Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Denise Yennie

My husband and I moved to Denver by God’s calling on our lives 2 1/2 years ago where he placed us in the neighborhood of Park Church. We are blessed that our two adult kids are also in the area. One of my hobbies is photography: mostly capturing our travel adventures, God’s natural beauty, and food.

Piece

I selected Psalm 7 based on the first verse: “O Lord my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me.” The center photo of the volcanic rock cradling a small piece of coral immediately came to mind as a representation of God’s protection and refuge for us. This rock was about 5 ft up on a 12 ft tall volcanic rock wall that encompassed a small village. The only way that little piece of coral got there from the ocean, to be cradled and protected, was from a ferocious storm. The same place in our lives where we seek shelter, represented by the photo of the crashing waves on the rocks.

The top left photo of clouds represents a powerful God on high who rises to anger and judges the evil (vs 6, 8, & 11). With the people below worshiping him (vs 7 & 17). The photo of St. Michael, the archangel, is drawing his sword to put an end to the evil and wicked (vs 12-16) that is also represented in the crashing waves.

PROCESS: PHOTOGRAPHY

At first I was just going to stop at verse 1, using only the center photo—God is my refuge, as He has been so in my life countless times. I had so many great nature photos of places that have brought me peace and reminders of God’s goodness and glory: lots of sunrises and sunsets on mountains and beaches that I chose to use multiple photos. This then required me to do some math, playing with layouts of various size photos to best fit the 18×18 board we were given to use (which is not a standard photo size). I could use several 4x6s, though they created visual chaos, not peace and refuge. I settled on 4 8x10s (a vertical and horizontal = 18″), connected with a smaller center one. This arrangement created a nice visual flow.

But there was so much more going on in this psalm: evil and what it takes to conquer it. I don’t have a lot photos of evil, though found one photo of fire with a dark background I wanted to use to represent God’s burning anger over evil. This would give me a couple dark backgrounds with the colorful sunrise/sunset ones. But it just didn’t work, still too much noise and not a great story flow. I prayed as I went back through the Psalm and my photos to find something that might work and found the statue of St. Michael drawing a sword. Then found the angels singing to the heavens photo. Both had blue backgrounds (one day, one night) that matched the nature photos. These added a humanistic aspect, contrast, and balance to the nature photos.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Myra Ferguson

As a digital media subject matter expert, I wrote How to Cheat in Adobe Animate CC: The Art of Design and Animation and have authored video courses for Photoshop and Illustrator. I teach part-time at the University of Colorado Boulder, create video tutorials, and write articles to help InDesign users convert print layouts to interactive HTML5 content. I have worked for Adobe on various projects and have created digital media skill assessments for LinkedIn for Photoshop, Illustrator, Animate, and After Effects. My portfolio is available at myraferguson.myportfolio.com.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Kari Langford

Kari Langford lives and works in Denver with a heart for creativity and connection. Guided by faith and a love for beauty in the everyday, she sees art as a way to reflect God’s light, to participate in God’s Kingdom, and to stir other souls to worship. When not painting, she might be enjoying a hike with her pup or reading with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Piece

“Listen to my words, Lord; consider my sighing.
Pay attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to you.
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning, I plead my case to you and watch expectantly.”
(Psalm 5:1–3 CSB)

There is lament in these words. There is also rooted hope and trust in them. My piece is meant to depict that gap in between.

There are multiple layers showing light coming through a window, and more specifically, morning light. There are collaged layers of pattern that bring the element of complexity and history to the work. And finally, the forefront of the painting loosely reflects the dappling of shadow from the trees above. Both the deep, rich color and imprinted markings of the shadows correspond to the immense weight of my cry.

PROCESS: OIL PAINT & COLLAGE

Truly, the most beautiful part of this piece WAS the process, and how the Father guided me through. I wrestled with this painting. I started out with an idea of what I wanted it to look like, primarily a light, joyful flow of light coming in through a window, to depict the morning time when we take our prayers to Him. Something was not quite right, so I would paint layer over layer over layer – thinking the whole time that I was wasting time and paint.

But God…

I was sitting and listening one morning, and I sensed him beautifully show me: Kari this is prayer, this is how it works. The act of continuing to come to him morning after morning, thinking we are wasting our time, but He is creating something beautiful! The process of prayer and life with God does not always feel like things are happening—like it is “working”—and it certainly is not always light and joyful. I learned more about persistent prayer and lament throughout this process and ultimately came to a place of deeper trust in the One who is always Faithful, the One who hears every single prayer that we cry, scream, or whisper.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Anna Armstrong

Art has always been a place of rest me, never my primary occupation or hobby, but always available for a peaceful moment of inspiration. I have lived in Denver over a decade and attended Park for most of that time. My husband and I met in here in Colorado and have two wonderful daughters, ages 3.5 and 1.5. I love the spending time being active outdoors. The hills, lakes, and trees are a magnet to God’s glory! Outside of home I lead people experience, culture, and communications at a health care start up.

Piece

I chose to focus my work on Psalm 4:8, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

This verse has been a comfort to me in the anxious nights of my teenage years, sleepless nights of young motherhood, and I now pray it over my daughters at bedtime.

I was struck with the image of a parent and child at bedtime, a beautiful evening swirling around. This is my humble attempt to portray that scene.

PROCESS: Acrylic

I typically take a more abstract approach so this piece was a departure from my comfort zone! In was a fun challenge to draw precise lines and mix the night colors with acrylic paint instead of my typical oil medium. I worked on this over a series of Saturday mornings with my daughter next to me painting her own “dark sky.”

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: LouAnn Summers

I am Brent’s wife for 45 years and mother of four children, grandmother of seven (+ 2 bonus). Along with fine arts, I enjoy photography and crafts of any type. If it’s creative, I enjoy it!

Piece

In this picture, I aimed to depict how there are many foes raining down to destroy us. Then when I considered a shield, I first thought about an umbrella. But that was too flimsy to protect us. Then I considered a metal umbrella. Ha ha, but that was a bit too difficult for me. And then it dawned on me that the way God has shielded me, delivered me and protected me even from his wrath, is through the blood of his son, Jesus! By dying on the cross, Jesus delivered me from every foe! In that sense, his blood shields me from all that opposes me.

When I am overwhelmed by what opposes me, Jesus lifts my sad, weary head to look into his eyes and to rest in his care!

PROCESS: Acrylic

This is an acrylic painting depicting some of my thoughts on the 3rd Psalm.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Bruce Butler

I’m Bruce, and I’ve been part of Park for nearly 13 years. I’m married to Jamie Rosenberry, and we have a two-year-old and another child on the way (likely having arrived by the time you’re reading this!). I’ve worked as a Graphic Designer for about 13 years, originally freelancing under the name Wise Bison, and now full-time with The Fire and Smoke Society, a spice company known for its killer rubs. I also play guitar for Park and in two bands: Last Ditch and Our Violet Room. Outside of design and music, I co-manage Victory House, a sober living home within the Providence Network, and love specialty coffee, cooking for friends and family, and attending shows.

Piece

I chose Psalm 2 as the basis for this piece. The psalm describes nations rising in pride against God, only for God to laugh at their defiance. He establishes His Son—the Messiah—as heir to all nations, calling rulers to serve Him and to “kiss the Son” while rejoicing with trembling.

I represented this theme by illustrating six rebellions against God throughout history, using the number six symbolically—representing human incompleteness and our tendency to fall short. These are not all cases of atheism vs. Christianity, nor are they equivalent in scope or suffering. The six rebellions are:

1. The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)
2. Pharaoh’s persecution of the Hebrews in Egypt (Exodus 7–12)
3. The statue of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3)
4. The Roman Colosseum and Christian persecution (1st–3rd Century AD)
5. The Crusades (1095–1291 AD)
6. Christian Nationalism (present day)

The last two were/are carried out by people claiming to act in God’s name, but their actions in the name of Christ are antithetical to His teachings, with a complete lack of trembling and wisdom by their nation’s “kings.” Jesus, over and over, chose to disregard government, military, or any political movement as a means to achieve his goals, instead calling the Church to action through love. To clarify, there should be an overlap with the government’s pursuits and Jesus commands, like loving your neighbors, caring for the least of these, widows, and orphans, and so on, but Jesus never elected to use government as the means to carry out his mission.

Above these six examples is an enormous, ornate crown with an Alpha & Omega symbol at the crest, displaying God being the king, set apart and unfathomable. Radiating rays shine from the crown, symbolizing His ridicule of humanity’s vain attempts at power and control.

PROCESS: Digital Art

For the process, I used Adobe Illustrator for the line work, trying a few ideas but landing on this concept of the crown above 6 rebellions. Trying to represent them symbolically with minimal detail was a challenge, and after starting with two design styles with the symbols at the bottom, I paused and went to work on the crown, which was more fleshed out in my mind. After finishing that, the rest of the “rebellions” fell into place quickly. I brought that into Photoshop and tried a few textures, but the brilliant colors of the Final felt most fitting for the unfathomable God in His glory.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Drew Button

Drew Button grew up in Colorado drawing pictures of animals and became interested in pen and ink artwork in high school. His first ‘sketchbook’ contained all the quintessential imagery you’d associate with an ’emo’. Drawing became a way for that angsty teenage Drew to reconcile his faith and morals with the world around him. Family members and teachers encouraged Drew down a creative path early on that has led him to where he is today; operating an art business alongside his wife, Emily here in Denver. His life as a husband, father and artist is a dream come true for that hopeless romantic emo version of his teenage self, lost in the tide of young adulthood. His works today still pull from the same themes as before but now include inspiration received from his wife and son; including but not limited to people, animals, Christianity, machines, architecture, landscapes and dinosaurs.

Piece

I call this piece ‘OA515’ (oasis) in response to Psalm 1’s presentation of two life paths for a person to live and walk. One path leads towards rootlessness and death, while the other towards a rooted, abundant, fruitful life in Christ. While reading Psalm 1, a ‘split screen’ image formed in my mind initially, giving the viewer a clear choice to walk down one path versus the other. Upon more readings, I began imagine an oasis in the desert, that one could step into our out of. This vision brought me closer to what you see in the drawing: an overlap of both realities in which we choose to live as sinners and believers. While we strive towards a life committed the Word and aligned with our Father’s desire for us to drink and eat of him, we still wander out into the heat and desolation of the world beyond the lush garden. We follow and become fixed to a windswept track that takes us swiftly towards our own desires. Therein lies the struggle and the choice. With His hand on our shoulder, we may yet again decouple ourselves from that sinful train of thought or action and find ourselves back at the water’s edge.

PROCESS: Ink Pen

I experienced a great challenge in creating this piece. Prior to drawing ‘OA515’, my collection of pens had accumulated a year’s worth of dust. Breaking the rhythm of churning out work, and finding space to let myself draw for Christ in the Psalms is something I haven’t done enough since I began working for myself. Once I began imagining the oasis in my drawing, it only became easier for me to come back to the drawing in order to finish it. I drew inspiration from my son’s current obsession with ‘choochey trains’ and our enjoyment of God’s gift of time. He gives us rest and shade where the palm trees sway, where the flamingos flock, and even in the city, where the trains trundle on the trestles over the trail, down by the river.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Whitney Grimm

Hi.

It’s not about the finished design, but the journey along the way.

I’m a Colorado native who loves the outdoors and the city. I moved away in 2012 to explore the world around me. I’ve worked in fashion most of my life living in Los Angeles, CA, and Austin, TX, and now back in Denver, CO. In each place, I’ve learned new skills, while refining others, and met awesome and interesting people who mentored and challenged me to push myself artistically, which in turn helped me discover a passion; creating visual stories for audiences through different mediums like print or digital materials and fine art.

Character is everything.

This industry is about building relationships; with clients, other designers, the world around me, and myself; trust plays a big role in that. I want my clients and other designers to trust my vision and me as a designer. I’m perceptive, detail-oriented, a communicator, a learner, a collaborator, an encourager, empathetic, silly, and most of all a problem solver.

My design process is the whole process.

While traveling and exploring keeps my heart alive, giving me perspective on the world around me to better connect my designs to that audience, my husband Jonathan, is one of my biggest supporters and encouragers. My art ranges from painting using acrylics, plaster, putty, and other found materials to graphic design.

Piece: Mixed Media

When I read Psalm 150 I saw a similar image to the one I created, and the last verse “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” This image encompasses just that. From the fine line thread size and detail to the specific colors used to the natural elements, and letting the natural wood show through. God is all and in all, natural and man-made.

I had so much fun making this piece.

When I start a new art project I usually pull from my deep, heavy, and sad emotions, but this time I felt God asking me to draw from the joy and zest for life I’ve been feeling and experiencing. Not everything has to be made from a dark place. I think the piece speaks for itself, but ultimately I hope it speaks in whatever way you allow.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Allee Nesbitt

I’m Allee, I do creative direction, design, and branding for an urban planning company based out of San Francisco, CA. I have been attending Park Church since 2016. Park is where I met my husband and we have a little guy named Levi!

Piece: Digital Illustration

Psalm 149 is a depiction of genuine, joyful praise for our Creator. It reveals the triumphant present-future reality that is ours in Christ: all things will surely be made new. I wanted this art to display human hands in full, authentic worship – without any reservations due to fear or shame. Simply, each posture offers its own song in response to the intimacy, mystery, and glory of God. The hands are drawn with an outline in red depicting the blood of Christ which purchased us.

When I first picked this Psalm, I was intimidated by the juxtaposition of the joy-filled people mixed with the harsh reality of justice being served. It’s a topic my heart always has wrestled with being a follower of Christ and I have had to submit my flawed human view of justice over to God many many times. When designing this art, I wanted to focus on the joy it will feel to be freely in worship one day, without any doubt holding me back from true authenticity.

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Olivia McCloud

My name is Olivia, and I’m a Colorado Native and artist! I’ve been drawing since I was a kid and am so honored that Park has provided such a creative outlet to integrate artists into the church experience.

Piece: Gouache on Board

This is gouache on board. Gouache is essentially a more opaque version of watercolor that allows you to really layer and build up color. It is my preferred media because it lets me use a variety of techniques and create multiple textures!

The Doxology is one of my favorite pieces of church liturgy, so reading Psalm 148 I immediately felt a familiar pull towards it. The concept of every part of creation being called to celebrate the power of Christ has the ability to make you feel important and insignificant all at once. Every aspect of creation was lovingly formed by a powerful God, and we are a valued piece of that.

I wanted to capture the vastness of creation, as well as the minute details that we are also made up of. From mountains and seas, to galaxies and the human body; we are a valued part of the divine creation of Christ.