Inspiration Overload!

My family is blessed to be a part of a “Vacation Club” that gifts us a vacation every year. Usually between 10 and 12 family members attend. Each time the destination is announced, we feel like the winners of the Showcase Showdown. We don’t deserve it– we get to go because we are family. (Any parallels come to mind?) This year was a bonanza– a Mediterranean Cruise starting in Rome and ending in Barcelona.

Ever since my first course in Art History, I have wanted to see the Sistine Chapel. It was as awesome as I had hoped. What I was not expecting was the equally profound experience we had visiting the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, a basilica started in 1882 and still under construction, and seeing a roadside sculpture in France of a Madonna and Child made entirely of bomb shrapnel. Throughout this trip, artistic genius was everywhere. Was it a little intimidating? Maybe. But not really. God has chosen to gift me with creativity and artistic ability, and experiencing the impact of the expression of the gifts that He has granted to others intensifies my desire to create that experience for others. Long ago, I abandoned the notion that I create art to make money. My deepest desire is that as a result of seeing my work, someone might be inspired to open their Bible, whether for the first time, or just the first time today.

My blog has moved!

I will continue to copy my posts here, but you can check out my new website and blog here.

Happy Easter!

Good Friday

I'm a bit of a Bible study junkie.  I might go so far as to say Jesus Freak.  That's not to say that I say Amen or Hallelujah at the end of every sentence (Although I think it would be cool to say, "Amen, Sister!" once in a while and have it sound completely natural.)

That's also not to say that I can always locate my Bible between actual Bible Studies that I sign up for.  I need accountability, and sometimes I struggle even then.  But, thankfully, I am involved with a group of women whose like-minded passion is to delve deeply into scripture and apply it to our daily lives.  (and they are also really good at reframing my mindset when the coffee pot --which I am responsible for!-- acts up and I just want to throw it past the pastor into the parking lot or my husband wears a lacrosse sweatshirt on Sunday morning-- Again!  but I digress...)

Anyway, even in spite of myself, sometimes I will learn something totally awesome.  Like this little gem:

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  Matthew 26:30

Huh?  Here's the scene:  Jesus and His disciples had just celebrated Passover (this particular one known today as the Last Supper).  So they sung a hymn, right before arguably the most dramatic events in all of human history took place-- Jesus' fervent prayer, betrayal, arrest, denial, trial, humiliation, crucifixion, gruesome death and resurrection three days later.  Sung a hymn.  

OK, so they sung a hymn.  Here's the cool part.  The NIV Study Bible's study note for Matthew 26:30 states: "The Passover fellowship was concluded with the second half of the Hallel Psalms.  (Psalm 115-118.)"

Reading these Psalms in that context, knowing what happens next, just might make me say Hallelujah at the end of every sentence.  And right near the end is a very familiar verse:

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

I don't think Jesus sang it weakly, or by rote, or just because it was tradition.  I think, knowing what was to come, He sang it with all His heart.  Does knowing this affect me in my daily life?  Yes, it does.  Every. Single. Day.

Amen, Sister! 

Sunday Sketch

A quick sketch on a Sunday evening inspired by
Illustration Friday's prompt for this week: Survival

A New Logo!

I recently completed Monica Lee's e-course called Smart Creative Style.  Oh my goodness!  My head is spinning with information and inspiration!

First off, I decided to refresh my logo.  Being a swirly girl, I have always loved this one, so I decided not to go too far afield.  Also, I didn't want to rely on a particular font to define the character of my logo.  (I wanted it to say, "Krista Hamrick" and not Papyrus or Comic Sans!)  It was a bit of a search to find the right font to counterpoint my hand-drawn letters, but I found it!

The next step was to consider altering the color.  I have found that the grayed purple/ indigo worked well on my portfolio pages, but I am confident that the new, fresher turquoise blends with my color palette and will complement my art as well.

Want to boost your business sense and your Creative Style?  Check out Monica's course and website, Smart Creative Women. 

Rejoice Always

I have been decorating the chalkboards at my church for about a year and a half.  I go in on Saturday mornings when it is blissfully quiet, and usually the only person I see is my friend who unlocks the door.

Today there was a lot of activity in the building and a little girl that I had never met before said, "Oh, are you the one who does the chalkboards?"  When I said yes, she gushed, "We love it when you draw because you're so nice!"

Be still my heart.  That means everything to me. 

Diet? What Diet??

Need a chocolate fix?  There's a little chocolate delirium going on over at They Draw and Cook this week.  Oh my!

Really??

What is the digital equivalent of spilling your coffee all over your painting?
Forgetting to save.  All day.