I have always been in tune with my artistic side; from as far back as I can remember. I get those urges or moments of inspiration to create something new. Whether it’s a drawing, an illustration and getting my hands and clothes covered in paint. To grabbing my camera and taking a portrait of something that is unusually cool and yet simplistic at the same time, or even journaling in one of my many sketch journals of desires that I have. When I started back in college this past fall, I got this feeling like God was speaking to me and asking me to paint his promises that he has written out for you and me in his book of life called the Bible. Then the questions I had about this inspiration were asked from me to God, “What medium would you have me paint it in? What size should it be? What style of painting would you like me to paint your promises in? What specific promises would you have me illustrate?”
Over the following weeks, which turned into months, I have simply been in a thought process or one would say a type of meditation about this next venture that I am to begin. Not knowing anything about what I was about to take on (size, medium, style, etc) when the painting is to actually start. So to start I had to get in to God’s word. I had to meditate on him, with him, and let his love permeate through my mind and self. If I were at church and the sermon had quoted a certain scripture, I wrote that scripture down to revisit later to see if it would be a good one for the illustration. Or if I would be out with friends and in our conversation and something would “sound off” in my head of a scripture that had some reflection on our conversation, I would write down the scripture on my hand. The scripture could be in a song that I listen too that speaks of an everlasting love and a passion that God has for his children. If I know what scripture the recording artist got their inspiration from to write it, I would also jot it down on my hand or keep a mental note to listen to that song again. Or in my quiet time before the Lord, if he gives me a specific scripture to me I write it down along with the others that I have written down. I keep them next to my bed, by my study Bible, that way I am continually praying over each scripture I write down.
I want to keep this next illustration piece totally centered on Christ, his love, and his promises for us. Most of all I want to remind myself that those words, those promises are for me and that I am loved with a type of love that can never be compromised. Jeremiah 29:11 is a scripture that I carry with me everywhere I go. I have it on my key chain. It says: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Reading this scripture over and over, even on the lowest days, always gives me the reassurance that what I am currently doing in life, and where I am currently at, is right on track with my Heavenly Father’s plans. As well with other scriptures for when I get worried, 1 Peter 5:7 tells me specifically that God cares for me and to cast my worries upon him when I feel like I have lost all hope and he will take my yoke upon his back and carry it for me.
I do not feel as though I am done writing down his promises for this painting, I will continue to journal and write the ones that speak to me the most down. But I needed to get an idea of how much this is going to cost. As well, I needed to be thinking about the size of the canvas that I will want to paint it on and if I wanted to build the canvas on my own or purchase it already assembled. I started out visiting different art stores looking at the different canvas’ they had to purchase, as well as looking at the materials to build my own. I studied the different sizes of each canvas, the one that spoke loudly too me was the 30”x40.” But there were two that were made out of different canvas materials, one was a thinner fabric and the other was a lot thicker and had more of a texture. The thicker and more textured canvas was double the amount of money, however it is extremely well worth the price. I had not only found the size of canvas that I desire this illustration to be, but as well with the exact canvas that I want to paint this new art piece on.
Doing an innovatory of my paint supplies and my paintbrushes I know that I will need to invest a good chunk of money in the paints alone. I have a handful of oil paints that are mostly in the same color pallet family. In looking at the prices for a full complete set of new paints it will cost me close to $700’s in funds. I do not think that I will be purchasing a whole new set of oil paints. Rather, I’ll be adding too my current collection of paints with selections that I feel that I am in need to buy. I have a lot of various brushes as well, most of which are ones that I have are smooth and sleek, meaning that they are not meant for oil paints. I do have a few course bristled brushes but they are not all different in shapes and sizes that I feel like I am going to need. So I will have to invest in a few different sets of bristle brush sets; at least enough to help me get started on this piece that I want to take my time on.
In looking for the perfect canvas to paint I will need to get an easel to prop the canvas on so that I’m not holding the canvas while I am painting it. I thought that maybe I could get by with getting a little field easel that is relatively inexpensive, costing about $50. However I visited Bill’s Art Supply store in Oxford recently, and caught myself pretty much drooling over this gorgeous, handmade, hardwood easel that cost about $187. I realized that I would really want to make a big investment in an authentic easel. But I am not sure if my finances would allow such an investment. I do not want to lessen the selection of colors that I want for the painting, but I need to have the proper equipment to be able to render this piece in the best way possible. I already have so much time, money and energy going into this. I cannot forget all the other supplies that I need to buy when I get started on this visual piece of art. For example, I will need to get a fairly large tube of Gesso Paint to paint on the canvas before I start to lay down the oils. As well as a product called turpenoid (a form of turpentine) to help me clean the brushes, and an oil to help me thin out the paint to help the colors blend better. So the question is, will I be able to make such of an investment when so much money is already going into other avenues for this piece?
I can honestly say despite the financial aspect of this new and exciting illustration, I am very thrilled on getting started on the actual painting process. Though the process of getting ready for a new illustration is going to be a process of it’s own to take. Then to get to the point of putting paint to canvas is a new process that will be started. I was energized when God gave me the motivation for taking on such a project. I can hardly wait to see how painting his written promises for the word, that most people consider to be life, turns out to be.
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