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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I've been dabbling in small ways with art since I can remember but it was about this time last year that God seemed to press the accelerator pedal and I found my soul began to sing
...in colour!

An artist friend of mine had just come back from a trip to Bethel, spending a couple of weeks with their art team. She prayed for me, asking God to impart all she'd received from her visit there, to me, and she gave me a book 'Cultivating Kingdom Creativity' by Theresa Dedmon.

Reading the first few chapters during my holiday, I was challenged and inspired about the idea of prophecying (bringing God's messages of encouragement to people) through art. My dialogue with God went 'THIS SOUNDS REALLY SCARY BUT IF YOU WANT ME TO STEP OUT IN THIS, I'LL GIVE IT GO'.

Literally the next day I received an email from the arts team leader for David's Tent with a rota of when I would be serving as a prophetic artist over the weekend (I'd been given 12x15 minute slots when I would be booked to draw pictures for people)!  The email had been sent in error, as I had only applied to be a delegate and to have my first go at painting in the worship times there, but the coincidence of the timing of this after what I'd been reading and saying to God made me think He might have other plans. I explained to the team leader that there'd been a mistake BUT that I thought God might be inviting me to have a go, if they'd show me how and wouldn't mind having a complete beginner on the team. ...Not surprisingly David's Tent was a REALLY significant few days. I painted 4 canvases in the big top during the worship (2 of which, people approached me about buying) and I ended up producing about 30 prophetic pictures for individuals over the 2 days, which in God's grace brought encouragement, direction and hope to people.

Back at home I wasn't sure how to translate what I'd learnt at DT into 'normal' life but knew that something had shifted in me, something was growing in me that I wanted to make room for.

At my church I offered to paint in our Ministry Room evenings (monthly times of extended prayer & praise), where I sought to continue learning to worship visually and asked God for messages to bring to the group through my art. I then got asked to paint at our carol service, at the front... for all to see! Which then was followed by the invitation to join the worship team once a month from January, to paint alongside the band in our two Sunday morning services!

Autumn, following DT, was rather swamped with Christmas crochet orders, but once that was over I had space to ask God 'what next?'. I felt Him remind me that I'd always wanted to be a fine artist and that now was the time to go for it. That weekend I received 3 separate commissions for paintings (my first ever) – God was underlining what He'd said. I was now painting regularly in public, getting commissions for work and had this growing visual song within me that needed some way of expressing itself. But with canvas in front of me and paint on my brush I didn't actually know what to do with them. I'd been to art foundation college, studied as an art teacher and no one had ever told me how to paint!

I'd heard about Pattie Ann Hale from another member of the DT arts team (Jude Caisley), I'd really loved her work and asked how she'd developed her style, she told me that Pattie had written a book and had coached her. I got in touch and started weekly Skype sessions from USA.

On sharing my journey and my work thus far with Pattie, by way of introduction, with all my pictures laid out in front of me, I realised that my style was becoming increasingly controlled and tight.

I love pattern and detail and I'm sure this will often show up in my work in various ways but I could see there was a lack of freedom, expression and passion that I knew was inside me. In my life I've recognised that when I feel insecure and threatened by my circumstances I tighten control, it makes me feel safer, this can help initially but often becomes a bit obsessive and fear driven. When I came to the canvas my lack of technique and experience was making me feel inadequate and rather vulnerable in the public role I'd found myself in. I have asked Pattie to help me overcome this, to help me grow in technique and ultimately to find my unique visual voice.

It started with 'daily doodles'...