Heather Bellamy spoke with Christian artist Oliver Pengilley

Heather: You do a lot of travelling don't you? What do you see God doing around the world through art?

Walking Out Your Healing

Oliver: I see many people being stirred-up. Artists like to hide in the church and with reason, for a long time art has been lost from worship and church settings in general. But what better way to express the creator of everything than being creative ourselves? Church has become a place for those who like 'words', 'theologies' and 'a controlled environment', rather than what Jesus started when he preached in parables whilst on the road, healing and bringing a simple message to those who need to hear it.

The paintings I paint have effected people all over the place in the same way, it's a universal language that speaks a thousand words. I recieve great encouragement everywhere I go, different denominations and countries. Those who are sceptical are suddenly aware of the power a picture can have and the effect on the broken hearted. I have seen grown men cry, women being healed of deep hurts and the youth being inspired to ask the Lord for there own pictures to paint and draw.

Heather: As a Christian artist, what's your perspective on Creation and or intelligent design?

Oliver: The father is the ultimate artist, and has created beautiful sculptures in all of us and his paintings are created in light and form. Many people recieved visions in the Bible of how to build things, and these came as visual dreams, design and intelligent ideas have been birthed from the dream. I encourage this part of me as an artist, and ask the Lord to download his visions for me, so I can enjoy the process of painting it and then seeing what he does with the painting.

Creation itself has been what I have drawn my inspiration from, and seeing through the eyes of the Lord is even better. Knowing that God created everything in his perfect design amazes me daily.

Heather: You paint during worship in churches don't you? What's your definition of worship and how do you express it through art?

Oliver: We ARE worship, the Lord created us to love him, in a relationship. He wants us to sing to him, talk, cry out, paint, draw, sculpt, write, dance, be like our father. If we only do what we see the father do, then lets look at what the father did, he made the world, colour, light, sound, lets be like him.

When I paint I am just enjoying the gift the Lord has given me, and by painting what I feel he is saying, then I am giving the gift back to him, as worship.

Heather: Are you someone who believes in the therapeutic nature of art?

Oliver: Yes, art can have a deep emotional effect on us, positive and negative, obviously I want my art to be positive.

Heather: What encouragement can you give to young artists who are looking to grow in their gift and faith?

Oliver: Keep drawing, copy things you see, art college can help and give you a chance to find your own style. Keep asking the Lord to give you images in your heart, infact if you are artistic then he probably does already. Sketch the ideas and keep them safe, you will know the time to express them. Show your pictures to people who you trust and ask them what they think about your art. If you are painting pictures from the Lord don't expect affirmation from the world, sometimes the truth can stir people up..and that can some times be a bad reaction. At college I had trouble with my tutors, but I knew in my
heart that my work was what Jesus was encouraging me to do.

Always remember that Jesus is a loving father and you are his child, every picture you do he loves, and if you are painting with him in your heart you can have faith that he will shine through your work. Never think "Im not good enough" or "what if people don't like it:" because your heavenly father is right behind you and loves what you are doing. And HAVE FUN!

Heather: How can people see and buy your work?

Oliver: I have a website www.oliverpengilley.co.uk You can contact me through that site if you have any further questions. I have a show coming up in May, on the 18th in Bath, the Forum. Details will be on my site in a few months.