Unlimited Possibilities

The final journal entry page of my "Life is a Journey" journal is a labyrinth reflection on the lessons learned about art/journaling as recorded on the pages of this journal.I did an image transfer of the labyrinth onto a "raw" journal page and then lightly sprayed the transferred image with Krylon Matt Finish to "set" the transfer and allow wet materials to be used over the image without blurring the edges/lines. Then I painted the page with acrylic glaze and wrote my reflections of "lessons learned" as my marker pen slowly and thoughtfully made its way around the labyrinth.  The exposed words "Capturing the Possibilities" set the tone for the overall reflection.

Thanksgiving 2013

Mixed media reflection on Thanksgiving 2013

Choose a clean/un-prepped page and use Xylene to create an image transfer of a labyrinth.



Fall foliage leaves painted with acrylic and pressed onto the journal page.

Tube acrylics work best, but I had my travel kit with only liquid acrylics.



Write your prayers of gratitude as you "walk" the labyrinth in your journal.

Artsy Theology Workshop Feedback

After a day-long workshop on integrating theological reflection with mixed media art, the participants listed the following as key ways they will incorporate the material in their ministries:

·         Have youth paint scripture (being read) ahead of time—bring it in during the reading of the Word during worship

·         Journal to remember quotes

·         Write down weekly reflections—Hospice chaplain sharing weekly moments to staff

·         Stacked journaling as relaxing for therapy; also excellent for a “dump sheet” for individuals & staff

·         Mental illness—artsy theology to help the mentally ill process their thoughts

·         Hand map—use it for blessings of one’s gift/call

·         Add “artsy theology” to an existing arts & crafts group for fun & fellowship

·         Labyrinth (image transfer w/the smelly stuff—it was a HUGE HIT)—personal devotion and prayer

·         Art journaling as brainstorming for sermon prep

·         Communion workshop—use the block prints or the collage as part of the workshop

·         Global mission—make prayer flags for next year’s mission trip to Panama

·         Clergy retreats—assist with “processing” life

·         Staff journaling

·         Writing your life story—add elements of art

·         Incorporate artsy theology in existing church groups (“Celebrate You”0

·         Create a “gratitude” collage

·         Incorporate the art technique of “Subtracting text” with praying the newspaper

 

Have the children’s choir prepare a large board and let them decorate it ahead with art/reflection—bring out during singing/children’s choir performance

Funeral Reflection

Altered book page with selected words from original text left visible.
Mauve and sea foam green acrylic glaze sponge painted in layers.

After a super hectic week for preparation for two funerals back-to-back (attending the 1st and leading worship for the 2nd), I need to carve out time for theological reflection on the death of two persons very dear to me. I used an already prepared page in my art journal which had the words exposed "Forgiveness of Sins," God freely forgives sin for Jesus' sake," and "death is not the end." I brought my mini journal to the service where I was attending as part of the congregation. I made it a point to listen particularly attentively to the readings from the Old and New Testament, and jotten down key words and phrases as I listened. I also made rough sketches of some of the imagery that came to mind during the readings and also made simple drawings of symbols in the church sanctuary.

During my reflection the day following the 2nd funeral I re-read my quick journal jottings and chose phrases which most expressed my belief about God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the resurrection of the dead. I also chose the stained glass cross which is at the front of the sanctuary as one of two key symbols to incorporate in my art reflection. I also included a small labyrinth and then wrote phrases from the scripture readings as my prayer.

During the process of carving the theological word "resurrection" out of an eraser to use as an embellishment I thought about what I believe about life after death: resurrection. That brought to mind  "hope" and the affirmation that death is not the end. I wrote in crayon a phrase from one of the songs that had been sung at the funeral: "Lord we lift your name on high," and then I toned down the color by sponge painting with the same colors from underneath. I embellished the page with carved stamps from wine cords: "GRACE" and "HOLY." I stamped a row of candles cut from wine corks along the bottom of the page to signify Christ as the light of the world. The "ink" for the stamps" is acrylic paint. Squeeze a bit on a paper plate, spread it with a cotton swab to the widtch of the stamp, and use it like a conventional stamping pad. [TIP: Hold the used stamp under running water and use a toothbrush to gently remove paint between the letters.]
The cross is scribbles of crayon in the colors of the stained glass at the church, and I topped it with pearl acrylic glaze stippled on with a fluffy brush. I wanted to tone down the glare of the color and also give it a shine as the cross were illuminated.

Image Transfer Labyrinth to a Journal Page

Including a Prayer Labyrinth in a Journal

A labyrinth needs to be printed or copied on a machine that uses toner and then the image can be transferred onto the page of a journal. Ideally you will size the labyrinth in a computer document so that it suits the size of your journal page. It is most likely that the print from the computer will be to an inkjet or laser printer which must then be copied on a copy machine that uses toner. [Important point: when you are using this technique for an image with words or which has distinctions on the left or right you need to print on a machine that allows you to “flip” the image because when you transfer the image it will reverse and make everything look backwards.] I generally drop my images into PowerPoint to do the advance set-up because there are simple photo adjustments to crop, shape, tweak, and flip the image. Then I just need a “straight print” at the copy machine. It seems complicated, but once the set-up is done and the hard copy printed you can keep a printed file copy of “inkjet/laser” master images so you can easily grab one and make more toner image copies as needed.

To make the toner transfer to the journal page, place the toner size down onto the journal page and secure with paper clips. Wear disposable gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Using a disposable rag which has been dampened with Xylene (a solvent available in the paint section of a hardware store), slightly rub it across the back of the toner paper, being careful not to shift the page. Then use a hard plastic edge of brazing tool (an old credit card works) and rub back-and-forth across the damped paper until the image transfers. You might have to re-dampen the cloth and apply more Xylene, but be careful not to over-do or the image will run. To check, carefully peel the paper back to check. Line art images like the labyrinth are easy to transfer; photos are a little trickier because there is more inked image that needs to show up on the journal page. You can use layers of watercolors, pencils, and/or chalks after the copied image is dry.

Prayer Journaling the Labyrinth

Praying the labyrinth in a journal is a visual way to reflect on any given event or topic. The image to the left is the opening page of my reflection on the first four years of God's faithfulness in the process of planting a new church start. I met with the prayer team of one of my sponsoring churches every Monday and had made short "bullet point" entries of prayers for each week. When I reviewed the prayer journal-even though these entries were somewhat staccato in nature due to their brevity-I was reminded of the faithfulness of God in many ways that I had forgotten. I decided to pray these prayers again by writing them down and praying the labyrinth. That set the pattern for the two-volume reflection journal on this new church. I included a prayer labyrinth at the beginning of each section of the two journals. It is a simple way to artistically express prayer, the experience of the new church, and the faithfulness of God. It also is a celebration of the people and churches who responded to God's call through their faithful participation in helping to plant this new church.

The image to the right is a reflection on Taize. When our 24'x24' chapel was completed after being converted from a 12'x24' shed on the former llama ranch, we dedicated the chapel with a service of Taize. The original journal (left side of the photo on the right) includes the reflection from the experience and the labyrinth expresses the ongoing experience of Taize at Community Fellowship.

A labyrinth indicates each new section of my two-volume art journals on the early life of the church. Sometimes I include the actual prayers which are recorded as simple notations in a prayer journal. Other times I write the various ministry, mission, and worship activities included in that section by way of a new prayer of thanksgiving for what God has done. The mission section (left) includes the diverse missional participation of this church. 

Rubber stamps that represent the seasons of Lent and Advent decorate the labyrinth that marks this section of the journal. I layered words and symbols that speak to my heart about the theology of the season: hope, peace, love, light.

 

Blending Journals

Mixing past journals with present reflection is another way to incorporate the art of theological reflection. I faithfully kept a written journal of key events and experiences during the first year of being the organizing pastor of a new church development. Then, four years later when I finally paused to take a breath and reflect on all that had been happening in the life of the church, I blended to written text within the two volume mixed media art journal which included photos, mementos, newspaper clippings, and a review of all that had been happening with the church. The written text enhanced the eclectic pieces in the new journals and also provided important pieces to the big picture of theological reflection.

Blending bits of an old journal with a collection of other items rounds out the story. The pages to the left include image transfers; one hand colored with pastels (left) and one a line art image (top right) with various memorabilia from two outreach events plus the important reminder from the original journal of the dedication of a high school student who gave up a family weekend at the coast to help with a mission event.

Pieces of a written journal also fill in the details regarding the specific details like the gnats and hot temps that added unique challenges to the  ministry, mission, and worship under a 20'x40' tent winter-spring-summer-fall in south Texas. The journal pages have more of a scrapbook feeling, but the colletive pieces help with theologically reflecting on the early life of this new church development.

A piece from a written journal also can be incorporated into the new journal in such a way that the words can be read but the words are not the primary focus of the reflection. Here, the words summarize challenges the church had experienced and then they shift to the importance of looking forward and preparing the property for Advent and Lent.