"Drawn In"

The story behind the art

In creating art for you, whoever you are, the visuals most often come from where I am in my own walk. Each brushstroke, color choice, and line work together to create a story that you may relate to as we travel through this crazy life together.

This life is busy and we all have information whiplash as so many bright shiny objects whiz by our heads on a daily basis.

Being human, we are drawn to belong. We are attracted to what we believe will satisfy a need or a longing...even ones we cannot find words to describe. It's tangible though. It's just there even if we can't put our finger on exactly what it is or why there is an unsettledness we are experiencing.

"Drawn to You" II

The draw may be a community of beautiful people we want to be a part of. Maybe it's a trend made popular through social media, a design, or a surrounding that makes us swoon. I mean, they are called "Influencers" for a reason.

The new hot thing captivates and we find ourselves experiencing an attraction at the smiling faces and seemingly authentic moment depicted in a snapshot that leaves an impression on us.

Maybe it makes you feel a bit on the outside of what's "in" or irrelevant in some way.

I've been there. I shrug my shoulders and giggle because I was there yesterday.

I may be there again tomorrow.

And so "Drawn to You" came to be

"Drawn to You" I

I marvel at hummingbirds and their attraction to vibrant, fragrant flowers and they, at first glance, seem just to be flying and hovering over this beautiful thing that holds this irresistible draw. They look so perfect together. It looks so right.

Haven't we been attracted to images of moments like that?

Yes, "perfect"...perfect moments, images, situations. Comparison tempts us to ask...Do our lives look like that or live up to that?

...and why do we care?

The thing about nature is that there is a uniquely designed purpose to this "drawing in", one that is fulfilling. An attraction that makes sense.

There is sustenance there. This gives these sweet, delicate creatures, the hummingbirds, energy and life. It's real and authentic. It has a purpose that is for the good, health, and growth of the hummingbird.

As an artist, seeing and visually communicating the parallels between nature and human nature through art, the symbolism for me has a subtle significance as I look forward to hummingbirds returning to our area in a few weeks.

...and so discernment + wisdom begs the questions...

Is that "thing"( whatever that is) that I'm drawn to, something that is shaping me in a way that is for the good?

Is that friend group, this relationship, life giving or life sucking?

What about that habit? It's fun. It's bright and shiny and attractive, but how is it contributing to my spiritual or physical formation?

I've been asking these questions and more, having these conversations with fellow ponderers.

Simplified, maybe we ask....

Is what looks like "life", the attractive and shiny...is this full of sustenance for us?

Is what is drawing us in having a positive + purposeful impact in our health and growth?

We don't see hummingbirds in tobacco fields or junk yards. We see them in bright beautiful gardens with nectar rich florals. It's their nature + design. It's pretty simple and straight forward for them.

We, as human beings, have a purposeful design as well, but our attractions and distractions can be difficult to navigate in the world full of so much information. A honed discernment rooted in truth is so necessary as we make our choices.

I wonder if you are wondering too about what draws you in and what you may be hovering over right now?

Yours,

"Drawn to You: series by Tina Lawver

Tina Lawver is an Ohio based Artist/Designer creating original works in her home studio. Her offerings can be experienced at shows and in galleries.

Her art journey began 37 years ago and she continues to be a life long learner exploring the harmony between nature and human nature.

See more of Tina's work here.

"Express Yourself"

When I was just a girl, I had a very creative Aunt....Well, I'm not quite a girl anymore but she is still Auntie Linda and she is still creative.

She is retired now, but for about 30 years was the director of a Christian Preschool in Ohio. She would create truly magical experiences for these little ones as she would make life sized precious moments characters for school events, always having fun things for the kiddos to make and explore their own creativity and make memories themselves. Just cool and unusual moments for them.

I remember going to visit Aunt Linda and Uncle Dave as a kid being mesmerized by how their farmhouse in rural Ohio was transformed into a castle on the inside and marveling over the fact that she has a suit of armor standing in the dining room and a red velvety sofa. She knew and still knows the art of and how to "express yourself"

She wasn't afraid to switch it all up when she wanted something different, nobody has to tell her that she owned her house or that she needed to ask permission to do and create her environment... and I remember the renovation of her kitchen into a garden inspired space that featured a wallpaper border with herbs and plants complete with apothecary style drawers built into the cabinetry to keep all her teas.

No one had to convince her that this was her house and that she could do whatever she wanted with it and make it hers. ...well maybe she had to convince Uncle Dave who did some heavy lifting.

My point is that it was inspiring to go there, see what's new, and be filled to the point of bursting with ideas and thoughts and what I could do to my own little room at home. Yes, even as a little girl, I was decorating, creating, and dreaming.

My Grandmother was an artist and I watched her make art on anything she found, my Mom is creative and I watched her sew, make crafts, and make do. All made an impression, but Aunt Linda was and is an inspiration and she, unknowing to her, taught me faith, and follow through.

The concept she modeled of inspiration, play, showing up, and just saying yes sticks with me today.

Work in Process by Artist Tina Lawver

It translates today as "this is my canvas, with worlds to be created and messages to be communicated"

Work in Process by Artist, Tina Lawver

Asking for permission is not a thing...

Work in Process by Artist, Tina Lawver

Show up in front of the easel, behind the brush, go deep, and create

This is mine to steward. The process is for me, the final work is for others.

Permission, not needed.

Thanks for modeling this for me, Aunt Linda

Love,

Artist and Designer, Tina Lawver with her original "Light of Peace" a commission in the client's home.

Tina Lawver is a seasoned mixed media artist residing in Ohio.

She produces original artworks in her home studio. She enjoys spending time with her husband of 41 years, watching her grandchildren grow, and creating meaningful art.

She persists in her art studies, as she strongly believes that learning is a lifelong endeavor.

At present, she is taking commissions and preparing pieces for upcoming art exhibitions.

Contact Tina ---- tina@tinalawver.com

The moment I burned the ships.

I, like many of you, journal.

We work out our issues, process through problems, write down dreams, ideas, and prayers.

It's a wonderful tool and I really drilled into journaling when I was going through some intensive therapy many years ago that was such a deep, necessary, growth-filled, and truly a defining time in my life.

I wrote down EVERYTHING! I held nothing back....I fully trusted the process. This resulted in a huge stack of books filled with the good, the bad, and the ugly of the journey of that Tina, in those moments.

I packed them into boxes and moved them many times from house to house, from storage unit to cabinet in each home or apartment we lived in over many years.

A few times I had opened one or two and reread passages of that time. My reactions to a woman I remembered but didn't recognize weren't positive....it was an icky feeling that this was once me. She was foggy, damaged, sad, hurting.

There was a poem she wrote called "Baby shoes of bronze", a pouring out of pain...in reading it again, I thought of how weary, how exhausted, how truly OVER I was that I had carried these writings in a box that was becoming heavier every time I moved them. What did I do in that moment? I put them back and kept them still.

I had been healed, I had let go of the past, but ...for some crazy reason I couldn't let go off the physical record of that time.

I had asked myself why I was stewarding the past in this way, but had no answers until one beautiful Fall Sunday, my husband and I got our coffee and sat down to watch an online church message. The pastor mentioned this story about where the phrase, "Burn the Ships" comes from.

In 1519, during a Spanish expedition in Mexico led by Hernán Cortés, the concept of “burning your ships” originated. Cortés, aware that his crew was fatigued from the lengthy sea voyage, decided to scuttle the ships they arrived in to compel them to succeed in the unfamiliar territory.

I was led to grab the stack of journals (at my husband's astonished look) that were stacked in a cedar chest, go out to the fire pit, and let them go.

I had the sudden realization that these did not fit in the definition of who I am.

I'm not a victim, I'm an overcomer.

Those writings were part of the story, part of the process and the rigorous journey that brought me to the shores of becoming a new creation in Christ.

In that simple, quiet act of obedience and defiance is a benchmark in my life that allowed me to step ahead and to fully forgive.

Not only did I not need the encyclopedia of the old Tina anymore, it was an obedient and beautiful act of unloading of a heavy, necessity for healing, burden.

How is it now and since that day? I still journal, but the focus is different and focused on heavenly hope.

My art has become the journal and it's for others, but mostly to Glorify God, the great Creator.

I get to express divine stories in layers of color and brushstrokes and put them out into the world.

I am not a perfect person, I'm a forgiven person.

The old is gone and the new has come and I pray that this truth is evidenced in my life and walk on this side of heaven.

Have you reached a new territory, but are mooring the ships that brought you there just in case it doesn't work out?

I found that caring for and stewarding those ships kept me on the shore for a time rather than exploring the lushness of the land I'd been brought to....so, I burned the ships.

Tina Lawver is an Ohio based Artist, Designer, and Instructor.

Creating encouraging and narrative works in mixed media for homes and public spaces, Tina enjoys sharing her heart and art at various events and shows.

Visit TinaLawver.com to see available, Original works

Prints of many works are available

Feel free to contact Tina about collaborating with Tina on a personal piece of art. About Commissions

Follow on Social Media FB | Instagram