Friday, May 22, 2009

Doing Live Painting

In 2002, while I was a senior at University of Richmond doing my art thesis, a friend of mine told me about a live chalk artist he had seen at a conference. Well, that was a seed for me. I began exploring live art and had several pictures in my mind of myself doing it in the future.

It wasn't until 2005 that I did my first live painting in Myrtle Beach, SC. Thankfully, I met an artist well known to the area--Kimberly Dawn Clayton--who does live painting and is a well known folk artist. She was and is a major inspiration to me as I explored the area of live painting. She introduced me to the concept of recycled art and using recycled materials, such as old doors, windows, and wood. She also inspired me in the use of color, being free in form, and composition.

Overall, there are different forms of live art, each unique in their own way. For those of you who might not know what live painting is, it is basically a form of painting done in a segmented amount of time with an audience of sorts.

For myself, I tend to compliment something else going on, whether it is a conference, a worship session, a wedding, a fundraiser, etc. In each setting, I paint something different, according to the people, the event, or the setting. I love painting out whatever is the spirit of what is going on.

Below, you will see some examples of my recent live paintings at the following events:
Catalyst Conference in Atlanta
Sojourners' Mobilization to End Poverty in Washington, D.C.
Alabama-West Florida UMC Youth Conference in Panama City, FL
30 Hour Famine for Woodbridge Church of the Nazarene, VA
ULM Baptist Student Ministry in Monroe, LA
Glow Retreat at North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe, LA
FB Swartz in Monroe, LA


For more about live painting, you can see my website: www.caitlinbeidler.com.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Live Painting!!














A Little Bit About...

The murals below are murals that were completed with the help of various youth and community members either in Myrtle Beach or in Haiti. Their description is as follows:

1. The Myrtle Beach Mall mural (11' x 65') was a collaboration of Myrtle Beach Mall and Loris Healthcare System to promote wellness, community, and caring. I had fourth teenage youth from two different youth agencies help me complete the mural.

2. The Miracle League Memorial Mural (8' x 65') was a collaboration between The Grand Strand Miracle League, The Waccamaw Youth Center, and SOS Healthcare, Inc. Six youth helped me complete this mural. The youth were the initiators in doing this mural and also were key in brainstorming the images for the mural.

3. The Abiding Village Mural (11' x 65') was for an urban arts center for at-risk youth. One youth helped me complete this mural.

4. The Haiti Murals (10' x 40') began in 2006. The two here were completed in 2006 and 2008. The Haitian community modelled for me, gave me advice, and helped me complete the murals each year.

Community Murals in Myrtle Beach and Haiti














Friday, May 15, 2009

Creating with a Biblical Worldview

I was reading the other day about artists explaining their creative process. For me, understanding my creative process has only been recent.

People create according to the lense through which they see the world. In other words, people create through their worldview. Examining other cultures' works of art, one can discover a particular culture's beliefs, values, and way life; whether it is an ancient or present culture.

Personally, I perceive the world through a biblical worldview. Of course, that could mean many things to many people. To break it down, I create with the belief that Jesus Christ has redeemed mankind through His love and forgiveness; through His death and resurrection.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines redemption as "the act of redeeming." To redeem something means the following: "to get or win back; to free from what distresses or harms; to free from capitivity by payment of ransom; to help to overcome something detrimental; to release from blame or debt; clear; to free from the consequences of sin; to change for the better; reform; repair; restore; to make good; to exchange for something of value."

My artwork is called Redemption Art because I hope it leads to redemption in people's lives. I hope that it draws people to Christ in some way. That it encourages people that through Him anything can be turned for good. That through Him, we can have life, light, peace, and goodness; even in the midst of darkness.