Art: An Extension of His Character

"Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
~Genisis 1:26-27

We are His creation. His artwork. We are images. We are made in His "likeness".

We can not possibly encompass all of His glorious greatness and beauty, but, we are reflections of Him.

We are living parts of God's imagination.

"Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
~Psalm 139:16

My four month old baby is a precious reminder of His astounding, never-ending imagination! Not to mention the glories that happen every day in nature, never to be repeated exactly the same again.

I love that we can also share in His joy of creating images.

Two ways that I enjoy this artistic extension of His character are (1) He has allowed me to participate in His artwork by blessing me with the joy of bearing and giving birth to my two beautiful daughters. And (2) I have the pleasure of creating images as my career.

In my particular profession, that being makeup artistry and hairstyling, I think it is very important for people(women especially) to remember this fact:

The images I create are merely reflections of the original artwork, that being the person. I will never create as beautifully as God has. They are a "likeness" of the person, not an exact representation.

Some of my recent endeavors:



Art (after hair/makeup and photoshop):


Un-Retouched Photo (before photoshop):




Art :



Un-Retouched Photo :



Art:





Un-Retouched Photo:





Art is wonderful, beautiful, fun. An extension of God's character. But like all good things that originate with God, Satan can try to twist what is good and beautiful into something ugly, a lie, an idol. With hair, makeup, and photography some people forget that the final product they see is not the original person. Since the end result is often all they see, it is easy to forget the image is artwork, a reflection, not reality.

Real people look like what you look like in the morning when you wake up. Real people have pores, expression lines, uneven skin. And they are REALLY beautiful. It is so important to remember that you are real, live ART. All the time, every day. You are beautiful just the way God made you.

There are many responses to makeup artistry. Two common ones are either to wish you were the art, or to wish it away completely.

To wish that you were the art is a misunderstanding of how beautifully God has made you.

To wish away the art completely is a misunderstanding of the creative characteristic of God Himself that He has put in us.

It is easy to miss the good, the reflection of God, in each situation.


Let us appreciate...

Art(after hair/makeup/photoshop):






And...ART:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

~Psalm 139:14

Love

Sing to Remember

I feel it again today. How can the student also be the teacher?

I ask the question again. "Come on, you know the answer. Just focus. Think about what you say before you say it. Okay... a nickel is worth....?"

"Seven!"

Little Girl's eyes of deep blue search my face, she knows she has spoken the wrong answer. Again. Am I upset with her? She knows the correct answer but can't seem to make it come out of her mouth.

I keep the frustration behind my face. What am I really trying to impart here? What will she remember from this time together?

Many times I have told her: Learning is good! Learning is fun!

We are not having fun here. Her face displays her desperate misery so plainly, accompanied by such a pitiful full body slump, that I can't help but smile from the drama of it all.

Okay, let's try again. A brilliant masterpiece of a song is born...

"A dime is worth ten,
A dime is worth ten,
A nickel is worth five,
A nickel is worth five..."

Instantly she perks up. Brightness fills her eyes, the bounciness of her soul spills out in grins. She sings along with authority as a half-second echo as though she's known this tune her whole life.

"...A penny is the baby and it's only worth one,
A penny is the baby and it's only worth one,
The quarter has the eagle and it's worth twenty five,
The quarter is the biggest and it's worth tweeeeeeeeeenty fiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!"

We celebrate with laughter.

She bounds off to educate the whole house with her newly found musical wisdom.

My heart sings the Lord a new song. Well worn age-old words, new song.

...Thank You, thank You...


Of course singing is fun, good for teaching, soul-healthy. You are The Singer. Children know. Why do I forget?

By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me-
a prayer to the God of my life.
~Psalm 42:8

She's back, refreshed and rosy cheeked. We hug an excited, wriggling hug.

She knows I'm proud of her for remembering. She doesn't shy away from embracing me now, she feels accepted.

She always was... how could I withhold a hug from one I love so much? But now, she feels it. That, to her, is knowing.

The teacher is the student.

I sing to remember...

Great is Thy faithfulness,
O God my Father,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand has provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me...

...I lift my eyes up,
Up to the mountains,
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from You,
Maker of heaven,
Creator of the earth...

...For You are good.
For You are good.
For You are good to me!
Lord You are good,
Lord You're so good,
Lord You are good to me...

We hug.

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
~Zephaniah 3:17