Soul Sculpting Project: Creating Art with God

In the Beginning God Created . . . Genesis 1

God is creative. The Creator.

We are made in God’s creative image. We are designed to be creative.

Research studies find that creating art has a long list of benefits.

Here are a few:

Increases control over pain
Improves mood
Encourages post-traumatic growth
Lowers risk of developing mild cognitive impairment
Improves immune function.
Lowers stress
Increases brain function
Increases our control over emotional pain and depression.

Art used as therapy has successfully helped people with anxiety, depression, addictions, PTSD, chronic pain, cancer, high blood pressure, bipolar disorder, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other serious physical and mental health conditions.

And there’s more good news:

The beneficial effects of creating are not dependent on a person’s skill or talents.

It’s the process, not the product that matters.

I Don’t Feel Creative

We may be designed to be creative, but a lot of us don’t feel that way.

“I’m just not creative.” “I’m no good at art.” “I can’t sing.” “I’m not a poet.” “I have two left feet.”

Do you have art wounds? They’re common, frequently formed in childhood.

Someone told us that we weren’t good at art and we believed them. In fact, we still believe them.

Or someone told us we were a natural artist and we developed a fear of failure that crippled our creativity.

A New Mindset

Today I am inviting us to to step out of a Fixed Mindset about creativity

into a Growth Mindset about creativity.

Fixed Mindset says:

You are born with a certain amount of skill for art. You can’t do much to change that. Our skills are set/determined at birth. It is all about genetics.

Growth Mindset says:

You are born with a certain amount of skill for art. Then it’s your job to develop that skill with practice. Our skills are not set/fixed, they can change /grow. Effort is more important than genetics.

Tip: We help kids develop a growth mind set by praising effort rather than talent.

Moving into a Growth Mindset will set us free from a narrow, crippling view of being a creative person.

Growth Mindsets allow for failure. Failure = learning.

Soul Sculpting Project: Creating Art with God

In this project we will use Scripture as a spring-board for creating art.

Materials: Paper, pen, or any supplies you like to try for art.

(paints, markers, chalk, clay, instruments, your body for moving . . . )

Time: 3-5 minutes

The Steps:

Invite God to join you in creating.
Pick a passage to use for art inspiration (example: Luke 1:26-45)
Pick an art form (ideas below)
Create /play (you can focus on one word, a verse, or the whole story.)

Art Form ideas:

Written

Poetry: free verse, haiku 5-7-5 syllable.
Write a letter as if you were one of the people.
Write a drama of the event for children.
Retell event in your own paraphrase.
Write lyrics to a song.

Visual art

Write a selection of words or verses in your own font.
Draw the scene using stick figures, realistic art, or abstract art.
Draw the emotions of the scene.

Dance/ movement/Music

Create a series of movements that express the story or a few verses.
Make up a tune and sing the passage.

When You send forth your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the ground.

Psalm. 104:30

soulsculpting