Artsy Theology: The Art of Theological Reflection

 The already prepared background of watercolor on white gesso with the exposed words "never alone . . . God is with you" suited my desire to identify the various art techniques that I use (left) together with theological themes for reflection (center) and specific uses for journaling (right). It is helpful to name the variety of uses for "artsy theology" and also to see the diverse mixed media which can be used for "the art of theological reflection." The possible combinations with mixing & matching art technique with theological theme with the type of journaling are limitless!

Fabric Spray and Doilies

 When I flip through different "how-to" books on art and journaling I always find fund ideas to try. I find a blank page on my altered book journal and experiment away. Here I chose a page that had white gesso with exposed words. I positioned two doilies on the page and spritzed with several colors of fabric spray. Then I blotted up the excess paint with paper towels which added additional texture to the background. And then these pages sat, and sat, and sat. I never felt inspired to go back and do anything on top of the basic background prep. Part of the disconnect is the word I had left exposed: February. It is my birth month so it seemed obvious that I'd go back at some point and add some collage/thoughts here on the birthday theme. Nada. These mostly blank pages were the final ones left to fill before my 2013 art journal was completed. I switched themes from February to using it to jot down encouraging Bible verses that had been sent to me by ministry colleagues during December. Nothing fancy, but I had half an hour of thoughtful reflection transferring the emailed Bible verse to my journal plus then the book was done

All Brings Joy

This messy collage is a compilation of memorabilia, block printing, washi tape, stamped lettering, photographs, and hand coloring with pencils and pastels. It captures the essence of a momentous event in the life of my congregation...and me.  

 The process of art journaling is an opportunity to "stop and smell the roses" instead of letting life bolt by. The celebration of charting the church (essentially an ordination service for a new church) occurred in the midst of one of the most intense pastoral care experiences of my ministry. I literally "sandwiched" the chartering service between a wake and funeral for a teenage boy who died after an altercation at school. The joy of the chartering celebration was a joy...but it got a bit lost in the intensity of the funeral.

Instead of closing the book on the JOY of November 17th, I re-opened the journal page and added a menagerie of art bits & pieces while reflecting and CELEBRATING all that God has done in the life of this little church that has now been recognized and blessed as a FULL MEAL DEAL BIG GIRL CHURCH. Art journaling is often not about the art...but about the process. Thanks be to God.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Exposed words in an altered book provide a simple theme to reflect upon.

I used Sharpie oil-based markers to doodle and reflect on white gesso-covered pages. The purple mess can be covered later.

Use the end of a celery stalk as a "flower" block print.

 Lightly paint acrylic over the celery stalk and use it as a block print to decorate the edges and cover up the purple Sharpie marker that inadvertently "bled" on the page.

Rubber stamping and washi tape edge the double-page spread. A fun way to bring in color and design.

Go back and embellish some of your original lines to make create emphasis and also to have something to "doodle" while you are thinking and praying and listening to God.


Masking Tape and Sponge Painting

Use masking tape to mask a pattern of squares or rectangles and sponge paint each block differently.

Coat an altered book double-spread with white gesso and create a pattern with masking tape.

 

Have fun with wet and dry sponge painting in the different blocks.

Carefully remove the masking tape once the watercolors are dry. Voila! Ready for whatever the next journal art layer(s).

 

Exposed words will set the theme for the additional layers of art and reflection.

Abstract Art Reflection on Advent

 In preparation for Christmas, I've begun fiddling with ideas in my art journal which could be used for art with kids, teens, and adults during the season of Advent. I gave myself a challenge to "paint Advent" without using words...at least to primarily paint and not use words! I began with exposed words "Our entire existence is swollen with God's unconditional love" as the basis for the artistic interpretation and added a layer of "Peace on earth" with rubber stamping across the pages which had been covered with white gesso. The traditional color of Advent is purple (though blue is coming into vogue), so I used various shades of purple to create an abstract expression of the four weeks of preparation for the birth of the Christ child. I've been looking at the "completed" pages for a week now; I keep resisting topping it off with a series of words. For now it is complete; time may change that!