How I Create Art That Reflects Faith and Motherhood

I love creating. The more I have tried to understand why I like the things I like, do the things I do, and realize what activities I get lost in it all comes down to creation.

I had a conversation with someone close to me recently and they had nudged at the idea that I didn’t know how to relax, or be still. In ways I think they might be right. As I have addressed in a prior entry sitting around doing nothing, while needed and useful, is painful and hard for me. I don’t see this as a good thing. I promise it’s something I am working on…

When we were having this conversation I paused to reflect really considering their thought and came to the conclusion that I often don’t find sitting in front of a TV relaxing. I feel the most relaxed and free of pressure when I am creating. For some people that sounds crazy or like a crutch maybe, like an excuse to keep doing more- but I assure you I am being honest. My brain doesn’t relax when I am just distracted. Now, a show or a movie can be captivating for me if I like it and I will happily glue my butt down and binge or engage. It’s just at this point in time, between a full time job and motherhood, if I have a spare moment to myself the last thing I ever find myself doing is sitting down to tune into something else. Instead I tune into my craft.

It’s been pretty exciting to understand this about myself. I have found making websites fun, creating digital marketing materials exciting, obviously adding to my sketch book, painting, writing, refurbishing furniture, decorating, cooking, I mean the list becomes extensive. All of these things have become a problem child for me in the pursuit of something I enjoy because choosing ‘one’ felt impossible, because it is. All of these things embody the very essence of who I am finding myself to be at my core. A creative, a creator, a problem solver, a bring an idea to lifer.

This simple yet deep personal realization has given me the desire to create more. Maybe in ways it has been a way for me to fully accept myself instead of constantly trying to turn parts of me off for the sake of ‘one part’ of me. You can’t turn your arms off to get better working lets…you know what I mean?

My ideas have shifted and I have been feeling the need to incorporate life and the concept of values into my artwork, the idea of bringing everything into one. It blows my mind that maybe creativity doesn’t have to be compartmentalized, that everything can be represented in one another. Therefore, capturing all the things to reflect beauty in a piece of art.

I don’t think this just goes into creating a painting. The beautiful thing about this is that you can see an artistic touch in the decoration of a home, in the flip of a furniture piece, even in something as delicious as a loaf of sourdough. Almost the same way you can see the sound of a musician in the way they dress.

Creativity is a beautiful thing and it’s also something I find very interesting.

So, how do I create a piece of art that reflects faith and motherhood in a more obscure way? I can illustrate the moments, I can express the feelings that I had in special moments through color and texture. There are always so many ways I find myself inspired while doing the acts of mothering.

Sometimes things can feel chaotic, and sometimes there is truth in that, but other times it’s just because I need to give myself the ability to slow down. I need to reset the pace that I am moving so that I can see. I can see the smiles on the boys faces, I can smell the delicious meal that is being cooked, I can sit and savor the playtime laughter that spreads beyond the home and fills a heart and atmosphere.

The act of motherhood is an essence of curiosity, exploration, and redefining values and norms. I find art to be very aligned with this. I can paint flowers and it can appear to have nothing to do with motherhood, but for me it could embody the beauty of transformation that we encounter when going from non-parent to parent. It can capture a moment at the grocery store where I was smelling the fresh cut flowers with my toddlers.

Art is a way to share the moments and experiences that can be relatable to everyone. To remind you of moments with your loved ones and move you in a way that brings peace and joy. It can be that little nudge to slow down because life goes by fast enough on it’s own so take a moment to sip your coffee and just gaze off into something beautiful.

Faith is weaved all throughout our lives, whether we find ourselves to be Christians or not. God is always there whether we acknowledge him or not. Creation is all the same. The genesis of motherhood is no different. It is everywhere we look. Something was birthed and it is something worth savoring.

Cheers to savoring all that slowing down has to offer.

XO,

Jaz