Painting the Psalms: Week Three
Somehow, this “week” of painting the psalms took all of January for me to finish, but who’s surprised? Not me! I’m currently (trying to) make a daily art practice of painting all 150 Psalms in the Bible. So far, I’ve made it to Psalm 21 and am losing steam—but we press on!
Here are the next seven Psalms I’ve painted. I’m noticing a fun, vibrant theme emerging from these.
Psalm 15
“psalm 15” | 5x7 | acrylic
I chose to work in a different format than my normal squares. Psalm 15 is all about being honorable and righteous. The psalmist asks, “Lord, who shall dwell on your holy hill?” Someone who is blameless and “speaks truth in his heart.”
I wanted this piece to feel like truth, so I kept the bristled brushstrokes and uneven lines visible. The truth is messy. I added short brushstrokes over in a pattern, reminiscent of Van Gogh, to add additional depth.
Psalm 16
“psalm 16” | 5x7 | gouache, soft pastels
I really love Psalm 16. It’s imbued with such joy and hope and encouragement. It promises about the counsel of the Lord, that He will instruct and lead, even in the night.
“The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.”
It’s a reminder to take our dreams seriously and to put our trust back in the Lord, for we do have a “beautiful inheritance.” The psalmist is certain: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Fullness of joy—it’s what my whole passion for art is about.
Psalm 17
“psalm 17” | 5x7 | gouache, oil pastels
I really like this psalm, but did not end up liking the final piece that much, and had no energy to start over. This psalm has a nighttime, shadowy vibe, so that’s what I was going for, but Payne’s Grey is just a hard color for me to work with. Once I started adding oil pastels over the whole composition, it was game over. I think it would have been better to just highlight the green and pink. Oh well.
Here are some lines from the psalm I really like:
“You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night”
“Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge”
“Hide me in the shadow of your wings”
Psalm 18
“psalm 18” | 6x6 | gouache
Psalm 18 is powerful. It’s a bit longer than the psalms that come before and after, and it tells of David’s salvation from King Saul.
“They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
For this piece, I learned my lesson from the day before and just let the paint be paint. No pastels, no layering—I just went with one layer and let it be. You can’t really go wrong with Opera Red anyway. I let the idea of “the day of my calamity” drive the inspiration for this painting.
I love this line the most: “Your gentleness made me great.”
Psalm 19
“psalm 19” | 6x6 | mixed media
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 20
“psalm 20” | 6x6 | gouache
Psalm 20 is so fun and bubbly, so I painted a bright confetti art piece.
“May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!”
Psalm 21
“psalm 21” | 4x4 | gouache, charcoal
I’ve been playing around with this zig-zag pattern in several paper paintings this week. This one feels like spring (which I’m totally ready for at this point).
“For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever.”
Follow along for more
I’ve got several trips coming up, so I won’t be painting every day (shocker, right?), but you can follow along with my progress on Instagram and TikTok with weekly recaps here (and on Substack).
And if you’d like to collect my work, check out my latest collection, Made for Joy.
