Can You Pray With Paint?

What do you think, can you pray with paint? How about pencil, clay, or fabric? If prayer is communication, are words the only valid vehicle? After all, the visual and performing arts are powerful means of communication. If you could not speak, would that mean you could not pray? Does God only have one language, (i.e, the spoken word) and if He created us all differently in the way we relate to one another and the world around us, would He not also want to communicate with us in the way we were made? Things to ponder.


Recently I have begun to step out into these unchartered waters (unchartered for me, that is; it's not a new concept) and have had the opportunity to paint during the worship service in the church I attend. While I feel these are baby steps for me, it is a journey that I am excited to explore and develop in. Some pieces are purely abstract while some will be more representational. I am more and more convinced that art is not just a means to express our own views, opinions and feelings, but can also be a medium to release prayers for the world around us, and this does not need to happen in a 'church'. What's more, it's my opinion that God hears them the same as he hears our spoken words. I have even heard accounts where where art was created as a prayer for healing and, in fact, many healings were reported and documented as a result of viewing what was painted. That blows me away. But, then, if we start from the same point of believing in an all powerful God (which maybe you don't) then why not? 


Anyway, these are a few of my first attempts. They were created relatively quickly, and express specific dynamics of the worship that was happening at the time, and what was my heart cry during that time. Some Sundays I work on a large canvas mural (an ongoing project, I'll  show that later) and sometimes I, or other artists will work on individual canvasses on an easel near the worship band just off stage. These first 2 were done on small 8" x 10" canvases, in a less public setting (thus the size). I don't have any dramatic stories at this point, although some people have been blessed by what I've attempted so far. I'll continue the journey and see where it goes!

This painting, below, 24" x 30", was done during a women's conference at the church.

The following paintings were created on Sunday mornings, during worship, similar dimensions as the painting above. (This one, just below, was done on illustration board, because I didn't have a canvas handy!)

This last painting is not quite finished. I will add some writing to the vertical white light. I'll post that when it is finished.