Life in Contrast

I am called to create so create is what I do.

I am blessed to have a studio full of art supplies at my fingertips, a space dedicated to the making of beauty and the visual telling of a story, a whole room where I get to open the door, enter in, and breathe in the potential and co-labor in the making of what could be communicated through a piece of art created here.

Now, without that mindset, without my interaction, this studio space I just described is simply a room with a stack of blank canvas, pads of paper, paints, markers, and brushes. It can look chaotic and messy and unorganized.

All of these supplies, four walls, a roof, and a floor will be just that... left to itself.

It will stay in it's piles and containers and collect dust. These things on shelves will remain just elements and nothing more.

The materials... just disconnected stuff until the creator with the vision and skill begins putting them to beautiful use.

In my workshops, as a set up, I often tell guests that I've done my best to set them up for success... that all these materials are nothing really until you interact with them. You make the difference. You're the difference maker.

I've thought of this so much during this season of contrast.

Let's face it, our lives don't look like they did even a month ago.

Whatever our roles, we're experiencing what I'm calling The Contrast because we've been knocked off our trajectory by an unforeseen force called Covid-19 and now we are learning to operate and function in new ways with new materials.

Our thinking and vision is different because of it.

Observations during this time have run the gambit. Some experience victim mentality, fearfulness, loss, grief, anger, sadness, loss of freedom, and mixes of all of these. Some are home more and that's ok with them....Some of the contrast is a blessing and a relief because the course of life before wasn't healthy either.

Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I like the NLT which reads...

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think..."

"Let God Transform You" These four words jump out to me.

I woke up this morning with this thought. What if, in this time, if we look at all the feelings, difficulty, newness....the struggles as the supplies and materials and submit them before The Creator for the purpose of transformation in this studio space called Contrast?

Otherwise all of what we're experiencing now will lie in piles collecting dust and never be used for beautiful transformation in our lives. We actually could emerge from this season...unchanged and carrying even more baggage than before. What a waste of this time that would be.

I believe God is a Creator and a Re-creator. He never gives up and His goodness runs after us. He wants to take all the stuff in our lives and create something new and beautiful out of all of it so we can experience a renewing...a contrast that really means something and has nothing to do with the pattern of this world. He want us to reach our full potential and be difference makers.

I don't want to sit stagnate and collecting dust without purpose in this season where I'm told I can't go, I can't do, I can't be...for whatever reason. I can view this time with potential and opportunity in mind or think as the world thinks.

So today, I'm unlocking the door of the studio and allowing the ultimate maker, the one with the skill and vision to make a masterpiece... to take all this stuff and begin creating as He allows me to co-labor in the process.

From an Artist's perspective, allow me to share that it's the texture, the mark making, the color and "The Contrast" that makes a piece of art interesting and beautiful and gives it it's draw and connection to the viewer. Let's not miss what's being created in our own lives and stories and let's not be afraid of the transformation in the Contrast.

Blessings,

Tina

Doing a New Thing (The spark that started the Abstract Canvas Earrings)

Throughout my journey as a creative, much of my process has been basically what I call "Play" Yes, I often begin with gathering supplies and just playing. As I've grown as an artist, I've done this more intentionally for in the midst of this playtime, freedom, asking the Holy Spirit what to do next, and simply making marks and combining colors....Art happens.

This is the process I most often use to create backgrounds. Well in recent years, clients have been communicating how those backgrounds are resonating with them. In listening to them, I began, this past year to really pay attention and develop more skill and confidence as my process in play became much more intentional. My goal is always to create what resonates with people for connection is the authenticity behind what I do. (more about that later)

Recently, I was in the studio and I began to organize. There was a stack forming of canvases with some abstract backgrounds and stand alone pieces, as well as some demonstration pieces for workshops. I had hung onto those because in the midst of these pieces, there's almost always a moment where magic happens, it may be a square inch where color meets color and texture is so interesting and I couldn't recreate it if I tried.

So, my thought was that I would find those magical moments, cut them down into standard frameable pieces and offer them as smaller works so that I wouldn't need to keep a stack of pieces taking up valuable studio space.

It was in this moment that the spark happened!!! I am not a jewelry maker. Even though I love unique jewelry and have made it for myself in the past, I never pursued it as a part of what I do. But, it occurred to me that I had a stash of jewelry findings in a box hidden away.

It was in that moment that I saw a new way to preserve and show those unique magical moments where the color, texture, and voice of a painting can be showcased.

I love wearable art! Whether it's a divinely designed t-shirt, jacket, or (my favorite) a handbag.....I'm a sucker for it every time.

The message of all of this in the moment, in the process came to me like a flood!

One of a Kind....Just like You!! No 2 pieces could possibly ever be the same. Each piece incredibly unique with it's own personality and message.

This got me so excited about creating more!!! Thinking about shapes and finishes and Interacting with the pieces and naming them!

What has been born here is something that has injected a new energy in my process and play as a creative.

Abstract Canvas Earrings

One of a Kind...Just like You

Each piece is created from an original abstract by Tina Lawver. Each creation is skillfully cut and assembled to showcase a special moment where color and texture communicate beauty then named after artist language, terms, and inspiration. ("Painter" at right)

See more Abstract Canvas Earrings here

Thank you for hearing my heart about these special creations.

Yours, Tina

Homemade Watercolor Tutorial

I've always been creative, mostly a builder. As I've discussed before, I created with found items...rocks, sticks, and mud and being resourceful to satisfy the maker's pull for as long as I can remember.

Part of my story has been about seeing everyday items as art supplies often before I see it as it's intended use.

Being challenged recently to #shareyourknowledge, an online challenge to share just a bit of knowledge that may be of use to someone, I went back to those resourceful roots.

One never has to look far in order find materials that will help you make a creative mark.

For this challenge, I shared about taking items from home and making watercolor inspired paints that will color and stain paper.

Here, you can see the skin of a red onion that has been steeped in hot water (right) for an hour. The longer it sits, the stronger the color.

I gathered a variety of items including...

*orange peel

*black tea bag

*orange flavored tea bag

*strong coffee from that morning

and began to play

I even found an old orange marker that no longer worked, broke it open and pulled out the long sponge in the center. By putting it in a plastic cup and adding rubbing alcohol, I was able to create an alcohol ink type product.

If you have an ink pen that no longer works, you could do the same thing and create an actual alcohol ink.

By just taking a porous paper that I had on hand and drawing a simple flower shape in pen or pencil, then dripping and staining on top of that and allowing the colors to do what they do and dry, things got beautiful.

These papers took on more interest as color met color, puddling of fluid dried a bit deeper, interacted with the drawing and became.

I hope you'll be encouraged to play in this way and be blessed by the process, create a frameable piece, or create a note for someone who may need it right now.

You can see my full tutorial and #shareyourknowledge on @tinalawvercreative on Insta gram in my highlighted stories.

Supplies

*containers- bowls, plastic cups, etc

*paper - old vintage paper, copy paper, art paper, etc

*onion skins, teas, coffee, instant coffee, old markers, sharpies, pencils, old ink pens, old makeup, Jello...anything in your cupboard that may release color in hot water or alcohol.

1. Go on the hunt and experiment with materials you find

2. This can get messy so cover your surface.

3. Create your colors by soaking them in boiling water for some, rubbing alcohol or vinegar for markers and inks.

4. Gather paper and create a drawing, tracing, or why not print something from your computer to stain over. There are many free downloads online from giving creatives.

5. Play by painting, dripping, drizzling....Allow to dry and go back and do it again until you achieve what pleases you.

6. You can also add a finishing touch with a drop of essential oil, a spritz of perfume, or go with that yummy coffee smell.

This technique can be used to create stationary and/or art. Keep, frame, gift and get those kiddos involved especially during this time.

What potential for a wonderful memory making moment for you and your family.

Thank you for reading and blessings to you.

Yours,

Tina