Learn more about Christ in the Psalms artwork and download artwork guides here.

Person: EB Combs

I am Elizabeth (EB) Combs, a Texas native who, through God’s good graces, met my husband Jonathan Combs before making my way up to Colorado with him. We’ve now been based out of Denver for three plus years, enjoying rich blessings and working alongside our good friend, Rachel Nichols. Our work focuses on identity design via The Whistler & The Well, and photography via The Great Northern.

Piece

Photography

PROCESS

I photographed the lovely Preethi Rajaratnam for my response to Psalm 69.

Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. (Psalm 69:1–3 ESV)

The visual of these deep waters in the beginning of Psalm 69 struck a chord within me. The Psalmist’s relationship with water is not a positive one—it expresses a sense of hopelessness. While water can be extremely powerful and overwhelming, our God, can change the waters—whether calming a storm or parting a sea—He quite literally can put an end to water’s daunting power. This relationship lead me to focus on the element of water for this piece, specifically dark water, due to the brooding tone in this Psalm.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms artwork and download artwork guides here.

Person: Kat Archuletta

Kat Archuletta was born and raised in Castle Rock, Colorado. She is a multi-faceted artist who has a passion for creating and learning new ways to express her creativity. She has spent time living in Arizona and Alaska and in a van on the road outside of Colorado, learning the ropes of being a self-sustained artist outside of the world of art degrees. A spirit for adventure, creating, and a longing for connecting to the human spirit has always been what she felt was her calling in life. That purpose has been made more clear since her true relationship with the Lord has begun—not exactly in what direction, but that it is what she’s called to. She is looking forward to the adventure the Lord is calling her into, and the depth in which the Creator facilitates her creativity through worship.

PIECE

Encaustic

PROCESS

The medium of this art is encaustic, a ratio of beeswax and Damar resin mixed with different pigments—the building up and melting down layers of wax on a canvas.

This medium was actually brought to me through studying Psalm 68, where I was attracted to the verse “as wax melts before the re, so shall the wicked before God.” In deciding different ways to depict that, the Lord led me to a wax-based medium.

Sing to God, sing praises to His name;
Extol Him who rides on the clouds,
By His name YAH,
And rejoice before Him.
(Psalm 68:4 NKJV)

That is the center, that is everything. It continues into verse 26, “Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, the fountain of Israel.” Christ is the unending fountain, the water of life to the world. From there, the black and brown colors represent man, wilderness, and sin; red is the blood of Christ; blue and white is the water of life; yellow, gold and anything shimmering is His glory, to which we are called in His name; in His sacri ce and resurrection.

“Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered” (v. 1). Comparing this to what Moses said every time they set out with the ark in the wilderness (Num. 10:35), we’re encouraged to die daily and “Let God arise” and be rst in out hearts, carrying Him with us in our lives through our sin and through our struggle. Overall, Psalm 68 reminded me of God’s heart, His love, and His unending trials in letting us know His heart and His love for us.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms artwork and download artwork guides here.

Person: Jonathan Combs

I grew up in the dusty hot plains of Texas. With little beauty and adventure in the actual landscape, I was quickly drawn to photography and graphic design as an outlet. My wife and I have lived in Denver for over three years crafting branding identities and taking photographs for small businesses.

PIECE

Scuplture (Wood & Glue)

PROCESS

Psalm 67 is a short, to-the-point praise of God for bringing a harvest. I wanted the piece to re ect this simple idea of farming and working with your hands, all the while relying on God to bring the growth.

There is nothing added by me, rather I used the materials given to me create meaning. The mostly- uniform rows, cut by hand illustrate the rows of crop in a eld and the pointed edges created by alternating and ipping the pieces allude to wheat and other grain crops.

“To God be all the glory” is what I wanted to display by transforming the wood panel without adding anything new. I also wanted to tie myself to the hand labor that it would have been to farm and harvest for the Israelites. I used a hand-held circular saw to cut the pieces, allowing the lines to be imperfect and chip. The only thing I added was glue to keep the pieces together.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms artwork and download artwork guides here.

Person: Jennie Pitts

Jennie is originally from Austin, Texas and graduated with a BFA from Baylor University in 2011. She started her own business in 2014—“Jennie Lou Art”—and now works as a full-time artist in Denver. She specializes in “live wedding/event painting”, and custom pieces. Her studio is in the RiNo Arts District at the Globeville Riverfront Arts Center (G.R.A.Ce.). Find out more information on her website: jennielouart.com.

Piece

Acrylic

Process

Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
He turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him,
who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
(Psalm 66:5-7 ESV)

In prayer, I kept coming back to “He turned sea into dry land, they passed throughthe river on foot”, and then, “whose eyes keep watch on the nations”—as I painted, I focused on God’s perspective from the Heavens, as he keeps a close watch on His people. My hope is for this piece to be a visual reminder of how God brought us out of Egypt, and even still, continues to bring us out of our own slavery. I can often feel small and overwhelmed by circumstances and sin, only to remember the hope I have in Christ to help me in my weaknesses.

Psalm 66 reminds us of God’s severe mercy in choosing to save His people from destruction. Meditating on his continual faithfulness towards a faithless people changes hearts, and humbles the rebellion in all of us—“let not the rebellious exalt themselves.” This piece illustrates that despite how small we may feel in God’s presence, he hears our voices and listens to our prayers—“But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer” (v.19).

The painting is abstract in style, meant to loosely depict the ocean and a small sanctuary of dry land. The gold-outlined “dry land” with tiny dots of various colors represents Israel and the diversity of God’s people. The ocean surrounding it is made up of rich and powerful deep blues/turquoise/white brushstrokes and water “washes”. The rich juxtaposition of the tumultuous ocean and the quiet land are meant to point to the ever-present power and covenantal love of God towards His people.