Most of my artwork is somehow inspired by music. It usually takes several listens to a song before a painting idea comes to mind. I expect that to happen as the lyrics need some time to sink into my brain and be processed. I am a thinker and can spend hours processing my experiences and emotions trying to figure out what I am feeling at the moment or about a recent experience.
When I listen to music, it is not uncommon to see me conducting along or playing an air instrument that fits with the song. Music moves me in ways that nothing else can. The closest is being out in nature while on my bike and that still pales in comparison. Music captures my emotions and yet can open a door and release them when nothing else would. On September 12 I heard Jeremy Camp’s newest single “He Knows” for the first time. I quickly suppressed my inner fangirl to pay attention to the lyrics. About 20 minutes before I went to bed that night, an idea for a painting for that song popped into my head. I quickly looked up the lyrics to make sure what I was thinking would work and the next day I began work on the painting nearly completing it in about 3 hours. As the painting progressed, I had the lyrics up on my phone so that I would grab the right words for around the outside to show what God knows about what we go through. At this point I had only heard the song once. I have had the chance to hear it a total of 3 times so far with the second and third time happening Monday and Tuesday. This third time, I found myself starting to conduct the song when the lyrics hit me like a ton of bricks. Healing tears came a flowing for several minutes after.
This is not the first time that music has inspired art work nor the first time that a song, which has a corresponding painting, has brought me to tears. The tears are always healing and so worth any runny nose or impending headache that may come with them. I am thankful when those tears flow as it means God is doing something in me that will draw me closer to Him. I want to be closer to Him, yet I struggle with my walk. So much music expresses my struggles and reminds me of God’s promises that He is there faithfully. He is willing to help us in our unbelief and our failures while cheering us on when we get something right or make a step in the right direction.
I look forward to more new music coming out by Jeremy Camp (the new album drops sometime in early 2015) and other musicians. I also look forward to seeing what music God uses to inspire new paintings and driving the passion to draw others to Him through those paintings.