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My story behind how I got here, which is to share the art and worship God has given me, begins with my childhood. From a young age I always wanted to be an artist. I was in an art club, wore a little beret to school, had a favorite high school art teacher, studied fine art and Impressionism from books my grandparents gave me, volunteered and worked at the art academy in Hawaii, attended still-life drawing classes regularly and painted daily in the spaces my family created and supported me with. 

 

My greatest dream was to attend the San Francisco Art Institute right after high school. I submitted my art portfolio that I spent months on. I had an interview where my art was reviewed and accepted. However, my grades needed improvement, and due to that, I was denied acceptance. I was crushed, my dreams with no character and experience ended that day. My mother said to me, "Well, you could go to the community college instead of art school"? I was offended at that statement, but it was my only option at that time. I attended the Art Atelier in my hometown in Hawaii, where I learned how to study masters like Rembrandt and Raphael. Again, in Hawaii, not Italy, or France. I believed for a long time I was sabotaged to plan B in life. Literally, I believed I was the little girl who was left behind. I still completed the Atelier program (which actually, in hindsight, later helped as a foundation to my skill set with professors who actually studied in Italy) but in the face of harsh criticism, rejection, competition and performance from peers, it was short-lived. In the end, with no support from a mentor in the arts, who could nurture or help me? 

 

Discouraged, I came to the place in my early 20s to finally walk away from any dream to create art. I went down another path instead that led me to Jesus Christ, who crucified my past, including what I thought were fleshly desires to create art, as I thought it was apart from my pre-Christ identity. Two decades later after God has transformed and restored my identity for His good as a Christ-dwelling. Also, He established my calling as a missionary and in the social sector and expanded my ability to dream and learn again. Like a multifaceted diamond that God refines in the fires of testing and character, over time, with no shortcuts. He, alone, to my complete surprise, has finally resurrected the opportunity for art. 

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Age 40 is a significant year for Israel who came out of the wilderness. For transition and change to step into the promises of God. So here I am. The Lord has now provided wonderful mentors, professional artists and previous art professors to serve as mentors to my resurrected art journey. I did not seek it, in fact, the metaphorical stone, if you will, that I cast and crucified on the waters years ago, has now returned to me. To my shock, here I am launching my first art collection at our church and learning to see and create with God in art as a form of worship. Not performance like the world teaches us, not for income, not for vanity, not for man, not for art, for worship of Jesus alone. Because He is so worthy of our praise in all and any creative form. 

 

So if you are reading this and wondering, could I create again? I say yes! But with Jesus and on His timetable, after you have gone down the narrow costly path with Him that leads you to the doorway of your destiny. He holds the keys, not us. If you choose Jesus, He can resurrect and bring back what he planned from the start, but for His glory alone. 

 

My grandmother and hero passed away this week, one day before finishing this 7-Fold collection and specifically when working on images 25 (Bride of Christ) and 28 (Lamb of God). Her last voice mail to me was "Christina keep painting." So here I am with this collection, that is in honor of Jesus and now my grandmother, Flo. Yes grandma, I will keep painting and pray that my testimony will now encourage others to keep on painting, creating and worshiping for Jesus. God Bless,