As I’ve written, before, I believe that we are all artists. Every single last one of us. Our life is our canvas, and our breath and passion are our paintbrush. The art that is created when you live your life purposefully and with passion and a genuine heart is absolutely beautiful. Do you have eyes to see it?

Do you see the beauty in your own life?

It’s there, I promise. There is goodness and beauty and creativity in this world, and we are a part of it. We were formed with intricate design by the CREATOR God.

Tragically so many of us (especially adults) refuse to acknowledge it. When a little child comes to us saying “mommy, can you draw me a train*?”, we laugh nervously and brush the request off, saying that we don’t really know how to draw, and even our stick people are terrible. Well, friend, that might just be true. Your stick people may just be completely wonky looking. But you are still an artist. 

One author notes that “Plato holds in the Republic and elsewhere that the arts are representational, or mimetic (sometimes translated “imitative”). I also believe that all human beings are made in the image of God, so first and foremost, we are works of art. We are masterpieces.

Also, we were created to be like Him, to have that urge to create our own masterpieces. It is imperative that you don’t squash that artist nature, lest your children see and follow your lead! What tragedy that would be! Open your heart to creating, be vulnerable to that bit of artist potential you have inside you. Draw a wonky stick figure, and smile as your child skips back to the table to cover it with a rainbow of colours, making a masterpiece. Then go and paint on your own canvas. Picasso has famously said “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up”. 

But, how to be an artist, if your stick people are indeed wonky? Plenty of ways! Bake an exquisite cake. Design a lesson plan that makes students passionate about learning. Lavish beautifully crafted words of grace onto your spouse and children like sweet honey. Do the mundane tasks of today with a joyful heart singing His praises. Be present in a friend’s troubles. Grieve with an open heart. Give with an open wallet. Browse the inspiration on Pinterest, then choose a project, and do it. Sit, breathe, and paint with your three-year-old. Build a new Thomas the Train track design. Decorate with style and an eye to your own uniqueness. Get down happily in the sandbox and help make mountains for the cars to drive over. Imitate His character…

Call out the beauty in your life today. Refuse to let it pass by unnoticed.

To raise an artist you must be an artist.

Be an artist. 

*the top photo is of a coloured on tuba drawing that I did for Isaac. He went through a “tuba obsession phase” for a few months, and was  constantly asking me to draw tubas! So, I googled image searched it, and did a pretty dang good job, if I do say so.

Have you seen beauty this week? How have you been an artist in your own life? Share a comment, or a link to your post!

Beth

Beth is the creator and editor here at Red & Honey, a lifestyle blog for the naturally-minded homemaker. She recently began a passionate love affair with coffee and her life will never be the same. She has had three babies in less than four years, is a professional laundry-avoider, and loves to stay up way too late making weird stuff from scratch that normal people tend to just buy in a store. Hence, the coffee.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook - Pinterest