Another Ted Talk to start your week! This is British author and educator Sir Ken Robinson, who makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. Continue reading
Prayer & Inspiration
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #110 — Beautiful Bible
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The St. John’s Bible is masterful work of art and a wonderful work of God! It’s a Christian artist’s dream as far as Bibles go! In 1998, Saint John’s Abbey and University commissioned renowned calligrapher Donald Jackson to produce a hand-written, hand-illuminated Bible. Seven volumes later and the project was complete! I love what Jackson says about the process of working on this project:
“The continuous process of remaining open and accepting of what may reveal itself through hand and heart on a crafted page is the closest I have ever come to God.”
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #109 — Common Prayer
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Common Prayer is a site created by Shane Claiborne & Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, designed to draw people together in a virtual setting to pray common (or the same) prayers. As we join our hearts together across the world in these prayers, we are united with God’s people and places and purposes.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #107 — Prophetic Word for Artists
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“Passion” (C) Jubal Johnson
http://www.dunamisarts.com
Today’s post was shared by artist, poet, psalmist and photographer Jubal Johnson who shares prophetic words (and other wonderful inspiration) on his website DunamisArts.com. Dunamis is Greek for “power.” His website is dedicated to celebrating the Kingdom of God and its King, the Lord Jesus Christ through visual arts, music, poetry, dance, theatre, film and photography. Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #106 — Fun in Your Creativity
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From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise! (Matt 21:16)
When I first saw this video I was first struck by this boy’s exuberance, then by his uncanny metronome-like sense of meter and timing, and then by his knowledge of this intricate piece of music. And then, of course, on the shear fun and laughter of it all! He is filled with energy and life as he conducts his imaginary orchestra! He captures the nuances of the dynamics of the song as it swells and collapses back down to near silence!
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #103 — Create a Better Life
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Need some creative inspiration and practical tips to get your new idea, dream, vision, project, or product up and running? Then check out this latest offering on DWeiss Creative! He’s been working on a 48 day project since mid-April called Create a Better Life: finding your creativity, putting it to work, building a better life. With 48 days of posts, he’s been creating a webinar for people who want to…. yes, you guessed it….create a better life by bringing their ideas to life! As you watch the project unfold through the postings, you get to see step-by-step what it takes to bring a creative idea, brand or product to life!! This journey of creativity ends May 30th with the release of Dave Weiss’ own project: the Build a Better Life webinar! It’s been fun watching this project develop!!
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #97 — Brene Brown on Creativity
StandardWe spent the end of February digging into art journaling. Well, I have another amazing resource for you that I believe is worth checking out!!
Today I want to introduce you to Brené Brown, PhD. She is the author of not one, but two #1 New York Times Bestsellers: Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead (2012) and The Gifts of Imperfection (2010). Her TED Talk on vulnerability is one of the most watched of the TED Talks.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #91 — Healing Art
StandardWe’ve spent the week examining the value of art from a heavenly perspective. Art can be redemptive or prophetic. It can be intercessory in nature or draw people into worship. Today let’s consider the healing or restorative value of art.
In this article, Christian Art for Healing, author/artist Sara Joseph shares her experience with using her creative process as a way to bring healing and restoration to her heart. She also offers suggestions and creative prompts to help you, as well. A powerful testimony of God’s healing power through art.
In this article, Sara shares this artwork and states:
“To my surprise, in my anxious conversations with God, He brings healing through the process of creating art.
Release
Polymer Clay Relief Sculpture
(C) Sara Joseph
11×14″I remember a deep concern that I had during a brief, but trying, season with one of my sons that resulted in the polymer clay sculpture shown here. It is called ‘Release’, because I knew that it was what I ought to do. Yet as I worked, it appeared as if my concerns and worries needed to be worked into the clay, before any sort of release could be attempted. So I doggedly expressed all my worries about him to God.”
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #88 — Prophetic Art
StandardI have featured Colleen Briggs and Fragments of Light here before. I want to direct you to her post entitled Prophetic Art.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #85 — How a boy became an artist
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Bringing you another amazing TED Talk from Jarrett J. Krosoczka. “How a boy became an artist” is a great story about how Jarrett became an author and illustrator of children’s books. This is why arts education is so important!!
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #83 — Faith & Form
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Faith and Form is a journal that explores the intersections of religion, art and architecture. In 2014, they awarded 32 structures their International Award for Religious Art & Architecture. Check out pictures of all the award winners here:
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #78 — Interactive Prayer Stations
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Referring you to the Interactive Prayer Station tab of Still Waters blog today. Still Waters is the blog of Pastor Theresa who is a self-described second generation Korean-American Pastor and Mother. On her blog she has posted instructions and photos for well over 50 different themed interactive prayer stations focusing on everything from Epiphany, Lent, and Advent, to various Gospel stories, social justice issues, as well as light, love and baptism.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #76 — Planet Earth Film
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Photo by Madelyn Thomae (C) 2015
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world. ~ Psalm 19:1-4
Grab your coffee and sit back. This Planet Earth film from director Robert Revol is 13 minutes long but as you watch, first, take a moment to consider how marvelously creative God is and second, remember you are made in his creative image! Take in God’s glorious splendor and be amazed!
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #74 — Resurrection’s Power
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I have always loved this dance by Praise in Motion dance company. I reference this dance in chapter seven of my book God’s Creative Gift, in my discussion on seasons in the life of the creative Christian. The dance is to the song Resurrection by Nicol Sponberg. I especially love the way in which they use fabric—like a shroud—and how they cast it away trying to free themselves from death’s emptiness. The piece is deeply moving.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #73 — Being Creative & Sustaining Creativity
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thecreativeepiphany.wordpress.com
The Creative Epiphany is the blog of artist Jo Ann Brown-Scott. I want to point you to two specific posts:
- First, Being Creative is a short post about her creative process. I love the candid and humorous way she goes about describing it.
- Second, The Creative Epiphany: Sustaining Creativity talks about Creativity’s fickle nature and her best friend Epiphany.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #72 — Finding God in Art
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“Golden Sea” by Makoto Fujimura, 2011.
This is an incredibly powerful video featuring artist, writer, speaker and culture shaper Makoto Fujimura talking about how he found God through his own creation of beauty.
“It was almost like this voice coming over me…this voice that washed over me… and I realized at that moment this historic figure of Jesus was no longer just this historic figure but he was the one who was calling me all along in my creativity.”
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #70 — To Be an Artist
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“In those moments when you feel discouraged or lost in the studio, or when you experience rejection, rest completely assured that what you don’t know about something is also a form of knowledge, though much harder to understand. In many ways, making art is like blindly trying to see the shape of what you don’t know yet.” ~ sculptor Teresita Fernandez
“Father, into your hands..” Last 7 Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Song (Create-A-Day #66)
“7” Virtual Art-Walk: Day 7
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46
Matt Durbin (c) 2010
mattdurbinart.com
Enough
Here I am, my son.
Your struggle is over.
It was near impossible
to keep from turning
toward your cries.
I felt each lash,
wailed as they
drove the nails.
I blacked out the sun
so as not to see
your suffering.
Come to me now,
let me bandage
“It is finished!” Last 7 Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Song (Create-A-Day #65)
“7” Virtual Art-Walk: Day 6
“It is finished!” John 19:30
Matt Durbin (c) 2010
mattdurbinart.com
The Antique Rocking Chair
The carpenter is not disappointed
by the ruined finish or the broken arm,
loose spindles, failed glue joints.
“I am thirsty” Last 7 Words of Jesus in Art, Poetry & Song (Create-A-Day #64)
“7” Virtual Art-Walk: Day 5
Cup of Blessing
by Matt Durbin (C) 2011
mattdurbinart.com
“Later, knowing that all was now completed,
and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled,
Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’”
– John 19:28
Drink
The fount of living water
bellows drought. I want
to lift a ladle, cold and pure,
so you could be relieved.
But I’m deceived with ease.
Nurturing the Creative Spirit Within 