43: What I Live For

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Elisa Choi

“What I Live For” Mixed Media on Sketchbook

The thing that haunts me everyday is to create something.
Paint, draw and design.
I know I am not the best in the world at what I do.
Like you I also feel the negative vibes.
Sometimes I stay paralyzed believing in the “truth” that I am not good and that nobody cares.

But I still fight. I still do what I do.
Because to be an Artist is what I live for.

This is my calling.

Everyday I woke up to the sound of birds singing and the reflection of sunlight,
And I think to myself I want to paint that. I need to draw that.
To a photographer that might mean capturing the day’s beauty in a photograph.
To me it’s imagining the colors mixing together to create that beautiful rich sunlight,
Or sketching that raw shadow cast off by the bird.

Drawing my life has been a very enriching experience.
This calling to be an Artist is a blessing.
To be able to touch other people’s lives,
Inspire and move them…
And in turn uplift me as well.
Life has a way to do that.

____

Today I’m taking part in ‘What I Live For’, an online event organised by author Satya Robyn. People like me all over the world will be sharing what gives their lives meaning. In Satya Robyn’s novel ‘Thaw’, Ruth gives herself three months to decide whether she can find a reason to carry on living. There’s 75% off the kindle version today (99p / $1.49) – read more here: http://www.satyarobyn.com/?page_id=56

Painting Day 38

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Elisa Choi

“Posso Farle” acrylic and watercolor on paper

Posso Farle means I can do it in Italian.
I tell myself everyday that I can do it.
I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.
No matter how far the journey is,
Baby steps my dear.
No matter if the progress is slow.
Just paint.
Just design.
Just never give up.
Whenever negative thoughts start paralyzing me,
Draw, expel the negative energy through creativity.
Lastly if I don’t know what to do anymore…
Pause, breathe, cry, pray… pray.
Go outside.
The beautiful nature heals.
Thank you Lord.

Painting Day 36

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Elisa Choi

“Home” acrylic on watercolor paper

For some reason when I pick up my acrylic paints,
All I can think about to paint is structure.
Like post, wall, bricks, pattern.
And usually I leave something atmospheric among the crowd.
Something alive.
Most of the time I don’t know the outcome of my painting (unless it’s planned).
It always just present itself.
Like watching a series where the events slowly unfold.
Leaving the painter nothing but excitement.

Painting Day 34 & 35

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Elisa Choi

“Ruins” Acrylic on paper

“Burst” Acrylic on paper

I am eating paint for breakfast.
Although my breakfast is always a typical oatmeal, bread and egg,
My approach to painting has been nothing but intuitive play.
Like a child dabbing on a color and applying it confidently onto canvas,
I trust the process of creating.
It warms my heart to know that God created this world out of nothing.
He inspires me to create a masterpiece out of a blank paper.
To create is to make something new.
May we never be afraid to take the risk to create.
Because that is what are made for.
Then we share and allow it to fly and inspire.

You will be creating for the rest of your life. You might as well do it on purpose. ~ Matt Appling

Painting Vigil for Women

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Elisa Choi

I joined a painting vigil hosted by the beautiful soul Hali Karla. I cannot describe in words how this wonderful connection of women means and let alone creating beautiful works of art to be offered as a prayer and intention for one another, to all women across the world. And Hali just wrote all those beautiful words. Breathless.

I started to paint at around 9:00 am Philippine time. And in my heart I held all the women I know and all the women in this world. I could feel their pain, tears, sweat, despair, darkness and hopelessness but I could also feel their immense strength, courage, love, hope, peace and faith.

I struggle a bit being emotional. I started on one page but turned another page and start all over. I surrender to the process. I surrender to my intention.

Because women… we are God’s love and creation. We are whole and connected even if we are apart. We are one in this tapestry of life called humanity. We are one in love.

And this piece has been very dear. It’s nature. Just look at a tree and we can remember a woman in another place and time. It’s like spring and so there’s hope. As long as we are alive we can transform this world into a healing sanctuary. So whether you are in pain right now you will be healed.

Trust, surrender, pray.

On God

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Elisa Choi

I have known God since I was a little girl when my parents enrolled me in a Catholic school. I know him in the stories of the Bible. I know that I cannot see him but I can possibly hear or feel him. But he sees us wherever we are.

God is my everything. Words cannot be written to explain the grandiosity of God. Arts cannot be created to reveal the beauty of his majesty. All I know is this: I love him. I accept him. I adore him. I believe in him. I will do everything for him. Praying to God alone brings tears to my eyes. He moves me. His love for us surpasses those of human beings. The lack we have in life he fills it with his overflowing love. All the fears and worries of tomorrow are gone because he is to come. He is for us. He is yesterday, today and tomorrow. There is nothing to fear.

We do not need to do good works to impress him. We do not need to be someone else. We do not need to be excellent in what we do. Because it’s been done. God has given to us his only Son Jesus Christ whom he so loved to redeem us from our sins. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).

As Christine Jeske said in the book This Ordinary Adventure, “God loves us unconditionally. When we believe it, claim it and own it, we’re free. God sent his son Jesus Christ to die for us generic Barbies with our legs falling off. That’s called grace. It’s a good time to ask if we’ve been trying to prove ourselves to a holy God who just wants us to stop trying so hard to impress somebody, who just wants us to let him love us. There’s something magnetic about people who are transformed by grace. They live completely certain that God finds them beautiful, cool, approved and beloved, so they never have to try to earn God’s–or anyone else’s–approval. They live not trying, but trusting. They live not accomplishing great things in order to be loved, but accomplishing great things because they are loved.”

I read the Bible every night and write my devotions for him in my journal. Instead of Dear Diary I write Dear God. Sharing with him every corner of my heart and soul. I pray. I treasure and ponder on the Good News. He is the best listener. He loves us dearly.

I painted this piece intuitively in acrylics. It’s almost as if my mind is somewhere in solitude. Praise God everyday of our lives!

Fall Fearless and Fly
Headline Prompt: Divided by God: What does “God” mean to you? How do you access “God” or the divine or the sacred in your life?

Do what you love. Love what you do.

Category Archives: Acrylics