These pictures have been created by Krystyna Gadd. The words that accompany them, and which are used here with her permission explain how and why in her mind art, or as she calls it doodling and faith go hand in hand. If anybody else would like to share any other images,verses or visions for the church please send them to church email address mbcnewspics@gmail.com or to my email address adaleearg04@virginmedia.com:
It was Shelley’s idea to do the session last week. I can share how I have used art to get closer to God: As long as I can remember I always loved to draw and colour in. As a child, I used to design clothes for my dolls and sew them, hoping to be a fashion designer when I grew up. Science was also a passion and this took me away from considering art as a career, although arts and various crafts have been my hobbies throughout my life.
It’s where I go when I need to empty my busy brain and relax. A number of years ago I got an iPad and discovered an app that almost mimicked how it is to draw and paint, without having to get messy. I started to use it to make visual notes of things I had read or heard. It was a way for me to focus my attention and remember things I wanted to learn. I did this mostly in work situations and even illustrated my own business book that was published a few years ago.
I started to use this technique of note taking in church too, as a way of remembering the teaching. As this has developed, it has sometimes allowed me to hear God, speak through colour and marks when pondering a scripture. My ‘doodling’ as I call it, has helped me to crystallise what God might be saying to me in a scripture or when I have been heading into unknown waters.
The doodle above I created back in 2017, during a period of uncertainty. I feel God is speaking through this to me at this time too. I have also shared it with Shelley and it seemed to resonate with her. I don’t think you have to be an artist for God to speak to you through colour and making marks.
Picture 2 – this one from a lectio divina meditation during a period of fasting and prayer.
And picture 3 – a reflection on Shelley’s teaching on Sunday.
