Art & Soul post # 22 by guest author Christina Conner-
Fifteen years ago, I was looking for some wall décor for my first home. I was a new mom and Deuteronomy 6:4-9 really spoke to me. It says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (NIV) I knew I wanted scripture verses on the walls of our home so that God’s Word would constantly be in front of us, but I couldn’t find any artwork I liked that included Bible verses. Being the creative person that I am, I decided I would make my own artwork… after all, I had studied graphic design at a university and figured I should use the skills I’d learned! One of my favorite classes was typography, and another favorite was a grammar class that I took just for fun. I like words, especially the words in scripture, so I thought it would be fun to create picture images using the actual words of Bible verses. As much as I wanted something for my own walls, I am more motivated to create if I’m making something for someone else. That year, I asked my mom and four sisters for ideas of verses and/or images that they liked so I could make designs for their Christmas gifts. The result was my first scripture word art designs. Ironically, it was awhile before I had any of my designs on my own walls!
As I started creating different designs, I had visions of establishing a booming business selling my artwork, but that didn’t happen. What did happen was establishing a family of four kids who kept me very busy. I wanted to homeschool my children, so that’s where I put my time and effort for the next several years. I worked on creating new designs in my free time, but, like most mothers of young children, those times were rare so one design could take me up to six months to create. I opened an Etsy shop to sell prints of my designs; however, for the most part, my business plans were put on the back burner…and that was okay. I knew that it was a season of my life, and one day it would change.
In 2020, I came to the point where I had to make a decision. The monthly fee for the software I used to create my designs was costing me more than I was making from the sale of my prints each month. I was very close to giving up my art business and getting a “real job”. I actually applied for a job for the first time in thirteen years…but I didn’t get it. So, I decided to go in the opposite direction and put that time and effort into my business. Now that my kids are older, I have a lot more time that I can spend creating new designs. I create my designs on a portable laptop so I can work while waiting for my kids at practices or while they’re playing at the park or wherever we may be. Because I’ve invested more into it, this past year has been my best year yet. I still don’t have a booming business, but I have enough to keep me busy, and it provides a little extra income for our family.
Sometimes I know what image I want to create, and I have to find a verse to go with it. Other times, I know the verse I want to use and decide on the image later. The latter was the case with my bird design. In October 2020, amidst the pandemic and shutdowns and all the concerns that went along with that, I knew Philippians 4:6-8 was a message that people needed to hear and hold on to: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (NIV) I wasn’t sure what image to use with these verses, so I asked my Facebook group for ideas. A sparrow was one of the suggestions. Remember that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us not to worry about our lives because our Heavenly Father takes care of the birds and He cares for us even more than them. I agreed that a sparrow was the perfect fit for the Philippians chapter 4 message of how to receive the peace that God provides. At the request of my customers, I have made several different versions of the bird design. In addition to the sparrow, I currently have a cardinal, western tanager, purple finch, western bluebird, and purple martin design that all remind us not to be anxious or to worry. God is in control… always … no matter what we see and hear going on around us. Let’s keep our eyes on Him!
Digital “Words of Truth” bird series based on Philippians 4:6-8 by Christina Conner
I am able to do what I do because God has given me the gift of creativity. He created me to create and has given me the ability to design pictures from words. I am able to use the skills I developed while studying graphic design to bring the images in my imagination “to life”. I could use any words to create designs, but God has put it on my heart to spread His Word. I am not a speaker. I don’t enjoy talking, but I do want to share with people the words of truth found in God’s Word. I grew up attending a Christian school and have memorized hundreds of scripture verses. They are what have guided me throughout my life. They are what have encouraged me when I’ve experienced loss. They are what have led me to praise my Heavenly Father. I want to use my abilities to create designs that are uplifting and give God glory. I truly want others to come to know God as I have through His Word. Now I have more than enough artwork to fill the walls of my home. I’m even more excited to know that, through the many people who have purchased my designs either for themselves or for others, God’s Word is being displayed on the walls of many other homes and businesses as well!
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:32 (ESV)
Christina Conner
Christina is a stay-at-home mom to four children who she has homeschooled since 2010. In her free time, she creates unique designs using the words of Bible verses. She sells prints of her designs in her Etsy shop, Words of Truth Designs.
1 thought on “Sharing God’s Love with His Words of Truth”
Christina, thanks you so much for sharing your story and uniquely beautiful artwork! His Word is so important and powerful! You have also inspired me to possibly open my own ETSY store some day.😊