Paulette Insall artist & mom

I see love

I hope y'all had a blessed Easter! I came across this video above this evening and knew immediately I had to share it. May God's pure and perfect love pour over you as you watch this and fill your heart to overflowing.

Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. ~ John 11:25-26

Music from the studio

i'm busy working in the studio today (finally got "inspired" for my inspired. class door sign lol!) and i've been listening to my favorite band third day while i paint. i looooooooove mac's voice and i can just get lost in his voice and the lyrics while i'm working. i find that when i'm trying to control the creativity, instead of letting it come through me, things just don't work. it's only when i let go of the process that it comes easily. listening to music that moves my spirit and touches my soul helps soooo much! so, i just had to share one of my favorite songs that's i've been listening to today. enjoy!!! now it's back to work for me. :)

Music that moves me..."The One Thing" by Paul Colman

Heard this song for the first time yesterday on the way home from dropping of Aiden at school and I just can't get it out of my head!! Love, love, LOVE this song!!!!

A belated Happy Easter!!

I meant to pop on here yesterday to wish everyone a quick Happy Easter, but I never managed to. I was so touched by a song we sang during our Easter service communion at church yesterday that I wanted to share it with y'all. Wishing you hope and a happy belated Easter! xoxo

Being a creative creature

I just happened across a wonderful blog today who had excerpt below posted on her blog. I just loved it, so I had to repost it here.

"...a Christian, above all people, should live artistically, aesthetically, and creatively....If we have been created in the image of an Artist, then we should look for expressions of artistry, and be sensitive to what has been created for our appreciation....We are all in danger of thinking, "Some day I shall be fulfilled. Some day I shall have the courage to start another life which will develop my talent", without ever considering the very practical use of that talent today in a way which will enrich other people's lives, develop the talent, and express the fact of being a creative creature." 

 --from The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer (italics in the original text)

Revelation

I can't get this song out of my head....had it playing while packing up prints today. Third Day is one of my most favorite bands. Just downloaded their new album today from iTunes and it's awesome!

And this song below seems to be playing every time I get in the car these days. I know that God is working on me right now and what He has in store is larger than me. Even though I don't know exactly all that it entails, I feel a sense of peace amongst the chaos going on inside of me....so this song "Whatever You're Doing" by Sanctus Real really hits home with me.

These are just a couple of the songs that really help me when I'm having one of "those" days. They lift my spirits and let me know that God is always there and working behind the scenes. I just have to keep reminding myself....let go and let God.

Our deepest fear

I hit a bit of a rough patch earlier in the week (I won't go into details here....just suffice it to say many tears were shed and I'm on the other side of it now). Some encouraging words from my Mom helped steer me back on track...that I'm a child of God, that I am acting in obedience to His will for my life and He will use this seemingly not so good thing to further His purpose for me and my art.

Then today while researching a weekly discussion topic for my online backgrounds class (something new I'm trying out for this class), I came across this from Marianne Williamson. It seemed to reiterate what my Mom had said to me. I was moved to post this because I felt that there is that someone out there that needed to hear this like I did today.

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. 
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. 
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? 
You are a child of God. 

Your playing small 
Does not serve the world. 
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking 
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, 
As children do. 
We were born to make manifest 
The glory of God that is within us. 

It's not just in some of us; 
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, 
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 
As we're liberated from our own fear, 
Our presence automatically liberates others. 

Music that moves me..."Call My Name" by Third Day

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" ~ Matthew 11:28 NIV

Not feeling very talkative...

I haven't been feeling very talkative in the past week or so. I think that maybe it has something to do with the scare my Granny gave us the end of last week and over the weekend. She seems to be doing somewhat better, but its really just a wait and see....and with her in Florida and me all the way up in Oregon....well, it's hard. I can't just jump in my car and run over to visit. Your prayers would be much appreciated.

I'm including a couple of pics from my and Aiden's little outing yesterday. I posted a pic from our lunch at Quizno's yesterday and afterwards I needed a recharge so we went over next door to Starbucks for a coffee for me and a chocolate milk for Aiden. Then we went to the library for videos and books. And the other pics are of a new painting I'm working on and my new easel. It's not the one I posted about earlier....they are giving me a refund on that one (still haven't seen it on my credit card). And even though the refund hasn't come through yet, I decided to buy one locally because my back just couldn't take hunching over my work table anymore.

Hopefully I'll feel back to my old self in the next few days. I just feel kind of introspective at the moment....as I've probably mentioned before, when things get tough or stressful I have a tendency to just withdraw inward, which means I disappear for a while. I've become okay with that....it's how God made me and it's how I best deal with stuff. I've been talking to Him quite often this week and that always helps more than anything....wrote some in my prayer journal, did some sketches, and worked a bit on the new painting last  night...her face and hair are pretty much done and now I need to work on the rest of the piece. I already know what it needs to be finished...it came to me while driving to pick up Aiden from his last day of VBS last week, so it's just a matter of doing it.

There have been many bright spots in my week...of course one of them being lunch out with my little guy yesterday....all your sweet comments on my "Etsy Art Goodness" video (thank you!!!), a wonderful surprise package from the sweet Suz (Thanks so much Suz!!! It really made my day and came just when I needed some joy :D ), and snagging another one of Jenn's sweet Lulette houses last night (WOO HOO!), then some time to do a little sketching and painting. My house may be a mess right now, but oh well....I'll get around to it eventually. ;)

Hope you're all having a wonderful Thursday! I'm hoping to be back to my chipper, rambling self soon....I've got lots of ideas for new videos and other fun stuff, but just not feeling in the right frame of mind to do anything about it. If you've emailed me recently, I'm behind on emails....waaaaaaaay behind.....and I've become just awful at keeping up with them. I do read each and every one as soon as I get it, even if it takes me a month to reply. Thank you all sooooooooo much for your encouragement and support!! Much love to y'all!!! xoxo

I just started a new group on Flickr

After endless searching for a group for mixed media and folk artists who are Christian and not finding quite what I was looking for (many Christian mixed media/collage artist groups have lots of swaps, round robins, etc. and I am never able to participate those and feel kinda out of place), I decided to start a group myself. :)

My intention is for it to be a place where artists (both new and experienced) who are Christian and also create any type of mixed media or folk art.......painting, collage, jewelry, or assemblage....to share their work (with or without a Christian theme), encourage, and support each other.

The only requirement is that you be an artist and a Christian. The art you create doesn't have to have a Christian message. I hope to see some of you there. I've made the group by invite only, so you'll have to request to join the group if I haven't already sent you an invite.

Click here to visit --> Christian Mixed Media & Folk Artists