"How I Work": Beverly Key, Visual Artist

Today my mind is on my friend, visual artist Beverly Key, who I enjoyed coffee with this morning. This post is from my original interview with her two years ago when she talked about how she works and gave some advice to young artists.

LeAnne: What are your favorite forms or methods of painting?

Beverly: Recently 
I've begun to do large abstract oils, and for many
 years now I have been painting large abstact 
landscapes on paper with watercolor, where I pour
 paint through paper filters using dried beans and peas 
and string for design elements.  I also do collage.

LM: When did you know you wanted to paint?

BK: When I was in first
 grade, I tried to sneak a box of crayons into the 
grocery cart. As I was growing up I always thought of
myself as an artist. I was one of the ones in school
 who was always doing the bulletin boards for the 
teachers. Both my parents painted as a hobby so I grew 
up with the smell of oil and turpentine. I took some classes after school with a wonderful woman,
 Abbott Downing (of course, in south Alabama we called 
her,"Miss Abbott"). However, I graduated from college
 with a degree in special education, and thought that 
would be what I would do. I taught a few years, got
 married, had 2 boys and in 1986 we moved to Atlanta.
 At that time, my husband and I decided to try to have another child 
and I also took some art classes at the Atlanta
 College of Art. Since that time I have been painting
 professionally.    

LM: What advice do you have for young or new artists who are Christians?

BK: I would say "trust yourself". You are the 
only person who will see the world the way you see it.
 Take confidence in that and draw from your own
 experiences. Keep working some every day. Most work
 gets recognized because the artist just kept at it.

Kerry Jackson: Ministering to Creative People

Kerry Jackson, a visual artist, ministers to the arts community in Atlanta as a Mission Service Corps missionary and church planter (www.drawingtotherock.com/msc). He’s also president of Drawing to the Rock Ministries, Inc. (www.drawingtotherock.com) and presents live worship art around the world.

LeAnne: What is your background in art?

Kerry: I've been involved in art all my life. I always knew that I'd be an artist when I grew up. I received a BA in Painting from Mississippi State University. I also have a Masters in Communication Arts from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. My art is primarily spiritual in nature, however I also paint traditional landscapes. I work mostly in mixed media. I also travel around the world presenting live worship art in churches and Christian schools.

LM: In October 2006, you were commissioned to be a missionary to the arts community. How did this come about?

KJ: After a mission trip to Europe where I had the opportunity to meet and talk to street artists outside the tourist venues, I came back home wondering: who is trying to reach creative people for God? That became my prayer. I felt God say in my heart, "No one. Will you?" So, the idea for a ministry to creative people was birthed.

LM: Tell me about your ministry in Atlanta. What is your vision?

KJ: We see a day when a church will be started that will be so creative in its worship that creative people will feel inspired to worship God in the way that He has gifted them. It is our desire and charge to see this model replicated all over North America.

Thursday: more from Kerry Jackson. Next week: a photographer.