You Are God and I am Man - Art as Form of Worship

Art or creating art can go beyond the obvious aesthetic purpose or creative outlet to becoming a form of worship. A song, not formed with words but with an inner vision.

There is a stirring that happens when I begin to create. The pictures that form as I piece together a new collage or an assemblage are a song. Each seemingly insignificant scrap becomes an instrument or a voice, part of an eternal choir pulling from deep within a hidden place in my soul.

As the instruments begin to tune there is a release of control to the higher power of God. I listen, my heart and ears turn expectantly. I am not creating alone, I am a vessel, as he pours his song of love into me I pour my praise and adoration for him out onto the canvas.

This collage has gone through several transformations, each time I thought it was done and was well pleased. The second to last transformation I thought was perfect. Beautiful really. Unlike anything I had done. There were only a few elements then and it had a simplicity, a tranquility that brought the feeling of peace. Of rest. All I needed to do was add the frame. The brown would be a nice compliment to the green hue I had managed to bring out in the perfectly smooth encaustic.
But one wrong move and I ruined it. The finish was ruptured and in the process of trying to fix it I ruined it again. I was frustrated, I swore, I nearly cried as I saw the mess it had become. The more I tried to repair the worse I made it. And then I remembered. This, even this, was His to control not mine. I had to let it go. Let go of the vision I had for it and release myself to become ready to see the vision He had. I was ready to acknowledge again ~ Yes, You are God and I am Man.

"You Are God and I Am Man" is an encaustic wax collage created from antique papers, fibers and hardware on canvas. It is framed in richly patinaed reclaimed antique advertising yardsticks. To purchase, e-mail me at crystal_opf@comcast.net or visit OPF Studio at Etsy.

Repairer of Broken Walls - Art as a Tool For Healing

Art can be an incredible tool for healing the brokenness and pain that is inherent to human nature.

I believe there are stories written on our hearts that have formed from the experiences of our lives. Deeply personal, these stories have brought us pain and have caused cracks in the foundation of our soul.

There is a spiritual yearning, a groaning for heavenly places of safety and comfort, a desire inside to connect with God, to experience His healing through the love and relationship with Him we were designed for.

Sometimes our stories are ongoing, cyclic, repeating, God trying to push us toward recognition and resolution. And through the vehicle of art, where the language is spiritual and comes not in words, but in texture, color, and images we make a connection.

This is a turning point to recovering ones true self, the healed and whole person we were meant to be. Walls that were torn down are being rebuilt. Gates are repaired. And lives are restored.

~ you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings ~ Isaiah 58:12

"Repairer of Broken Walls" is an encaustic wax collage created from antique papers, fibers, hardware, and oil pastels on cradled canvas. It is framed in richly patinaed reclaimed wood from an antique toolbox, hardware still intact. To purchase, e-mail me at crystal_opf@comcast.net or visit OPF Studio at Etsy.

Serenity Prayer - Art as Meditation

Art serves so many purposes, not only in the life of the artist, but also in those who will view it and reflect on what it stirs in their soul.

One purpose art serves for me as I create, and later as I reflect on what it is that has come from inside of me, is a vehicle for meditation and reflection.

During the creative process I work silently, moving items around the canvas as pieces of a puzzle. I know instinctively when something fits. A voice comes from within that affirms the placement or leaves me unsettled about it. Sometimes it will stir with words, a song or a phrase, or scripture will begin to repeat over and over in my head.

I have been learning to trust that voice, both through the artistic process and in life. To know it is okay, to leave something as is and wait, or to take action to change it.

As I listen and reflect and meditate on what I am hearing deeper things begin to stir and answers begin to form. Clarity and understanding are mine in those silent moments.

Trust it. Trust that voice. Trust the Spirit inside.

"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference."

Serenity Prayer is an encaustic wax collage created from antique papers and oil pastels on cradled canvas. It is framed in richly patinaed reclaimed wood from an antique toolbox, hardware still intact. To purchase, e-mail me at crystal_opf@comcast.net or visit OPF Studio at Etsy.

Coming Soon To A Theater Near You

Okay maybe not to a theater, how about a workshop instead?

I've been busily making samples for 2010 workshops and thought I'd give you a sneak peek.

"Frame It"

Wax & wire wearable sculpture - the focus will be on allowing the student to express their personal artistic style and framing it up as a pin back brooch.

My inspiration for the piece was a patch I saw in the pavement near my house. Yes - pavement black and gray and gravely. A stretch, I know, but the pattern caught my eye and stayed with me. I'm going to take my camera down the road and get a picture.

"Flower Power"

Wax & wire wearable sculpture - the focus of this class really epitomizes the quote I took my store name from "I have gathered here an offering of other people's flowers, bringing to them of my own only a thread to bind them with." --Montaigne

The focus will be on the student bringing together personal mementos to form the petals of the flower to tell a story.

The upper petal is an image from a 1910 Dictionary. The middle is the address portion of an antique envelope that held a love letter.

The lower petal was from a very old antique divorce certificate. The center of the flower was the marbled end paper from an antique book.

The foundation of each brooch is one length of wire, including the pin back. The student can choose to use either steel or sterling.

If you'd like to be notified when my 2010 classes are scheduled be sure to sign up for my newsletter in the right margin or come join me on facebook.

If you would like info on purchasing any of my wearable sculpture or art come visit me at OPF Studio on Etsy or send me an e-mail at crystal_opf@comcast.net

Summer Kick Off

I'm kicking off the Summer Season with 50% off all supplies at Other Peoples Flowers Store and 25% off all art & jewelry at OPF Studio! Everything is on sale ~ and I mean everything! New listings posted everyday this week ~ be sure to hurry, sale ends this Friday!

Marvelous light - Encaustic Wax & Steel Brooch Series is 25% off!

Been coveting one of the Strength Brooches? Now's your chance to save 25% off ~ this week only!

Many "Almost Assembled" treasures were planted on my worktable, but waiting to be sent off to you to fully bloom ~ save 50% off and jump start your creativity!

"Dutiful wife, mother, friend, prone to bouts of crying and forgetfulness, but she'd give her eye teeth to make them happy." - Many of my current assemblage lots feature antique tintypes and dental items ~ altered artists love these!

My newsletter readers got to take a first look but no worries ~ literally new items will be added daily!

Feels Like I'm Living

I went to bed last night with this design in my head, my fingers literally tracing it in the air as I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up with it still in my head.

I mean I woke up at 5am with it still in my head. 5:00 am and this thing was burning itself in my brain, the way the wire would bend - all one piece, the way the negative spaces would be filled with antique papers, the exact dimensions, everything. It would not go away.

And along with the design, this song by Third Day was stuck in my head. Playing again and again:

I was lost when you found me here
And I was broken beyond repair

Then you came along and you sang your song over me

It feels like I'm born again
It feels like I'm living
For the very first time

I've a feeling in my soul
And I pray that I'm not wrong
That the life I have now, it is only the beginning

It feels like I'm born again
It feels like I'm living
For the very first time
I'm living for the first time
It feels like I'm breathing
It feels like I'm moving
For the very first time
I'm living for the first time
In my life

Sometimes you just have no choice. I had other pieces waiting to be finished but "Feels Like I'm Living" needed to be made. Feels good.

If you're interested in purchasing check it out at OPF Studio - along with the following two pieces just finished up from the Marvelous Light series.

Marvelous Light

And here it is....I've had fun the past few days playing around with this new body of work and posting pictures of the progress. As promised, today I present the first finished piece in this series of mixed media brooches, "Marvelous Light", which comes from a song of the same title.


Three simple elements; steel, paper, and encaustic wax are brought together to tell my story. A story you may well feel belongs to you as well.

A story of a life spent running in circles, repeating cycles of painful relationships, feeling lost, misunderstood, sometimes seeking isolation as a protective measure, sometimes no matter where I turned or who stood before me, I just felt alone, inexplicably alone.

The wearer of the brooch, in this story it is me, is represented by the small black circle. The outer circles are the world and the universe around me. The line is the hand of God reaching down.

On yesterday's post showing the work in progress a comment was left by the author of Sunshine Dew saying in part: "Initially it reminded me of those old models of the planets and how they rotate around the sun." which pleased me as much as Catherine's comment from the day before that it reminded her of a cell. I intended to evoke both an awareness of the universe as a whole and the feeling of autonomy within, as with a single cell unit, through the organic shape and design.


Into the darkness God reached his long arm of love down. He lifted my face to His radiant love and showed me my connectedness, not only to Him, but to the universe around me.

He showed me that trying to run from the past only kept me repeating the very cycles that were causing all the pain in the first place.

He took me by the hand and promised to walk with me through this season. One where I will turn and face the past, feel it, learn from it, and finally be able to release it, to be healed from the hold it has had on my life.

It is a shadow that has always been with me, but now I lift my face and see His Marvelous light and I know that I am free.

Into marvelous light I'm running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way

My dead heart now is beating,
My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs.
Now I'm free. now I'm free!

Lift my hands and spin around,
See the light that i have found.
Oh the marvelous light
Marvelous light
Lift my hands and spin
See the light within...

From Marvelous light by Charlie Hall

To purchase visit OPF Studio at Etsy.

More Progress

Yesterday my optimism was greater then my abilities. I thought I would be showing you, not one finished project, but four or five of them! Ha! Not unusual for me - Shoot for the moon and land in the stars? Yeah that's what it is. I like my rose colored glasses, sometimes.

Well I have made very satisfying progress and really loving it. Can you see it yet? Catherine left this comment: "They remind me of cells almost. They're gorgeous :)" ~ Thank-you Catherine, you are on to something there!

I'll leave you with that thought as I head back over to the work table. My optimism says by tomorrow this one will be complete and soon to be listed at OPF Studio.

New Body of Work in Progress

A work in progress ~ story wheels and titles are turning in my mind ~ Can you see it for what it will be? Or just the mess I've got laid out on the work table?

That's okay, I can see it in its completed state ~ just like my maker see's me.

Stay tuned....