- “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength… they shall rise up on eagle’s wings.” -Isaiah 40:31
I had the pleasure last week of chatting with our featured artist, Kathie Luther.
Kathie is a mixed-media artist up in northern Michigan, with a broad scope of skill that covers painting, sculpting, textiles and photography. If you visit her photostream on Flickr.com, you’ll see examples of the many artistic interests and skills that Kathie has honed in her years teaching art to children, teens and adults.
Kathie first discovered a love of art in her high school biology class, where assignments required her to draw specimens. This, combined with her love of nature, inspired her decision to study biology and art at Northern Michigan University. She soon chose art as her major area of study and eventually received a degree in art with emphasis in sculpting, casting and pottery.
After college and making time to become a wife and mom, Kathie found herself teaching art in a K-12 Christian school and later began holding classes for children and adults in her home. As with many gifted teachers, Kathie is also a perennial student and through the years picked up painting, photography and digital media.
Her painting always tended to be inspirational in nature, but began to take on a more prophetic tone about five years ago. At that time, her themes and imagery began to trend toward symbolism and eschatology (related to the end times). You see a lot of that in the images that we’ve been featuring on the site.
For the record, I grew up and studied theology in a non-charismatic tradition, so I know that some of you can’t help but raise an eyebrow when I use the word “prophetic,” but what we’re talking about, simply put, is the idea that God still speaks. It doesn’t seem like a big stretch, in our media driven culture, that He would chose to speak visually.
Kathie told me that she doesn’t have a formula for creating a painting. Sometimes she wakes up and paints the images from a dream. Other times, she will trace the shadows created by imperfections on the canvas until an image coalesces. She has even done some of her painting during worship while the musical people in the room were singing.
And that is the kind of thing we love to hear.
Kathie continues to paint and create works in other media and teaches summer classes in the art center adjacent to her home. She holds summer art shows where she talks to the patrons who visit about the reality of God’s love and the ways that He still speaks. She reminded me of a prayer that King David prayed long ago:
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:4-5
Kathie still prays that prayer. After talking with her, I do too.
You can check out Kathie’s art on Flickr. She also has prints, postcards and some original paintings for sale at her eBay store.
How thankful I am to have been asked to post a photo of one of my journal pages on the “worship on purpose” flickr site, for it lead me to this wonderful site.
Kathie Luther’s art is beautiful, inspiring, praise – full!
Blessings,
Mary
Welcome, Mary! Glad that you found us!
Yeah, we’re pretty fond of Kathie around here too. She’s a gifted lady and has a great heart for minstry and unity in the Body of Christ.
Congrats Kathie!
Kathie, your work is very beautiful! Thank you for sharing your gift with us!
Hi Tim,
Speaking as one of the people who has joined Kathy in her developing studio and Art Center activities, and whom I became aquainted with over the years, I can verify first hand that she lets God shine through her life and art.
Things started with her when I began to have powerful dreams that I could not explain or understand, that were accompanied by the strong presence of God, after I spent much time in prayer, repentance, and intercession. She was introduced to me through a mutual friend in the Christian Book Store business, with a ministry of creative arts herself. Our first introduction was full of the power of God and we both were quite overwhelmed by it, as we learned what God had to say about the dreams I was having. This is another facet of Kathy that is developing more and more, her ability and gifts in spiritual insite and understanding in that area.
Some time latter in 2004 I was injured at my workplace with a closed head injury and resultant brain fog. After a long time of just being stagnated with that and unemployed, God spoke to me about taking up oil painting again after a 20 year absence(I painting in highschool and college and a short time afterward). In speaking to Kathy about this, she confirmed that she too was to return to oils and had heard from the Spirit of the Lord about that as well. We often work in sinc spiritually and it is often a surprize to both of us.
I began taking up weekly classes with her and some other ladies. We often painted to worship music and we prayed before we would work, seeking direction. It was for me painful and difficult because my mind and brain simply would not function properly and I would have to stop. But I would keep pressing in each week, and enjoyed the fellowship. Then I spoke to Kathy about how I felt the Father was wanting to show us what to paint for Him. It was beginning to move in that direction quickly with works that only He could author. In the process of working on the painting I was given to do (commissioned by the Father a revelation painting of the New Jerusalem coming down), which took 2 1/2 years to complete, the brain fog lifted…and I was healed. Latter on I received a confirmation about how the brain can heal itself…designed in the original plan by the Creator Himself! It is to do what the brain cannot do because of injury. Just press in and chip away at what your not sure you can still do until you are doing it again! This was documented on PBS in a documentary this year 2009. Not that this should surprize any Christian. Isn’t God great! When I asked the Father what title did He want for the painting He gave this word. Call it Spiritual Shock and Awe!
Kathy in her ministry has provided her friends and many other individuals with a place at her art center, to grow and develope the gifts of God in their lives, to heal, to pray, to be delivered. We have displayed the “prophetic” paintings and many of her other works, at local Fairs, and out of town prayer conferences, and hope to continue to do so in order to witness the power of God and the truth of the Word of God for today. She is a loving and splended friend, who gives of herself unselfishly. A great example of a Christian believer, and disciple of Jesus Christ.
It’s a real blessing to see Kathie’s work here. I love her artwork, and her great heart for the Lord. Thanks for featuring her. I’m also looking forward to checking out this website: as a worship leader and artist myself, it should be quite relevant. Blessings to you! Karen