Hi, I’m Lisa. I am an artist. A maker.
I couldn’t always say that. I didn’t always embrace it. I played the safe artist. The stay in-between-the-lines artist. Maybe because I didn’t know who I was. Maybe because I was scared.
The struggle. Knowing you ARE an artist, but not knowing what to DO with that title. What did it mean? Was it ok? Was it bad? Was it good? Was I supposed to dress a certain way? Or wear my make up a certain way? Did I need to pretend to “see” things in art that I really didn’t see?
I felt entirely insignificant and incapable. Like I stood out and would never fit in. Feeling as if I saw the world differently, and for some reason that was bad.
This is what my journey as an artist has looked like. Searching. Not quite finding. Not knowing. Asking.
Who am I?
In this pilgrimage of self discovery I found what was there all along. My real significance. My authentic label. Child of God. Daughter of the King. That revelation turned my eyes off of myself and instead I focused on my Maker. Our maker. The ultimate artist.
He creates each and every day. The wind in the trees. The smile of a child. The brilliant colors of the sunset. All art. And we, us, you and I are made in His image. Created. With a desire and a passion for all things beautiful. Artists.
Art just happens to be my vocation. I create for my job. But it’s so much more than that. I want to leave a mark. Whether it be in my jewelry designs or my words. I want to make an impact. To touch people. To make them feel.
I create with that in mind. I set my focus on the Great Artist above. My Father. My Savior. Only then do the designs or the words flow. And then? Then my heart sings. This act of creating. This is my worship to my Maker. And He smiles.
This is one way I experience God.
For me. In my quiet. In my studio. It’s when I feel closest to him. When the creative part of me resonates with my spiritual being. Created in his image. Created with purpose. Created with significance. Created to glorify him with my gifts.
Sometimes it’s hard. I know I could BE better. I know I could DO better. But it’s not about that.
It’s about using what he has gifted to ME.
My talents. My abilities. My creativity. That’s just the raw material. It’s what I do with it.
When we listen to His voice…then move forward in faithful obedience…He’s right there beside us with a pencil or a paintbrush or a mixing bowl or a microphone or a dust cloth or a blank canvas or a sheet of music. Tools. To create.
It’s time to peel back the layers, remove the veil and find the art – the gifts – deep within yourself. Uncover them. Dust them off. They are yours. Unique to you.
Now use them. Use your gifts to influence those around you. This is your art.
My name is Lisa. I am an artist.
Lisa Lehmann Artist by trade. Maker by birth. Goldsmith. Dreamer. Wife to best friend. Mama to 4 “not-so-smalls”. Addicted to coffee….and dark chocolate Self-proclaimed fashionista. “Ink” connoisseur. Captivated by nature. Plays with fire. Enchanted by the written word. Seeking authenticity. Crazy about her furry girls. Child of the King. Typically, Lisa can be found with a camera in one hand…Starbucks in the other, a golden retriever by her side and slightly covered in silver dust. Guaranteed to be wearing fabulous boots, sitting on bleachers at one of her “small peoples” sporting events, with a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her face.
You can find Lisa’s work at StudioJewel.com and thebeadgirl.etsy.com. You can also follow her crazy life on her blog – Journey of a Jeweler StudioJewel.blogspot.com.
Art in Community ~ A round-up of YOUR artistry!
1. Eden, Draw…Doodle…Decorate
2. Barbara, on instagram
3. Melinda, Frugral Grace
4. Lori Harris
5. Rebecca, on Twitter
6. Sonya, Sonya Mac Designs
7. Kelli, on Instagram
1. Jessica, The Mom Creative
2. Miriam, A Rearranged Life
3. Megan Hagel
4. Krista, on Instagram
5. Amanda, The Scarlet Paisley
6. Cathy, Lyons Photography
7. Amy, Mavis Davis blog
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Next week we’ll see our fall study of A Million Little Ways come to its conclusion. Please don’t miss it!
Bout to bounce from here and check out Lisa. This is awesome!
thank you Sonya! 😉
Hi Lisa, thank you for your timely post. God has been gently encouraging me to enjoy the gifts he has gifted. The gifting of His talents. I’m chewing on your post. Chewing on the truth in your words.
“Created to glorify him with my gifts…. IT’S ABOUT USING WHAT HE HAS GIFTED TO ME.”
Thank you, Lisa.
God’s blessings to you!
thank you for reading. Praying that you clearly “hear” his voice. He is speaking 🙂
Like what you wrote, how you wrote. With feeling, depth, truth. Glimpses of your heart through your words and your art. Beautiful.
thank you Kim. That means so much to me!
Beautiful words! This is how it is. We are our most creative and our most authentic selves when we rest secure in the arms of the One who created us and knew us before he made the universe. He designed us to be artists and to work as creatives for his glory. Thank you for sharing this wisdom! (P.S. Love the ink!)
Melinda,
“…when we rest SECURE…” Amen, girlieQ…amen. 🙂
thank you Melinda!! Appreciate your words…and kind thoughts! xo
Lisa, I LOVE this post. I RELATE to this post! For years I was so hesitant to describe myself as an artist. I didn’t fit the mold I thought artists were supposed to fit. I didn’t think my work was good enough to be considered that of an artist. I have since learned to embrace who I am, who my Creator made me to be, and continue to grow and learn giving Him the glory.
Tammy,
Sneaking in to your love note to Lisa to say how much I love that her personal message meant so much to YOU. Such affirmation to be BRAVE about the way God created us…and to share ourselves with one another.
i love that! just reading your words gave me chills. it is hard to find…and then embrace…who we are. But He is so faithful when we do!
These words especially caught my attention, Lisa: “This act of creating. This is my worship to my Maker. And He smiles.” Oh, yes! I want my art to be a love-gift to my Heavenly Father, in appreciation for all He’s done for me. I want him to be pleased with the art we create together. I say “together”, because without him, there would be no art. And when his inspiration and direction come together with the talent he’s put within me, I certainly smile with pleasure. To think that he also smiles? WOW!
Thank you for adding the dimension of worship to art!
thank you Nancy…and yes, yes, yes…without Him there would be no art! appreciate you!
Lisa, I so enjoyed this post. You have a beautiful perspective on life and on your art. Thank you so much for sharing this!
thank you katie. And thank you for taking the time to comment….i am grateful!
Your thoughts are beautifully describing all of us, me, you. women ago longed to paint their lives with art. It’s so wonderful
to read and connect in a way that lets us know Alll things really are possible with God, he understands as we brush our Canvas..
I so related to the longings and the deeping desire to know Him
More, I see daily more & more the connection of Women of God
It’s mind boggling, beautifying His Script. Thank you for you words. Mae
beautiful Mae! thank you so very much….~ lisa
Reading this book has encouraged me to start writing. I started with putting my journal entries on facebook. This the offering I felt God called me to make today:
“I am truly thankful for the cold sore on my lip. The discomfort I felt at 3:30 am reminded me of how blessed I am to have sensation back when stroke victims or others with disease never recover. I guess that is one of the gifts giving to us in our pain: the awareness of blessings we have long taken for granted. I also pondered another gift found in our pain. It connects us with the rest of creation as we groan inwardly and look with greater intensity for that final and glorious freedom awaiting the children of God (Romans 8). It stirs our longing for the one who tasted death for us, whose presence fills the Heavens with such love and light that pain, suffering and sadness are forever vanquished (Revelation 21)! Then as I lay in bed beginning to envision my future hope, I became aware of the sighs uttered next to me. My husband lay there afflicted by a different kind of pain. As I prayed for him, God released truth to his mind that brought relief from the burdens of his day. We were ushered into a time of sweet fellowship and prayer together before we faded back into a peaceful sleep. Funny, I no longer noticed the pain in my lip. I guess that would bring me to one last gift I discovered in pain. Our pain can awaken us to the suffering of those around us and equip us to be agents of His love to others and result in fellowship and worship that I am sure brings a smile to our Father in Heaven. I guess it is His sovereign, gracious care and presence for which I am most grateful, even if it comes through pain.”
Loved “seeing” you here Lisa! And I love your heart. 🙂
thank you friend!!