Psalm 123—Artwork
Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.
Person: Whitney Grimm
I’m a Colorado native who loves the outdoors and the hustle and bustle of the city. I moved back to Denver 4 years ago where I adventured, explored, traveled the world, figured out life, met different people along the way, got my heart broken, and learned many new skills. About a year after moving back to Denver I met my now husband, Jonathan, who has been my biggest cheerleader in everything I’ve done and will do. My background is in wardrobe styling, visual merchandising, modeling, and graphic design. My personal style in art and fashion is minimal, simple, clean, monochromatic, black and white, a bold pattern or a pop of color.
I recently received my BFA in graphic design and I love helping others create their brand to help separate them from other similar brands. I’ve also learned that I love painting. It’s been a hobby for a while now. Though I never thought I could be an artist, along the way I’ve heard God saying something different from the noise around me. Painting has been a way that I’ve felt free and had freedom to express feeling and emotion. I can be a bit serious at times but making art has a way of pulling me out of my head to chillax. With more opportunities to create art pieces happening, I feel God asking me to step into something outside my comfort zone. I’ve needed the support and encouragement from Jonathan and friends, to remind me daily to believe in myself and realize that God made me to be creative and tell stories through different mediums.
Piece: Mixed Media
My goal with this piece was to visually capture what I felt God wanting others to see, feel, or experience about Psalm 123. Staying true to my style and esthetic, but keeping in mind it’s not about what I want people to see, but what God wants. The following verse is the foundation of this piece:
“Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress;
so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God,
until He has mercy on us.” (v.2)
This piece is meant to be both metaphorical and literal. The simple outlined face looking up to heaven with the outstretched arms coming out of the eyes like lashes is us looking to God, to Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit for everything. The hands symbolize us reaching out with open hands, wanting to know that God hears our cries and prayers, sees us in our circumstances, and will help in our struggles and joys. The wheat is meant to symbolize God as our daily bread and constant provider, and the falling bits of wheat represent the prayers and such that God hears us and provision for us.
Process:
After I read and processed through the Psalm I chose, I got a solid vision of what I wanted to do or make. Aside from that bit, this project was a solid challenge from start to finish. First, not knowing what Psalm to pick, then getting stuck on not knowing if I should keep the board a natural wood color or paint it white. The phrase, “is it enough?” kept popping into my head along the way. With my style being minimal and simple I wasn’t sure if the black outlined face was enough or if it would come across as dumb or too simple. And how did I represent or show God in this piece? But Jonathan reminded me of some truths. So I’m going with what I feel my spirit saying.
