Acting on God’s promises together

Expressing our theme through art

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:23-24 (ESV)

Artwork: Tina Rae

by Rev. Tina Rae

Tina is the Christian Education pastor at Westview Baptist Church in London, Ontario. She is also an artist. Meet her in our August book club as we explore her first book, Devotions for the Artist at Heart. Rev. Tina Rae offers a wonderful art project based on our theme and theme verses for 2021. Here are Tina’s step-by-step instructions.

How to begin WHEN CREATING ARTWORk from Scripture, I take time to meditate on the passage by reading and rereading the verses. I often use varying translations and consider what words and themes come to mind and I think about what images might represent them well. I encourage you to take the time to read Hebrews 10:23-24 in the same way, and consider what God brings to your heart before you begin creating.

When I looked at this passage and Baptist Women’s theme, I was drawn toward the topic of encouraging love and how we do that through our faith. Images of an outstretched hand, a heart, and the cross came to mind and helped me form the framework for this artwork.

supplies • 9”x12” canvas or canvas board • old magazines or pages of printed-out words (printed from your printer) • mod podge or white glue • paints, paint brushes, and water • paper or cardstock • white tissue paper (crumpled for texture)

sTEP 1 - Prepare the Canvas 1. Look through your magazines and choose up to five words that suit the theme. Tear them out and glue them randomly onto the canvas. 2. Use a paintbrush to glue the surface of the canvas and adhere one or two layers of the textured tissue paper to cover the entire surface including the words. Add another layer of glue on top of the tissue paper

with your paintbrush to firmly adhere the tissue paper to the canvas. 3. Add a watered-down layer of paint to the entire canvas for a coloured background. The pale layer should still allow you to faintly see the words you first placed on your canvas. 4. To create a hand and a heart on this canvas, outline a hand shape and a heart shape where you would like to place them. Use faint pencil marks to make the outlines. The hand outline needs to be the size of your hand.

sTEP 2 - Create the Hand 1. Trace your hand on some thick paper, then look through old magazines for words that represent the theme and Scripture. The words can then be glued on the tracing of your hand. 2. When you have filled the hand outline, cut it out. (You may need to retrace your hand if you lost the edges when gluing on your words.)

sTEP 3 - Make the Heart 1. Look for red tones (or a colour of your choice) in the old magazines that you will use to fill in the heart you outlined on your canvas.

Have aN aRt PaRty ONlINe!

Prior to our April Conference:

1. Set a date with your friends and family who’d love to meet on Zoom or another platform and paint together. 2. Share these pages with them so they’ll gather supplies well ahead of time. 3. When you meet, remember to ask women to take some selfies and photos of their artwork . . . and share with you. 4. Share photos with Baptist Women’s Facebook group or Instagram community. Or email live magazine at live@baptist.ca. You’ll have a chance to meet Tina in our August book club as we explore her first book, Devotions for the Artist at Heart. 2. Tear these pieces into small square shapes approximately one to two cm in size. 3. Glue the red squares in the area where you outlined your heart on your canvas to fill in the heart shape.

To get a good seal, use your paintbrush and spread a thin layer of glue on top of the squares as well.

sTEP 4 – Finishing Touches 1. Glue the hand onto the canvas. 2. Using small amounts of paint, lightly apply shadows under the heart and hand. (This is called drybrush technique.) 3. To create the antiqued look, continue using a drybrush technique around the edges of the painting and over the higher ridges left by your tissue paper.

Enjoy! 

Global conference of Baptist Women will now be online

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 Registration $20 USD per woman (includes plenary sessions and workshop)

This is a great opportunity to enjoy worship, powerful speakers, relevant workshops and conversations with your sisters around the world . . . all from the comfort of your home.

Theme speakers include karen Wilson, president of Baptist World Alliance Women and Asha Sanchu from Nagaland, India. visit bwawd.org to register. 