1 year 335 paintings

Video with a year of Jesus paintings. https://youtu.be/qyR20Kh_yAo

Exactly one year ago today I began an experiment. I wanted to fail at painting Jesus. I wanted to start and be part of conversations with others coming into Christ. I wanted to create accessible art everyone could interact with. I wanted a Jesus that could be touchable and see able. And I didn’t know how to begin. The anxiety surrounding painting my Savior was overwhelming because how could I paint the perfect painting of Him if I’d never seen him? I struggled to begin. Originally I was going to paint one very large painting, but I felt stuck until someone suggested painting a bunch of studies left-handed so there would be no way I could succeed, I chose no paint brushes and no planning because I knew if my expectations for myself were too high I would get started. Beginning is hard for me. I originally called the series embracing anxiety with Christ, then ”How to fail at Painting Jesus.” Finally, based on a friend’s comment I settled on “Where is Jesus in This Mess?” Because I was planning on failing I purposely didn’t share any of my paintings on social media and with very few people. It was only going to be a few month experiment for grad school. By Dec 2019 I had 100 paintings. I decided to share it on social media because a friend shared it first and her message about my art was powerful. About finding Jesus in her messy house and feeling Him present with her in the Mess. I saw the potential for something powerful and life-changing. I so I kept painting and began sharing. I wasn’t going to sell any paintings, just give them away. I struggle with the idea of selling paintings of Jesus. But then due to some medical emergencies and me in graduate school I decided selling paintings of Him to help provide for my family was a blessing. I let God be in charge of sales and lead me to unexpected people and situations.

Many things have happened in the last year, many of my challenges and messes haven’t changed. I still struggle with addiction, obsessive, anxiety, depression, moods, adhd, religious differences in my family, children and family with special needs, and finding my place in the world. I’m still in graduate school. But for now I have found peace in finding Jesus in a painting mess. Can you find Him in your mess?

Enjoy these 335 paintings created over the last 365 days. Music by Laura Story and Lauren Daigle.

https://youtu.be/qyR20Kh_yAo