Artist Project: Pleasant Places with Brianna

One of the things I’ve been reflecting on lately is the concept of home and what that means here on Earth. I’ve lived in the same general area my whole life, but each place and season has looked different. And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that the places the Lord has me are for his glory, and my benefit (even though it might not seem like it at the time). When I painted the pieces of “My Father’s House” for the Print & Pray Shop, I created a series of doors based on the places I’ve called home. To me each one signifies a specific place and time and I wanted to incorporate those into my Bible.

I began with Psalm 16, specifically verses 5-6:

“ Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”

Each of the places I have lived have been pleasant, with boundary lines to give me space to learn and grow. This verse reminds me that I don’t have to save the world all by myself…I just have to be faithful with the portion and lot that Lord has given me in that season. And the Lord is gracious in what He provides. Not only does he give me a space to call home, He gives me a pleasant place, and a delightful future. It’s not about striving to gain more, give more, be more…it’s about resting in the place we are in right now and knowing that is enough. (Which is obviously easier to say than do…)

I covered the whole page spread with green and blue watercolor because they are the colors of the Earth, then blotted it with a paper towel. You can’t see it very well in the photo, but it left a cool texture. Then I used an indigo ink to hand-letter the verse that I wanted to highlight.

Then I added my doors. I attached them with washi tape, which is just so fun to use! When I created these doors, I had the thought that they would be like little surprises within people’s designs. I painted other verses and phrases behind each door. So you open the door, and voila! A surprise nugget of wisdom!

Then I added some little yellow heart stickers, as markers signifying the places I’ve moved, and used an acrylic paint pen to make tracks from one heart to another. Sometimes the line was straight, because that season was so hopeful and fun…and other times the move was not so seamless and my heart tended tended to wander a bit in the process of moving on.  It’s fun to be able to see a journey of faith laid out in the pages of my Bible. Though parts of our journey don’t always make sense when we’re living them, in hindsight we are able to see more fully what the Lord intended to teach us and show us in that season!

-Brianna

Illustrated Faith My Father’s House printable | NIV Study Bible | Daniel Smith watercolors | #1 round watercolor brush | indigo ink | acrylic paint pen | washi tape from @raindropwashishop