Inspired by Psalms
By Ava F.
Created in Canva
Art. It is interpretation, passion, and creativity uniquely expressed by different individuals. A multitude of art forms exist going back thousands of years, and painting is one of them.
NSA has a diverse selection of fine arts courses which specifically include a Painting: Acrylic course. In this course, students are given an assignment where they are encouraged to draw inspiration from a Psalm in the Bible to create a painting using techniques learned in class.
What is so fascinating about an assignment like this is seeing different students’ interpretations and what they will choose to create. Two students, Casey H., and Isabella E., created unique pieces reflecting their own beliefs and passions for this project.
Casey H.
Casey was primarily inspired by Psalm 139:14 for this painting. “I chose this Psalm specifically because I wanted my painting to represent multiple different cultures, something that could be labeled as a weakness (blindness), and something that, for a long time in the past, has carried a negative connotation with it (piercings).”
After growing up in North Carolina and India, Casey has traveled quite a bit and experienced different cultures, giving her an appreciation for the specific things that make cultures unique. She wanted this piece to express how the verse from Psalms states that we are made uniquely, beautifully, and with a purpose. “I think that art is a beautiful way to appreciate the work of God and to give thanks to him, so I wanted to paint something that would bring Him glory.” The way that Casey unifies diverse features is inspiring!
When you are painting, you are creating, and this comes with challenges. Casey had planned to only use acrylic paint and charcoal for this piece but had to re-evaluate in order to incorporate collage materials (a parameter for the assignment). She decided on stickers replicating the words of the verse, glitter for highlights on the nose, and tin foil for the piercing. She especially enjoyed utilizing the charcoal for this painting as she appreciates its stark effect and how it catches the eye.
Isabella E.
Isabella noted that her heart and personality were put into creating this finished piece. “The painting depicts a funky, purple record player that is playing the track to Psalm 150.” This Psalm encourages us to use our talents and passions to glorify God which is the reason she chose it. Her love for music, specifically from the 50s and 60s, and collecting vintage vinyl was something she wanted to incorporate. “We can use the talents and gifts that God has given us to praise and glorify Him, which was my main goal in painting this art piece.”
“I chose the record player because for me, that ties in both music and dance because dancing is just always something I do whenever I put one of my records on,” said Isabella. “Additionally, I chose the funky purple colors because it makes me think of joy and the disco era of music, which always puts a smile on my face.” Isabella’s painting is not only an inspiring combination of the art forms music, painting, and dancing but also a piece which allows us a glimpse of her personality!
She admitted that this process ended up being challenging for her. The use of hot glue to replicate the grooves found on records was difficult but she appreciates the interesting texture. Mixing the right shade of purple and the detailing were also both challenging, but she said she is pleased with how it turned out in the end.
Although they found aspects of the project challenging, both Casey’s and Isabella’s paintings turned out fantastic. Paintings are a beautiful way to look into the lives and passions of the artists who create them. After taking a look at the works of two different students who were provided with the same prompt, we see how art displays the uniqueness of every individual. Anyone can create art, and even pen doodles can be considered as such. It might not always be museum worthy, but we can’t all be Picasso… or can we?
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Ava F. is a senior who has attended NSA for three years and this is her first year on the Navigator. She lives in the Middle East with her parents and younger brother. She loves learning about other cultures and hopes to pursue a career that will allow her to travel or live abroad. In her free time she enjoys horseback riding, boxing, learning Arabic, reading, and painting.