Visual Artist Spotlight: Mary Freeman

ARTIST INTERVIEW:

Q1.When did you decide to become an artist?

A1. In 2007 I was experiencing restlessness in my life. My children were mostly gone, and I was tired of living life pretending all was well with my soul when I knew differently. I was ready to take a journey into my heart, and God was more than willing to go with me. Thus began my journey with visual journaling. I was browsing in a small bookstore and came across a book by Sabrina Ward Harrison, “Spilling Open”. She was so young when she wrote this particular book, and the questions she was asking herself were deep and profound, and I realized at my age (more than twice her age) I had never asked myself. I had never slowed down long enough, been still long enough or brave enough to ask them. God used the medium of visual journaling to take me on a journey into my heart.

Q2.When, if at all, did you realize that God had called you to be an artist?

A2.I never knew myself to be an artist. I still have a hard time calling myself one. The fact is we are all creative in one form or another. We were created by a creative God; it is part of who He is. It is part of who we are. It just looks a bit different in each of us, and we may just not “see” it as creative.

Q3.Please describe your art style and medium and why you chose that particular one?

A3.My primary medium of working is visual journaling. I love working out my feelings on the page in color, image and words. From time to time I enjoy creating on canvas.

Q4.In what ways do you incorporate God into your work?

A4.I have the privilege and joy of sharing visual journaling in my home studio and in my home church. How I love to see God use this in women’s lives. Many times someone who thinks herself not creative at all is surprised herself at how much fun it is to visual journal, and to see God use it in her life. It’s hard to explain how it works, how God actually works through it, but He does.

Q5.Any final thoughts?

A5.If you have never art/visual journaled I would encourage you to give it a try. There are tons of blogs and books that offer “techniques” and how to begin.

Just begin.

ARTIST BIO: Mary Freeman

Mary has always kept a journal, but what began a s woman’s own journey of God-discovery in her personal journaling, has spawned a ministry of reconciliation and healing for women.

A few years ago, this well-read, southern-bred, mom of three, realized a desire to dig deeper into her own heart-wounds and invite God into her hurt. The artist in her began experimenting with layering images, patterns and text into journal pages that captured words and feelings in a more coherent way.

Along the way, Mary began to take mixed-media techniques that she used in her journals to large-format original layered works of art. These works have also been converted into notecards and small-format reproductions for purchase.

As Mary began to share her experience with her friends, opportunities to teach the technique of visual journaling began to open. Mary now leads workshops, combining journal demonstrations with small-group experiences for women’s groups and retreats. Book her for your group today!

Contact Mary Freeman at:

maryefreeman@hotmail.com

770.592.6070

http://asplendidadventure.blogspot.com

http://asplendidadventure.etsy.com