Paint and Pray Artists

Some of the participants had NEVER painted before or drawn in their lives. Participants for the 16 week program ranged from 12 to 94 years of age.  All walks of life were represented as they joined in one common purpose to "Paint and Pray". 

Art Exhibit

The culminating project was a painting expressing the theme of "Creation".  Those works, along with other works created were displayed in a showing at the church and a reception held for the artists.  Over fifty people came through touring the work, hearing about the program and meeting the artists. Several works sold with all or part of the proceeds going back to fund the program.

The Journey

Art Hacks: Water Containers

You have no money for trips to the nearest hobby store, so how do  you create a convenient water container? How do you come up with a good means to remove excess water from a brush. It is cheap and effectively free; you are reusing something found or purchased.

Take an empty plastic container, such as one that icing for cake comes in, and cut a small open slit in the lid.  This gives us an easy to carry water source. It also helps prevent too awful a consequence if it tips over due to wind, children, movement or other reason.

Inspiring Reads: Our Incredible Journey

Our Incredible Journey. By Tonya Holmes Shook and Clarence Wade Shook ( Tonya Holmes Shook, Publishing Coordinator, 2013).  ISBN: 978-1494424121

 

 Tonya Holmes Shook  resides in Texas and in this volume she shares - visually - a history of artistic development and expression.  It is a visual memory of life lived, choices made, dreams generated, and a faith that was always whispering to the people involved, sometimes in spite of themselves.

 

" During our thirty-six years together never have we had a creative void...this book consists of many things that we call a creative force from God to achieve things never once dreamed possible or even thought of for that matter. The glory is His." (pg. 4)

 

If you like history, art, creative expression, and biography, you will enjoy this volume. Multi-talented Tonya Holmes Shook and her talented spouse Clarence Wade Shook,          share the very human progression of a journey through artistic expression: art, weaving, pottery, several novels and then again to art in a full circle that I rich in the challenges of life, the stories we inherit and make, and the way that art reflects the soul of the person producing every brush stroke or every word.

 

A good addition to art collections, biographies, and so many other areas. She shares that the destination is never as important as what you do with the journey and as such it is inspiring. 

 

Tonya Holmes Shook's writings include: The Drifters, Canady: The Los Shanty boat Man; Anyone Can Be a Wool Spinner, No Soft Place To Fall, Displaced Cherokee, God's Breakfast Nook, and a Portrait of Christ.  Clarence's works include: Used and Forgotten: A Photographic Journey; The Magnificent Mesquites of Synder.

 

See a sample of her art here.

Art Hacks: Homemade Paint

Many of these links are for use with children but may provide a starting place for economical do it yourself paints to practice with as you learn.  It might also entertain children in the process!

Homemade Watercolor Paints from Flowers.

DIY recipes for painting and art for children. Also, here. This one shows a wider range of possible mediums as well.

Frida Kahlo's DIY Paint Recipe

Homemade salt and flour paint suitable for children

A Lesson in Trees

Jeremiah 17:8
For   you who love and follow God will be "as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

 

 

 

Some Books

Here is a list of some good books. They can give you an idea of the resources available. Purchase is not necessary.

Check with the local library and see about checking out books and DVD's.  So, if you are eager to learn even more between classes, here is a sample of the resources you might fin.

Hazel Harrison.  How to Paint and Draw: A complete course on practical and creative techniques. Art School series. Features clear, easy to follow hints and directions for drawing, watercolor, oil & acrylic and pastel.  Hermes House, London, 2003. ISBN: 0-681-30397-2

Foster Caddell. Keys to Successful Color: a guide for landscape painters in oil. Watson-Guptill, New York, 1979. ISBN: 0-823-2580-2

Landscapes: a step-by-step guide. Barnes and Noble, New York,  2003. ISBN: 0-7607-4270-7

Giving

We learned about an art movement that promotes 'random acts of art' to enrich the lives of people in a community.  These free art offerings are left in public places to bring a gift of beauty and share artistic effort through art or craft.  We plan to include this in the program and give into the community.

But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have.
In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene..." -- Acts 3:6

Creating

Paint and Pray continued its exploration of the theme of "creation" with a verses from Genesis and the Psalms.  The, the night's guest instructor, shared about perspective and middle ground in landscapes. The process of life and of painting goes on! Several new people joined us for the evening and many returning faces for a fun evening.

First Night of the Pilot Project = Fun!

Express yourself through Art.

Each session an instructor will coach in a basictechnique or process using pencil or paper/canvas with acrylic/watercolor paints.


Explore Faith.

Each session will include a Theme from scripture, Words for Thought, and a short Discussion time about the topic.


Experience Prayer

Each session will include a Time for praying for participants and community needs

The Canvas

The canvas, blank and waiting
sits there in the shadows and the gloom.
Beams of fading sunset light
casts amber color slashes across the room.

Waiting, ready, are the paints and palette.
Brushes, soft plumes of possibility, beckon to begin.
Spilling colors across that snowy blankness
Seems too much; almost a sin.

What if I fail? What if it is no good?
My reaching hands fall back from the brush.
I should be cautious and start very slow.
Surely, I will ruin it if I begin to rush.

Yet, siren like, the blank canvas whispers softly.
The creative winds begin to whirl;
Stirring dreams of what might be -
With just a line, a brush, and a colorful swirl.


---Marilyn A. Hudson, 2015

But I Do Not Know How to Paint!

No experience necessary! Come, have fun, let yourself be creative, make mistakes and learn the freedom of the "do-over"!  People will share things they have learned, encourage you to try out styles and methods, and learn to express yourself.  Along the way will be inspiring devotions, Bible verses, and great opportunity to make friends who care and will pray for and with you!

 

Painting is a lot like life. We all have that blank canvas staring us in the face. We might be afraid of messing up, doing something wrong and not doing it professionally the first time.

Painting allows "do overs."

 

That is a lot like coming to know Jesus Christ and developing faith in God.  We can look at the blank canvas of our life, maybe see some mistakes, but there is Someone - if we just ask for help - who is willing to cover up our efforts and stand with us as we "do it over."

But I Do Not Know How to Pray

Do you ever feel you simply do not know how to pray? What to say, or what to do?  Seeking to add more intentional prayer time to life is worthy but we often soon feel adrift. 

 

 

Church tradition provides some resources that are not dependent on our cogency, our skills in prayer and can provide needed direction in what we do in prayer. Sometimes we have no words but through Church History others have been moved to help us express our hearts to God.   Note, they may sound a little strange but it is perfectly fine to simply "talk" to God as you would a friend or relative.

 

 

The following prayers are guides to help focus your meditations and guide you in your own gentle conversations with a God who loves us. Some people may like to use prayer beads, prayer stones, or   use some other tools to make their time seeking God meaningful. We invite you  to pause, to kneel or sit and pray in the Sanctuary Chapel.

 

Apostle’s Creed: Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.  Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done: in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen. [Traditional, 1662 Book of Common Prayer]

 

Confession (Psalm 51:1,2) :

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

 

23rd Palm: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.   Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runs over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

Lesser Doxology: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host;  Praise Father,

Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen [Thomas Ken, 17th Century Anglican Bishop]

 

Gloria Patri: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

 

Prefer Your Presence

Let me prefer your presence, O God, to all other company. Let me exalt your name above all others names, and let me love your will beyond all other desires; for the sake of Jesus  Christ. Amen.  (Thérèse of Lisieux , 1873-1897)

 

Apostle’s Creed: Our Father,  which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.  Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done: in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen. [Traditional, 1662 Book of Common Prayer]

 

Wesley United Methodist Church – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 2014

Paint and Pray : An Overview

A Pilot Project Starts Wed. Feb. 4, 2015

Love Jesus? Love art? Join us as we put the two together. We will learn art techniques and will learn to express ourselves worshipfully on canvas and paper, using Biblical and Gospel themes. Part Bible study. Part Prayer Group, and a Lot of Art!

Worship and Gospel Art:

An artistic way of worshipping and praising God. Grow spiritually with a deeper understanding and relationship with God. Participate in a shared worship experience with other Jesus followers.

Join us as we discover the hidden artist in a special program fusing the Gospel and artistic expression.

Express yourself through Art.

Each session an instructor will coach in a basic technique or process using pencil or paper/canvas with acrylic/watercolor paints.

Explore Faith.

Each session will include a Theme from scripture, Words for Thought, and a short Discussion time about the topic.

Experience Prayer

Each session will include a Time for praying for participants and community needs.

The Goal:

The Goal of the Program is to simply open doors so people, as they develop artistic skills or interest, encounter the Christian faith in new and personal ways. To learn that God loves them. To be affirmed that the creative arts is a valuable means of sharing and communicating with others in positive ways. 

No previous art experience required.

Feb. 4 - April 1, 2015 (13 week program)

Cost: Suggested donation of  $5/week or all 13 weeks for $60. Scholarships are available so do not let finances keep you from meeting new friends and learning new things.  Any funds go toward the main outreach program Paint and Pray that will be beginning in June 2015.


Weekly on: Wed., Starting Feb.4 - April 1

Time: 6:30 p.m.


Contact for Information or Enrollment:

Susan Howard 524-1556; rshoward@aol.com

Marilyn Hudson 208-0513; marilynahudson@yahoo.com


Place:

Wesley United Methodist Church
NW  25th and Classen /1401 NW 25th
Oklahoma City