Our church nursery had plane walls. I had painted scenes on the walls of my house and our previous church so I approached Pastor Steve and asked if I could paint something to cheer up the nursery. He and the board approved and said you are the artist do what you feel is right. I prayed about it and felt to do cartoon figures. I had always wanted to do cartoons but my insecurity and fear of man kept me painting more realistic work. The mural I did in my previous church was an aquarium and I began there to get some cartoons going, such as lobsters wearing running shoes and octopuses talking on the cell phone.
I asked the church for help and Ursula volunteered.
Once a week and some times twice we talked, painted, talked some more, painted and mostly bounced ideas off each other, and laughed. A friendship had developed. I had recently heard that friendships in churches are developed more by working together than having social gatherings. This was true here.
I had decided from the beginning that I wasn’t going to let fear of man control what I did. I just wanted to enjoy the process and have fun. I wanted the joy of the Lord to show in these walls. After all it is for the kids.
I needed to get out of my box. This first thing that got me out was painting turtles purple with dark purple poke-o-dots instead of a green shell.
It was a great joy working with Ursula. It was also enjoyable watching her grow. I had grown full circle in my art and I wanted to pay it forward. In the beginning Ursula would ask me if her grass was to my liking. And it was. Quickly Ursula grew from asking to doing her own thing. She added flowers to her grass, painted over 70 bumble bees and even shading a some mushrooms.
Bouncing ideas off each other helped the wall to develop. When Ursula suggested we put in spider, I asked where? The walls were filling up, but why not a spider? I found just the right space on the door and the web could attach to the clay pot we had. It needed something on the other side so it wouldn’t flap in the wind. Ursula grew again. She drew a large lily which we could spin a web to.
Lot’s was going on in this room, lady bugs, spiders, caterpillar, worms, and bumblebees. Why stop there, some ants we did need, an ant worship band over the counter as a back splash, complete with worm singers.
If we feel a nudge to do something it can only lead to blessings if we obey that nudge.
Three months later we signed the wall and said ‘It is finished’, but not our friendship or talent.
Fear not for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Just do it.
6:00 AM |
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Comments (12)
Well that is just so beautiful and the friendship you made while doing that is great, its wonderful that your pastor and church encouraged your creativity and let the Lords talent come out in you two...great job, really great!
Wow, awesome job! I love the little ants worship band and the worms praise team! Go God!
Wonderful nursery walls! What a lovely blog post and so filled with truth...thanks for sharing!
Wow - so great -- such detail and such an inviting place for children! The Lord blessed your efforts -- and you should be so pleased with the way it came out!
Beautiful. That will make a really great addition to the nursery. I help in the nursery at my church and it's so important to have an inviting space that parents feel safe leaving their kids at. Great job!
Thank you for all of your comments. It was a joy to work on these walls and see the walls take on a new life.
We have been asked to to a tree house for the older children's room, next winter. Looking forward to that.
Beautiful murals. So lovely.
Adorable! I love the wall with the pink bunny and the sun with the sunglasses. I wish I had the talent to do this, it's really wonderful, God has blessed you girls with a great talent. ^_^
Wonderful job. You are both very talented. I love the little ducks following their mama :)
beautiful! what amazing talent and how awesome that you shared it with the little ones at your church!
Those children are so blessed to have such beautiful walls. A job well done!
♥♥♥
Sue
Way cool! Awesome, bet the kids love it!!!