BIBLICAL ART
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
The not-so-secret secret to all of my artistic
endeavors is that I am motivated by a love for God,
which springs from his great love for me, for us.
For some art, this comes through in joy or thought,
while others reflect more directly on the word
of God, visually depicting a story or verse.
Similar to the "mustard seed" page, I was intrigued by the visual potential in the phrasing, and considered how the artwork could be executed in a way that uniquely related to the subject matter. Using charcoal tapped into my fine art background while applying it unexpectedly to the format of a comic.
The material is cloudy and blurred, obscuring our vision, as the blind man comes to Jesus for healing.
At first, partially seeing, he replies "I see men, but they look like trees walking."
Originally, I envisioned having a few pages of this quiet story, paired with a few pages of another healing that is instead noisy and jubilant - showing how God can reach each of us in the ways we need.
I would someday like to revisit this project, fulfilling the idea of binding them together in a small book.
Commission from Spark+Echo Arts (2016) with a reversable frame depicting a path to light or being lost in darkness...
Proverbs 4: 18-19 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Creative lettering of Bible verses and hymns has been a personal and artistic practice for a long while, in various times and places.
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Turning words into visual imagery takes time, during which I meditate on the text and tease out various options for what to emphasize.
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This becomes a private form of devotion, or can be sent as an encouragement to friends.
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During the pandemic lockdown of 2020, this was established as a consistent daily practice, when setting goals for time spent at home. To solidify this habit, I uploaded the pictures on Instagram @todayrejoice
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I continue to letter verses and notes during church sermons and Bible studies.
January 2023 was the "Rooted" one-day retreat, hosted by Redeemer Presbyterian Church (East). As a member of the arts group scheduled to perform, I created a set of related art pieces in preparation for and even during the event itself.
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What started as a poem drawn amidst the roots of a tree in colored pencil became a mixed-media collage that included various upcycled materials, and was placed on the beverage table for people to view as they went for refreshments.
A longer poem that I had prepared to read aloud at our live presentation was also creatively lettered ahead of time, and printed on perforated business card sheets, to keep on theme.
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During the sermons and talks, I sketched the speakers, surrounded by their words. On small cards, I lettered phrases and Bible verses from the day, added to the centerpieces of the round tables we used for lunch and breakout sessions.
Introducing the performing art segment, I went on stage first. Before reading my main poem, I began with a statement that remixed the words of their event description into a poem of its own. Then mine, with all its musings and alliterations.
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Of course, I also depicted the rest of the performers from our arts group, drawing them on a series of art cards.
February 2023 was an art salon night hosted by COTC (Church of the City).
I usually sketch these monthly evenings informally, and now had the chance to present a poem written to their theme of "Envy." By having me read it near the end, all these lettered phrases and sketches of the other featured artists were taped to the wall behind me as I spoke, followed by Q&A.
December 2022 - Present Sketching the performers at Open Art Night, a pre-planned open mic hosted by OneCo HK, the community center of One Community Church in the neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen, every 6wks. While the concept is not overtly spiritual (actually most songs are thrilling Broadway showtunes), it creates a safe space for artists to practice their craft, allowing them to be vulnerable creatively and personally. The night may also include original songs and poems that wrestle with deep issues, yet find hope through their identity in Jesus.
December 2023 I displayed the sketches out on a table, in multiple albums, and clipped to the hanging lights, then in March 2024 I consolidated them into one album that can be viewed at all subsequent shows.
