His-Kingdom-Come Featured Artist: I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Videos and Printable.

Hello!

It's been awhile!  The long winter is over here in Alaska and I've been enjoying warmth and sunshine, spending time on the computer just has to wait!

But I have a treat for you today!  I am honored to be one of the featured artist for His-Kingdom-Come!  This is a wonderful group that has loads of bible art journaling, devotionals and other projects.  I am one of the many who have and are contributing to the year-long Take Me Deeper group (scroll down for the featured bible art journaling and bonus project).

Here is a description of the DNA:Take me Deeper group at His Kingdom Come (even more HKC info at the end of the blog!!)

Take Me Deeper™ is a free weekly journey at His Kingdom Come beginning Friday, January 2 2015.   Take Me Deeper™ will be a weekly devotional and verse that will prompt us to spending time in His word. It is about each of us encouraging, sharing and studying the word.

 Each week you will get the opportunity to translate bible study into art- mixed media, a journal, a photograph, or a digital page, poem, music. Every Friday HKC will post a verse, devotional, worship video and examples of how we interpreted the bible study in our art.  We pray that these 52 weeks will change how you approach, engage and apply God’s word in your life and art. At the end of the year regardless of how many weeks your participated, you will have created a legacy of the faith walk. This legacy will show you how God has moved in your life!

Don't forget to join the FACEBOOK group we have for TMD (we also discuss Logos365 in that Facebook group as well).

The theme for today's I AM statement is: I AM A Child Of God.

The verses I have chosen for this is John 1:12-13
   "But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God." (ESV)

How wonderful is that?  We often know that we are "born-again" but do we really understand that God Himself has declared that we are now HIS children, born of Him, when we accept Christ?

DNA is often used to prove who our parents are.  Since we are now God's very own children, born of Him, I like to image that we could see Christ's DNA grafted into ours, if we were able to view it through a spiritual microscope.  The Jesus Fish fits perfectly into our existing DNA!  I hope you enjoy watching me art journal this in my Crossway ESV Single Column Journaling bible.

Supplies used:

*These are the brands I have used in this video but please use whatever supplies you have!

TriArt Clear Gesso (available on Amazon)

Copic Multiliner SP Pen (available at Jetpens.come)

Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils

Schmincke watercolor paints

I have also created a bonus project!  Since God has declared we are His very own children, I thought it would be fun to make a birth certificate which God has declared us as His child!  Click on the photo to download the certificate or make one with your own wording.   It would be fun to include the day you were saved, the day you became a child of God, if you know the date.  (I don't know the date when I truly gave my life to Christ, so no date on mine).

Supplies used:

Laser printer ( I have an inexpensive Canon printer, approximately $60)

**You can also use a copier but not inkjet!  It must be a copy made with toner for the foil to stick

iCraft Deco Foil

tan colored copy paper

Copic Multiliner Sp pen

Double-sided tape

I printed my certificate at 5x7.   It is important to know that the foils only work with LASER OR COPIER prints.  It does NOT work with inkjet printing.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FROM DROPBOX
 OR RIGHT CLICK ON IMAGE AND SAVE.

I hope you have enjoyed these videos!  God bless!

 Come and join the faithart journey at His Kingdom Come! FREE weekly devotions, faithart inspirations, technique videos, faithart classes- combining techniques and bible study! Lots of faithart products– stencils, stamps, thermofax screens, canvas, and coloring books!  If you were part of Take me deeper in 2015, please sign up for the 2016 Take me Deeper, so that you have access to the devotions, techniques and discussions! Free planner/journal pages are found here. Take Me Deeper will be continuing in 2016 with the “I am statements” of Jesus and our Spiritual DNA. Looking for your “word” for 2016?  His Kingdom Come has prepared an EBook for free containing the idea of living one word, worksheets and all the prompts for 2016! Get it for free here Logos365  www.his-kingdom-come.com

 

BIBLE ART JOURNALING: "WE HAVE COME TO WORSHIP THE KING"

This is SUPER LATE!  I had it saved to post but obviously forgot to finish and post it.  So here it is!  it is obviously a Christmas bible art journaling but it was fun using acrylic inks and salt.



Enjoy!

Bible Art Journaling: New Mercies Process video

New video posted!



This a short video on the making of this illustration in my Crossway ESV Single Column Journaling bible.



Lamentations 3:21-27



This is how sunrises look in some parts of Alaska in late summer.  The fireweed is in full bloom and it's vivid pink and purple flowers glow when the sun shines on them.



Summer is winding down quickly here, the nights are getting cold and it is getting dark earlier every day.  However, with the arrival of the darkness also comes the arrival of the stars and the northern lights.  We don't see them in the summer because it doesn't get dark.



I am going to miss the sunrises though.  In the winter, the sun rises in the south and sets in the south.  I have a large mountain to the south and the sun barely makes it high enough in the sky to peek over that mountain, in the darkest days of winter.



Because of this, the dawning sun is always wonderful and appreciative occurance, when we are in the heart of the dark winter.

Fingerprint Tree Bible Art Journaling

I enjoyed the fingerprint tree that I drew for my nephew's wedding so much that I wanted one of my own!

I Chronicles 16:28-34 mentions families and trees, all praising the Lord!  

Perfect! 

Getting My Ink On

It's been hot here, by Alaska standards, and the heat makes me tired. Blah.  

I have been hanging out in our little swiping pool, that is heated by a little woodstove my husband built.  It's very nice floating around in my pool chair but I doesn't allow for much productivity.  Oh well, gotta soak up the sun while we still have it this far north.  

I

I have started a new drawing.  It is slow going, can't rush details!  I will watercolor it after I an finished with the drawing part.

I also did more bible art in my journaling bible.  I am so glad everyday is a fresh start with God. 😍

I haven't forgotten about the giveaway!  I just need to get everything organized so I can do it.

Stay tuned! 

Deep Calls to Deep and the Fingerprint Tree

Just as the deepest places of my heart call out to the Lord, so does the Lord call to the deepest places of my heart.

It's been a tough week for me, I've been very sick with MS and issues related to it and when feeling like that, where I just can't escape the awful feelings, the deepest places of my heart cry out to God for relief and comfort.  

Thankfully, He is there.  

In these times, He is also calling to those deep places of my heart, reminding me that He Is.

He Is.  

He is everything, He is everywhere and He is all-knowing.  He knows how I feel.  He Is the source of everything I need.  

He Is.    That comforts me.

Today I had the pleasure of meeting a sweet lady who follows my blog and a friend of my husband's family.  Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement!  I am still not used to being known as an artist in the real world. :) I wish I had more opportunity to talk with both of you!  Maybe you all can contact me next time you are in my neck of the woods.  You know who you are!

This photo shows how the shading really brings it to life :)

I also finished the guest fingerprint tree for my nephew's upcoming wedding.  I added their initials yo the heart and two butterflies but I didn't get a photo of it totally finished.  I will have to wait for the wedding to get one.  They are very happy with how it turned out.  

Thank You, minniecar, for Sharing Your Bible Art!

Please check out this link to @minniecar on Instagram!  She posted a lovely bible art page with drawings she learned in my video tutorials!

Crossway ESV Journaling Bible - What's Up With the Odd Color Pages?

Surprised and not so sure about that paper color when you open this bible?



Find out why this bible is the way it is and the history behind the design.

New Video Tutorial! PEN STROKES! Part Four of "How to Draw Stylized Flowers"

Hi everyone!!

Spring is turning into summer here in Alaska.  We are in full 24 hour daylight mode, which means I don't sleep like I do in the winter.  Who can sleep when the sun is shining all night long??  Sleep can wait until winter. :)

We have been having a LOT of windy weather.  I sure would like it to just be a gentle breeze to just stop.  I live between two glaciers and we are surrounded by mountains and those winds are COLD.  Plus, they stir up glacier dust, which is super fine dust made by glaciers grinding rocks to dust as the ice flows and recedes.  It coats everything and isn't good for the lungs.

My super husband is sick today, a very unusual event.  He has spent the day on the couch, poor guy. I am praying and am sure he will be fine soon.

Now, on to the video!  I have made a short video that shows the different pen strokes that I use in many of my pen and ink drawings.  I really encourage you to get to know your supplies and learn everything they can do.  I have personalized this one a bit.  You will soon see that I am a pen nerd..and maybe a little dorky..or a lot dorky...and I'm OK with that.

Many people are afraid of pens because they aren't erasable and if a mistake is made, everything is ruined, right?

Wrong!

Once you learn different techniques for using pens, you can start off light and increase the darks as needed.  Starting off light gives lots of chances to camouflage or incorporate mistakes so they don't show and may even turn into "happy mistakes" as  the late oil paint artist Bob Ross used to say.

I have scanned off this pen stroke reference and hope you find it helpful.  Click on the photo to enlarge it.

I will be making more videos saved on the Psalm illustration, which I continue to add on to.  I will be showing how to do flowering vines and ribbons.  I have been asked to show how to draw the squirrel but that is a bit advanced so these current videos are good practice to lead up to the squirrel or maybe a bunny.

I am continuing to learn how to make better videos and am looking forward to getting a solid set up soon.

I pray blessings on you all!

New Bible Art Journaling Video! Luke 4:18-19 & 21

Hi there!!

I have a short process video today of how I drew/painted this illustration in my Crossway ESV Single Column Journaling  bible.  I have a new webcam and am pretty happy with it but finding an easy video editing program that does all the things I want it to do has been a challenge.

Suggestions for editing software are welcome!

There is a little bit of drama in the middle of the video, but everyone survived and are A-OK.  :)

It is based on Luke 4 18-19 & 21 and 2nd Corinthians 3:17.  Jesus has declared that He is the the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recover sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

How awesome is this?

Many times, we are bound by things we don't even realize, this can be anything from food, gossip, overspending, and the list goes on.  Some are more obviously harmful than others, but sometimes the seemingly harmless things are those that keep us from moving forward in our walk with Christ because we don't identify them as "being that bad" and can't identify that we are enslaved or bound by them.   

Yet, if we ask, our eyes can be open to the things that hold us captive.

But...(there always seems to be a "but" in there somewhere).. I admit that this is a scary step to take.  I don't always want to change.

"Captive", "blind", "oppressed"...those are such negative words.   Am I blind and oppressed?  I don't like to think so but if I really am blind, then I can't see if I'm oppressed, the effects of being oppressed, nor the freedom of what it is like to be released from the things that oppress me.  Reality is that I may be comfortable in my bondage, especially if it is all I know and doesn't seem to be a big deal.

In the book "The Pursuit of God", A. W. Tozer writes; "The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us. ” 

Soo...questions must be asked:
Do I really want to have my eyes opened spiritually and "see" what what oppresses and holds me back?
Do I choose to continue to be oppressed and held captive by things that don't seem "that bad"?  
Does God really know better than I do?
Do I trust God enough to relinquish control?
Is the liberty He speaks of really worth it and will I be happier and freer? Is "freer" really a word or should it be "more free"?    
Do I really have to come to the end of myself?

Why does that word "really" keep popping up?  I think it is a matter of faith; do I really believe or not?

A decision must be made.

I can take only one step at a time or it all just seems too big and overwhelming.  Baby steps.  Baby steps are better than no step at all.  So here I go, the first step of my journey to the liberty Christ has provided for us.

My first step is asking God to remove the spiritual blindness to the things that are holding me captive.

I can do this.  I must remember that God cares for us, He wants the best for us and wants us to be succeed. He will not ask me to do anything that is impossible.

It is His job to do the impossible, not mine.

The inspiration behind the illustration:

The cross is the most recognized icon of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made to save each and every person ever born on this earth.  His life was exchanged for ours, He broke the chains of sin and death which bound us all.  

  The Statue of Liberty is the most recognized icon of freedom in America.  While we all have different definitions of freedom and liberty, I am so incredibly thankful that I live in a country where I can freely have a bible and express my beliefs.  People may not agree with my beliefs but I am generally not endangered by my beliefs.   So many other places in the world people are imprisoned, beat and killed because of their beliefs.  They would literally be risking their lives just to hold a bible in their hands.  

Today is D-Day.  Thousands of people died in the fight to stop a big evil that was spreading through Europe and threatening the world.  History is repeating itself - a different place, different people, different reactions, but it's the same old story.  

As messed up as our country is, I thank God for the liberty we have.  I will always pray that will continue God to bless America and that America will be a blessing to God.  Where there is liberty, there is hope. 

Bible Art Journaling: What If My Art Isn't Good Enough?

I am part of the Facebook group Journaling Bible Community and there are people there with ALL levels, abilities and styles of journaling in their bibles.

Some use stickers, some do amazing lettering, some do stick figures, some only smear a bit of paint on the page and then write out their thoughts pertaining to the scripture they are studying.  Some are true pieces of artwork all on their own.

Often, there are comments made by the person that they can't draw, they made mistakes in their journaling, etc.

Sometimes, these comments seems to rub some people the wrong way.  They feel that the person making those comments are looking more at making art than they are the spiritual part of bible art journaling - which are devotionals, meditating and learning and focusing solely on God's word.  Sometimes, there seems to be some anger or judgment toward the people who point out what they feel are inadequacies in their bible journaling.

This makes me sad.

Here is my take on it.

 I understand why people make these comments. They are unsure and insecure of their abilities. They want to present a beautiful offering to our beautiful God but feel it isn't good enough. Just as Christ accepts us with all our imperfections, so does he accept our imperfect art and sees it as beautiful and perfect offerings from our heart, praising, worshiping and learning from His Word. So..maybe encouragement that God accepts and is pleased with our efforts, as imperfect as they are, can help people to not be so concerned and not focus so much on the imperfections and focus more on the act of worshiping, meditation and learning ad knowing that God IS pleased with our efforts.

Let's please have some compassion and show mercy and understanding.  Teach and encourage instead of responding with anger.  

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.

A few months ago, I discovered Bible art journaling.  It immediately awoke a longing within me.

I have tried keeping a written journal before but never enjoyed it. When I use art in my bible, it is a like a picture is worth a thousand words. It is a meditation of the scriptures, the images are a personal connecting between myself and the Word of God.  It is deeply personal and expresses my heart and feelings without writing a word, unless I choose to add to it.  

Everyone has areas of chaos and turmoil in their lives.  Believers of Christ are not immune from this but we do not have to be held captive by the chaos and turmoil.  God has sent His Spirit through Jesus Christ to break the chains that bind and set us free.  It still requires us to walk away from the things that held us captive, we can choose to go back and put the chains back on, but we can also choose to walk away from those things.  It might just be one single step at a time but with the help and guidance of the Spirit of the Lord, we are never without hope, never without a second, third, forth or more chances to become totally free.  

The Statue of Liberty is the most recognized symbol of freedom in the USA.  Liberty and freedom are often misunderstood.  We tend to think it means we can do whatever we want but many things we want are very harmful to ourselves and others.  True liberty is freedom from being bound by things that hurt us and other, and that trap us and bring us down.  Thankfully, if we ask, the Lord will open our eyes to those things that bind us and set is on the path to true freedom.  If we choose. We can choose freedom or we can choose chains.  

Luke 4:18, 19, 21. 2nd Corinthians 3:17.

Faber-Castell Pitt Artist brush pens on page prepped with Liquitex Fluid Matte Medium.  

*i will be adding the video of the making of this bible page soon!  

(To see all bible art journaling in one place, select "Journaling Bible Art" from the menu above)