An Artist's Prayer Before Showing Her Work
image by Sherwood Media
Holy Spirit,
May you and I break bread and breathe together in this mysterious-yet-material fellowship of making. Keep alive my wonder, oh God of all creation.
As I prepare to show my work, may the real center of attraction be the ineffable sense of your Presence. What else do I have to give that is actually mighty, and able to save, stabilize and nourish shaky starving souls?
As my making comes under scrutiny of men in ways that feel quite embodied, uncomfortably immediate, and of a larger scale to me, give me the courage of my convictions: the conviction that each artist, even this workwoman, is worthy of her wage.
May I do this with other makers in mind. May each one see what else is possible through my experience.
As I quietly make an offering of my hours, my honing, my honoring, my history, and my husband’s sacrifice as well, I come prepared to share my powerful story, of which I am both its steward and sole truth speaker.
May those who have heard something of me one way, come and hear my side, see my scars and my smile, and go away encouraged.
Take my tiny talent and tether it to the greater work that The Son has already done.
It’s all I want.
In Jesus’ Wildly Worthy Name,
Amen
📷: Sherwood Media
Hey Knoxville, Come and See Me {Artxtravaganza Art Show}
Year after year, my disappointment grew. I would email my application to be juried into the Knoxville art show called “Artxtravaganza” and each year I would get a return email beginning something like,
“Dear Sheila Atchley, we regret to inform you…”
About last September or October, I saw the “Artxtravaganza” as “sender” in my list of emails for the day, and my heart beat faster. I steeled myself for the usual “…we’re sorry but” response - because the caliber of artists participating in this show is always very high.
Not this time. This time the email began something like, “We are delighted to tell you…”
…yours truly, headed to the show installation today…
Immediately following a rush of excitement, I promptly panicked. I have this really great problem right now, and it’s that I sell paintings almost as soon as I paint them, and my inventory was very low. As in…less than a half dozen paintings for a show that requires at least 30 medium to large size originals.
Of course, then came the holidays. And incredible, scary painter’s block. So, I prayed. As soon as our Christmas tree came down, I woke up one day and hit the studio - and basically did not come out until yesterday.
one wall of my booth
the other two walls
THEREFORE, my Knoxville friends, I invite you to zoom in on these photos and choose which painting you’d love to take home. My art truly shifts the spiritual atmosphere, because every victory I’ve won in heavenly realms is embedded in each paint stroke.
I paint in The Presence.
And my heart’s desire is to send that Presence straight into your home. I absolutely believe that is not only possible - it happens for me all the time. The Presence of the Lord is peaceful and lovely and life-giving.
Art is powerful, and let me tell you why: You live with A Thing in your home - A Thing that is artisan, handmade, and that draws you in. A Thing that incrementally changes the way you think. Every time you walk past it, your thoughts elevate. You think a different thought. The capacity for this one simple thing - a different thought - to change your whole life cannot be overestimated.
A good painting is a good influence, a powerful influence. Especially a painting that you bought yourself, for yourself…you never buy art to match the couch. You buy a piece that stirs your spirit in some way.
…it was a sweaty job, not to be accomplished without The Preacher’s help…
I’d love to meet you for the first time, or hug your neck if I’ve known you forever. Come on by and say hi, and see allllllll the beautiful art and designs to be found at 2023’s Knoxville Artxtravaganza.