PAINTING LIVE: Part 1 – Why?

January this year I was invited to start painting 'live' at my church on a Sunday as part of the service. I bring my easel, set up a little table of art supplies at the front, alongside the band, and then paint during the worship times.
I know this isn't something that happens in every church, this is new to our church, so I thought you might be interested if I explained what I do and why. I'll split this into three posts for ease of reading – I'll start with the why question, then in part 2 I'll share how I do it, and then finish with an example as part 3.
Obviously I can only speak from my own experience and understanding, which is still evolving.

painting live at City Church Cambridge

How I got started

Over the past few years I've had a growing desire to express myself and worship visually. First I did this at home as part of my daily time with God, then I asked permission to tack sugar paper to the cupboard doors at church on a Sunday, where I sketched to one side, hoping I wasn't being watched or distracting anyone, and trying not to make a mess.

my first sugar paper sketches

I then spent the weekend at David's Tent 2015 where a whole section of the big top is provided as space for artists. This was pretty much the first time I'd ever painted and it was in public – I created 5 paintings in the 3 days, 2 of which sold while I was there! The experience and encouragement I received that weekend was a real turning point for me.

painting in the big top at David's Tent

On my return to Cambridge I asked if it would be OK if I painted in our Ministry Room evenings (monthly times of extended prayer & praise), which was welcomed and I set up an art supplies area so that others could join in too. This was a really great environment for me to start getting some experience, and I'd suggest this as the best type of initial setting for anyone wanting to give it a try.
Last Christmas I was asked to paint at our carol service, and then followed an invitation for me to paint once a month on a Sunday.

last year's carol service - my first time at the front with an easel

Questions

When asked to join the worship team as their first painter I felt this was ultimately God prompting me, so I said Yes. I felt rather terrified - I was really new to painting and now people were going to be able to watch me.
To be honest I wasn't even sure how I felt about the idea of someone painting at the front of a church! I'd never seen it happen and was concerned it would look like a performance and distract people. So I looked into it, read books, watched Youtube clips and quizzed people from other churches, whilst seeking God for the reasons and ways he wanted me to do this.

1. I was new to painting, shouldn't I wait until I knew what I was doing before doing it in front of people?!
2. how might this bless the church as a gathering rather than just blessing me?
3. did abstract pictures have a place in this setting? How important was it that I explain my work?
4. how would it work practically? Should I try to finish a piece by the end? Who should pay for the materials?
5. Would it be right to sell a picture if someone was interested?

I'll look to answer 1-3 in this post and the others in the next.

some of the first pictures I painted live

Should I wait till I'm better?

NO! a. I might never feel ready! b. My church leadership were happy that my work was of an appropriate standard. c. I was being invited to do this now and felt I needed to respond now, it was a step of faith.
Looking back it was really hard but it was good for me to start in such a vulnerable embryonic, humbling stage. It caused me to lean into God… a LOT, and gave me a real hunger to learn how to paint! I increasingly felt like I had visual 'songs/dances/prayers' within me that I didn't have the technique to execute and express. It wasn't long before I was seeking out a painting coach. As I've progressed through this year I've grown in my understanding and acceptance that this sort of painting (at least for me) is as much about the process and journey, as about the destination and finished picture, and it's about heart more than skill.

Can painting (especially abstract) bless a church gathering?

I knew I was meant to be true to the artist God's made me to be, so I probably wouldn't be going down the more obvious route of painting angels, lions and eagles (not to knock the power of these). For a while I have had an internal colour and shape dictionary growing in my head, a visual vocabulary/language that I feel God is teaching me (to tell you about this would be a post in itself – which I will write at some point!) I knew I was meant to use this visual language in my paintings but I might not always get to explain my pictures. If they only made sense to me, then what value would they have to the church on a Sunday?
It talks in the bible in 1 Corinthians 14:28 about when someone speaks in tongues in a gathering (a heavenly language that God sometimes gives someone, which should be followed by an interpretation so all can understand and agree) It says “If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.” So how important was it that my 'heavenly language' had an interpretation?
After seeking advice from those with more experience than myself and through my own prayers I've come to believe that abstract art in fact does have a value in this setting, even without explanation. That it can actually be really powerful, because God can speak through it in so many ways. I believe that live art can capture and communicate what the Holy Spirit is doing in a gathering beyond the knowledge or awareness of the painter. As my confidence and understanding has grown I've felt led by God to use certain movements and techniques within my pieces that I believe symbolise what is going on in peoples hearts at the time – pouring the paint, drumming in time with the beat, scraping, wiping, blanketing with a significant colour etc. There is actually a lot more scope for this type of visceral, physical expression within abstract art.

some of my more recent paintings - you can see a shift in style since the start of the year (which I refer to in Part 2)

Ultimately, what is more important than anything else is that I worship through my painting, as an extension of my heart. For reasons best known to God, that I might never fully get my head round, he has opened up an opportunity for me to paint in front of people at this time and in this place. My job is to just get on and paint for him, the rest (what impact or communication it might bring) is his responsibility. My ability, confidence and freedom to do this has grown massively throughout the year.
I will finish part 1 by sharing some advice I received the first time I painted live at our church, I found this so freeing that it's written as a reminder in the back of my sketchbook:
“Here's what to do Kate – ask yourself just before you start “why do I paint? What am I painting for?” Simply paint for Daddy God, nobody else. Be free of all expectations – from yourself and from others and paint for him. A painting for your Daddy from his wee lassie :) #simples”

Please refer to part 2 for information on how I go about painting live and part 3 for an example.