Design

Long before I became an artist painting primarily on canvas, much of my work focused on interiors. I love it! I've created many a mural and wall accent in homes and businesses over the years.

This particular mural happens to be in the wine tasting room at Shy Cellars in Strasburg, OH close to where I live, a beautiful and unique dining experience for everyone who visits. It also just happens to be owned by our good friends and fellow creatives, Chef Sherry Schie, her husband, Ralph, and daughter, Executive Chef Tara Schie.

Sherry and I share a similar heart philosophy about spaces. Wherever you are, it should feel like you belong.

That feeling of walking into a space, knowing where to go, having a wow moment, an exhale, a peace about where you are at that moment and the permission to be fully present, is what makes a successful space.

I've learned, over the years, that the best way to approach a space and make it feel like home (even for a moment), creating a setting for the best experience for someone, is simple really.

It's about The Five Senses. Yes! it's about design...not necessarily the design of the interior space as much as our design internally. You see, we are uniquely designed to perceive our surroundings through our senses. Taking the direction from our divine design never fails.

What we see, smell, taste, hear, and feel is how it all gets in. Getting as close to the satisfaction of all of these senses and doing our level best to hit that mark, is a creatives way of loving on people.

Loving in this way and surrounding myself with other creatives who do the same, keeps me on an exciting learning curve discovering new ways of expression all the time.

I believe this with all my heart.

I think about it every time I stand in front of a blank canvas, wall, or space. I know that what I'm about to do has the potential power to create a mood, encourage, be a reminder to keep going, to transport (even for a moment) a person to a peaceful place. What a privilege to participate in setting the stage for a memory.

I know and have experienced, both as a giver and receiver, the power of God (the true Creator) has worked in people's lives through the senses. Tapping into the flow of what He is doing in the world as He desires to lavish His love on people everywhere is the creative's purpose.

There was a time when I simply created pretty things and that was ok for that time. It was my training ground.

But now and for the past few years...

Before I make a creative mark, I've learned to ask for guidance, ask to be filled with vision, and ask to be fully skilled to accomplish a piece...for I know that it's not for me, it's for someone to experience as we are designed to do just that and for God to get the glory of which He is worthy.

I still make "pretty things" but with a deep appreciation of our divine design.

Blessings

Tina

Exodus 35:35

35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

source www.biblegateway.com

Dream and Play

So, I kept having dreams. Two dreams that I was painting on denim. I "don't do that" by the way.

When, in my head, I said...um, no, I don't do that... I still couldn't get it out of my heart, so off to find something blue jean to paint on.

I was a little concerned because there's a fine line between cool and tacky, but being obedient, having no peace about doing this, I decided to play.

and play I did!

I had the best time, even when I looked at my very amateur sketch that made me giggle. Pressing on and trusting that I was supposed to keep on going, that's just what I did.

Continuing to play with copper and loving how that was looking against the indigo...not taking this moment too seriously, I found myself having a fabulous time.

JOY took over!

What I learned by just going for it, not really knowing what "IT" was, is that it's ok to let go and just play.

It's ok to do a new thing.

You don't need to have peace and a direction to dive in!

Oh, the power of play, trying a new thing, and no pressure to perform. So Freeing...Life Giving...Authentic!

Giving myself the permission to play is a practice I will do more and more.

Dark and Lovely

Most often, I create from a very real and raw place. What can emerge is a piece that is not perfect, not polished, and certainly not ready for prime time. The dimensions a bit off, but dead on authentic to the moment.

I've been reading a book that I started to read nearly a decade ago. I'll finish it tonight. It's called "Victory over the Darkness" by Neil Anderson. I'm humbled and learning where I've been wrong in relationships and dealing with situations, but I'm also learning that I take on responsibilities and burdens that were never mine to handle or to carry.

Do you do that? Or, are you like me and didn't have an awareness of the heavy things you carry that you were never created to?

Notice how she doesn't quit, how she won't be defined by a snapshot of darkness, how, though she is in a moment of difficulty, goodness is growing around her.

There is a verse in the bible (Song of Solomon 1:5-6) "I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

Do not gaze at me because I am dark because the sun has looked upon me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!"

She is dark because she worked hard in the sun all day. A sign of beauty in the day was light and lovely skin. She wasn't a girl about town, she was working and working hard. She was told that, though she didn't meet those beautiful social standards, she...to him who loved her, was beautiful.

That is how God see us. He sees us as we are in those discouraged, broken, seemingly dark moments and calls us beloved. He calls us beautiful. He calls us loved.