate on who He is - which
is where the title for the series originated. This painting time which I refer to as “in-between time” often took the longest, as the steps before this usually
lasted about five days and the final steps, after painting, lasted about one day. I worked in sets of 10-12 banners on average until I reached Psalms 100, and then I worked on 20-25 at a time. Each image contains a grid for painting, often using the word Lord or God as many times as it appeared in the chapter. On rare occasions, were Lord appeared less than ten times, I used a random grid of intuitively made marks. I challenge you to search for every Lord and God in each work. Some paints were laid down randomly, others in a more organized fashion. Once painting was complete, I would trace the lines of the grid in charcoal, splatter paint, and then sign each piece. To finish the piece, I added metallic and glitter spray paints and then a sealer. When all pieces were completed, I photographed and measured each.
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
Early in the process, I set a goal to be done with the entire project in the summer of 2009. I figured that two years was a good deadline for completing 150 works of art, while being a mother of two boys, three and one. Little did I know that God had other plans as the series was completed March 7, 2008 - just nine short months after it began. What an amazing God thing! God also answered every prayer for financing as earnings from a commissioned work funded materials for the Psalms project.