Page 10 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 12

terms of my Christian identity, at each moment, through this visual medium. I still find myself
in each interaction, I am faced with the decision frustrated at times when my desired outcome
to move toward greater wholeness / integration does not flow from my paintbrush, but I keep
/ shalom or to contribute toward disintegrati- stretching to grow as a painter, which I believe
on / brokenness. Each of us is faced with that also helps me grow as a Christian.
choice many times every day.
My artistic growth is aided by community. As
Fourth question: about your paintings: How a family, we have tried to foster a creative envi-
you developed this? What meaning does this ronment. My 18 year old daughter is gifted in
have for you? pottery, painting, and drawing. My 12 year old
son has taken up music, learning to play flute,
piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, and banjo. My 9
year old daughter has recently taken up dance.
My wife has been fertile soil for creativity. In
addition, I have found great support, fellow-
ship, and encouragement through the Rabbit
Room, an online community of Christian ar-
tists. As a husband, father, neuropsychologist,
poet, and painter—indeed as a Christian—I try
to reflect the words of Andrew Peterson, one of
the founders of the Rabbit Room: “tell the truth
as beautifully as you can.”

I don’t know what my future holds professio-
nally, nor artistically. Several ideas are percola-
ting in my mind, yet God alone knows what will
come to fruition. I simply want to stay present
For many years, I had an unfulfilled longing for
a creative outlet. Growing up, I never believed and draw others’ attention to his truth, good-
art was my thing. I remember being awed by ness, and beauty in the world.
those who could produce a reasonable facsimile Former article by Jason:
of a car or a lion. I even envied those who could https://emcapp.ignis.de/4/#/174
color inside the lines. With poor fine motor con-
trol, I never thought of myself as artistic. But ae-
sthetic longing continued to grow. I remember
repeatedly poring over my grandfather’s book
about American painter Andrew Wyeth. Over
time, I exposed myself to more artists, writers,
and musicians who stoked my desire for beauty.
I began to think about how I might express my-
self creatively. I did this first through writing,
and then through painting. I have always been
drawn to the subtlety and looseness of waterco-
lors. In fact, the first original piece of art I ow-
ned was a watercolor painting. My wife, whom I
have always considered to be more creative and
artistic than I am agreed to attend a watercolor
class taught by master painter Sterling Edwards.
That experience was transformative. I realized
after working with Sterling that painting loose,
I would have the ability to express what I felt

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