SHARON’S PERSONAL CREATIVE JOURNEY

I first became interested in oil painting back in 1968.  Years later, life mapping revealed where the appreciation for art began long before 1968.
This is a story of my creative journey with God, wandering off the path a number of times, yet more times than not, returning to this God-given passion.

The following quotes often expressed these times. “God of second chances here I am again.” auth unk“Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only he can see” Corre Ten Boom

 “When one door closes another one opens, yet the open door is not revealed when the focus is on the closed door.” Spierce © “The moon lights the way towards sailing into the dawn of a new day!” Spierce © “Ride with the tides, live life in stride.” Spierce© “God is more interested in availability than ability”auth unk
“Open Doors Invite Creativity” Spierce ©

My father had a love for the pine trees, mountains, the great outdoors and wildlife.  We often went camping via narrow, windy dirt logging roads with a wilderness type of destination in mind.  As a kid, I remember trout fishing with him and being the little tyke I was, he surely forgot that it would take great effort for my smaller steps to keep up with his long legs covered in dark green waiters. The terrain was also very rough and full of river rock.  I may as well been jumping over boulders. He would also take us camping at the ocean where I became more acquainted with sea life on sandy shores and huge whales, salmon and bald eagles. 

Needless to say the seeds for the love of these things had a strong connection for me yet not in a way I would recognize for years. 

I was first drawn to painting in 1968 at a small art studio in the then small town of Fort Collins, Colorado. Six months before our marriage, my mother died with unusual circumstances. I would experience the anxiety and loss of not enjoying my wedding day with my mom. Painting took on a form of therapy and I found that I loved it.  Still – the unmet expectations of others would sway me away from this new found way of expressing visual art.

Through coach training, I later reviewed some events in my life, where I identified a piqued creative interest. I also would find later in life that connection was intrinsically linked in my relationship to God – a loving relationship.  When visiting a cousin who painted, I remember to this day the painting she had rendered that was framed on the wall of her room.  I was so fascinated on how she was able to accomplish that lovely painting of white flowers against a dense green background.  Not an easy subject to paint. I still see myself standing there admiring it.  I couldn’t tell you what other reasons there were for being there.  As a child walking to church in the spring, mother holding onto my hand, the color changes in the iris flower petals growing alongside the sidewalk captured my attention. These were the dark purple color extending out from a velvety white.  Another incident is the discovery of a pile of white quartz like rocks with flicks of mica in them.  I decided it would be clever to jump over them.  In the process, I managed to critically misgauge their height; therefore, my ankle came in contact with one of the sharp edges, cutting a deep wound needing stitches. And yet today the vivid memory of those glistening structures is planted in my brain rather than the damage I had received to my ankle.

As my husband and I moved often to small towns for his work I generally found a local artist to learn from.  It didn’t matter what the subject was I just wanted to learn technique and knew nothing about niche marketing.

After children, my going back to school, starting career in nursing, husband building onto our house and a check in with art here and there, some affirmations in regards to art were beginning to emerge from other trusted people. Teaching beginning art to children provided some income while attracting my attention towards art.  I resigned that this was not my main focus that the best financial way I could help people was in nursing.  No surprise that I became certified in Psychiatric Nursing.  I continued a class here and there with well-known artists, learning various styles of art. Generally, though the demands of life took first place, plus raising our 3 children with my husband. We also nursed both of our fathers into their last days.  I remained a believer yet not an active one.

After two intensive years of studies in Christian Counseling I also was able to personally sort out what needed to change in my life. Additional ministry callings were pursued. At this time I then heard of Christian Coaching and well as Creativity Coaching.  It all made sense to me.  Vision, focus, target market, niche in paintings leading to restructure of art ministry. Through certification I became active in the Christian Coaches Network, attending conferences, accepting invitations to speak. I then was invited by Bruce Wilkinson’s team to accept training as a Dream Giver Coach learning how to help others achieve their God-given dreams With the coaching process planted in my brain I also was searching for a focus that I would be passionate about through art expression for God’s glory.  Many vacations and trips were filled with collecting art resources through photography.  No surprise that my favorite topics were wildlife, sea life and the surrounding areas they inhabit. So, Northwest Maritime Images was created.p> Generally I sense that God impresses me about a thought when I have my mind elsewhere.

On one such occasion, I was lead to go to Genesis.  OK I am here in Genesis.  Then lead to look at the 5th-6th day of creation. In the past I had read the creation story yet not remembering exactly what was created on what day. This is when the wildlife, sea life, birds (eagles) and oceans were created by God. God perfectly orchestrated this series of events showing up in perfect harmony where my world seemed anything upside down many times. Every piece of life had been woven creatively together in God’s timing in order for him to create an avenue for ministry helping others on their creative journey, while enjoying painting the Pacific Maritime Northwest.