Are you a thoughtful soul who values beauty, meaning, and emotional depth? Creating a home and a life that feels intentional, warm, and reflective of what matters most?
If you are drawn to original art that feels soulful, grounded, and quietly powerful, I'm thrilled we've found eachother.
We buy art, not to simply decorate, but to surround ourselves with beauty that restores, inspires, and tells a deeper story.
As with nearly all my paintings, it begins with a meaningful moment that becomes a story as brushstrokes are laid down and layered. Narratives are woven through the textures creating a story that is meaningful to the viewer as well as me.
I've often shared that the finished piece is for someone else, but the process is a gift to me.
Certainly, a gift I never take for granted.
These gorgeous birds stand watch on the lake and I know the mission for them is to catch breakfast, but the stillness and focus is amazing to me. Often the only movement in a Herron is when the wind blows a feather or two out of place.
When we kayak, I'm like a stalker who gets as quiet and still as I can as I paddle in order to float as closely to this beautiful bird as I can. I've gotten pretty close before, but what typically happens is he tires of my presence and retreats opening those wings and pushing to the other shore where a smiley chick on a weird contraption is at a distance.
Nature and being in it is a life-giving pursuit and I pray I have many years of getting out there.
Painting these moments allows me a documentation process, a journal, and the marking this experience as one that will never happen just this way again.
"The Observer" is my observation of a creature doing what it does.
We observe each other. We do our best to respect our space as curiosity closes the distance mostly on my part of course.
I'll be out there again, maybe today.
I wonder if one of these beauties will meet me there.
"The Observer"
30"h x 20"w Mixed Media Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
An Original Painting by
Tina Michelle Lawver
Tina is an Ohio Based Artist living and working in the Atwood Lake Region in Carroll County.
Please view this and all available pieces as well as Giclee', Ready to Frame Prints, and all products on www.tinalawver.com
Tina is now accepting commission requests and can be contacted here
I was honored to lead an art workshop this past Saturday morning at The Boma Barn in Diamond, OH entitled, "Divine Beauty"
8 beautiful souls carved out 3 hours for themselves to be immersed in some fun art techniques that I use in my own art to create depth and communicate a message that speaks life and beauty.
I was absolutely amazed and humbled by their passion to discover, to find wonder, openness and vulnerability as we had this time together.
Why "Divine Beauty"?
an old cathedral
a modern building
When we look at these 2 buildings, what do we observe? I'll tell you my thoughts and it's something that has been on my heart for awhile.
In our culture, our creative pursuits have become streamlined, easy, accessible and truly ugly. What is being brought forth from the hearts of some current creatives and some from the recent past is a lazy, soul-less product born of convenience and comfort. There is little risk or faith seen in much of it.
Too Harsh? This is merely an observation of our current environment that was once created with intention to inspire and invigorate. Even in ancient civilizations, it was vital to engage in the creation of buildings, spaces, art, and even the intricate details of functional elements like downspouts, all of which received significant attention.
I believe the contrast is striking between what took decades, even centuries to construct and what we often see now in newer construction.
The great building above points to something more, someone greater and showcases the glory of a great Creator. Especially for a church, one would think this is a priority. You can look at some of these structures and see the heart behind it, the sacrifice required to create it, and the fact that it stands today is a testimony all it's own. It embodies the expression of an intention and effort from a period when worship was integral to the creative process, and those involved were aware they were realizing a vision, constructing a monumental symbol of a significant purpose. It was and stands as an ode to the ONE who began it all.
details of a downspout
Fish downspout-Savannah GA
I stood at the South rim of the Grand Canyon once. I, when I think about it, can still feel what that was like. A sense of awe. I walked into St. John the Baptist Basilica in Georgia and all 5 senses were struck with the beauty that drew my eyes upward. I've had friends visit castles in Scotland, churches in Rome, and I remember walking in the Coptic area of Cairo and marveling over the detail of a single tile. I "knew" someone created that with deep intention and purpose.
Now, I'll point out that I know that people are the church, not the building so let's not get off track and I am aware that I am pinpointing a piece of something that may require more research to explain, but...
Art, architecture, attention to detail is about the excellence in serving in anything we do or create. This is my point AND...
This perspective was our mindset as we set out to create in this workshop. I may write a bit more in depth pieces about this subject another time, but for now let's talk about this amazing 3 hours, in a reclaimed barn with scripture written on the rafters and beams...unseen, but felt as even this venue was created for moments like this.
We started by aiming to create something that transcends us, yet remains personal to our own journey.
Sweet participants in the Divine Beauty Art Workshop w/Tina Lawver
Everyone was asked to bring, if they wanted, an image of something that they find uniquely beautiful and has a personal meaning to them and how their vision will be inspired by it.
I also provided several options that were personal to me.
We began by creating order out of chaos as I call it by taking all the materials provided and building a foundation that would support their vision. They trusted the process with the perspective given in the beginning of the workshop, focusing on "Divine Beauty" and created beautiful, not just pretty, not lazy, not without thought and intention, but created deeply meaningful pieces of art.
Well Done!
3 of these sweet guests shared their work with me and I share it with you here.
A Divine Workshop guest abstract art
In a world where the "color of the year" by a well known paint manufacturer is just a shade of white, it seems quite obvious that more we move away from God and His creativity we see less lasting creativity and color.
These guests understood the assignment in our little circle of influence this day.
Willing to go outside of the comfort, willing to battle through, to find something deeper, and consider something "more".
They made a mark, a new mark, and in a small way, maybe are inspired to create from a deeper perspective.
Someone once shared with me "Tina, stop cranking out work and STOP just making pretty things" MT I am grateful to this day for that advice.
Thank You so much for being present and going beyond the surface with me in this workshop, in my art, and in life.
Blessings to You,
Tina Lawver is a fine artist creating and working in her home studio in the Atwood Lake Region in rural Ohio. Her love for creating art began over 36 years ago when she started painting just for herself as a healing practice as a young Mom. She discovered that when she was in the act of creating, that her body, mind, and spirit became calm and peaceful. She was encouraged as she learned and grew as a self-taught artist. Her excitement for learning increased as she reached out to others who knew more than she did and finally taking online classes in order to increase her skill and vision.
Tina currently creates original paintings for home and public spaces through a thriving studio practice, commissions, creating for the art festival season each year, and for galleries.
You can experience her work through her website, at shows, and an upcoming gallery opening.
"The Return" painting in process by Artist, Tina Lawver
Communicating through visuals as an artist and creative holds a deeper clarity than anything I could possibly stand in front of anyone and speak through words.
I and so many I know have been feeling an unrest of the spirit in each of us. This unsettled rattling of our foundation as the grounding in us quakes.
The division in this great land founded on Freedom and Faith is tearing our country apart as we seek to find common ground.
Will we? Can we?
I pray for a unity around the good, the solid, the standard of what is good and true ....
"The Return" A painting in process by Artist, Tina Lawver
This piece is in process. On the easel and there are great plans to offer the original painting, as well as an offering in a unique way that I've not done before.
If you are interested in finding out more about "The Return" and the art release date, please feel free to email me HERE
Let me know if you'd like to be added to the release date newsletter to be the first to know about this one-of-a-kind work of art.
Artist, Tina Lawver
Tina Lawver is an Artist and Creative who lives and works in the Atwood Lake Region in Rural OHIO.
She began her art practice over 35 years ago as a form of therapy and retreat for herself which became a pursuit of learning and growing in her skill and vision as she has witnessed other finding hope and connection through the images she creates.
She is a Christ-follower, a Wife, a Mom, a Grammy to 3, a working artist with a consistent studio practice, a passion for sharing, and a lover of all things beautiful as she seeks to tell a divine story.
Tina's artwork can be experienced at Art Festivals in Ohio and NY, in an upcoming Gallery opening as well as on her website www.TinaLawver.com
