Rachel took a risk with “The Psalms Project.” It would require significant time and attention to create an individual piece of art for each of the 150 Psalms.
And a project of this magnitude would also require funding, so she launched a Kickstarter campaign – and was shocked at the outpouring of support she received.
And now you can see some of the amazing pieces of art she has created as a result.
Hendrick, a watercolor and weaving artist from North Carolina, decided to create “The Psalms Project” to share the comfort she felt from reading the Word of God.
“The Word of God is active, living, and piercing our hearts,” Hendrick said.
Hendrick had created numerous projects before this one, all focused on the beauty of the Word of God as expressed through abstract colors or elements of nature. Through color and brush stroke, she captured the fluid nature of human existence – beautiful but formless.
Abstract art was employed in “The Psalms Project” to show how “…[o]ur lives are so messy, fluid, and ‘abstract’ with no definitive lines or shapes,” according to Hendrick.
On top of each abstract shape, however, a clearly written Psalms is painted on, showcasing the strength of God’s word in a world of confusion.
Fans were delighted at the method that Hendrick used to form the experience of everyday “messy” humans in conversation with an Almighty and Loving God.
“Gold or copper leafing is applied to each piece as a symbol of God, always present and there in our mountain high and valley lows,” Hendrick wrote in the fundraiser.
Faith-inspired art is nothing new to Hendrick, who has dedicated her art career towards providing art that comforts and inspires Christians in their daily walk.
Her website, MercyCreates.org, focuses on hand-painted scripture as well as woven art that commemorates the simple and fragile lives of humans.
On her website, she not only sells her art but writes blogs about her faith. She often talks about how the Word of God is constantly instructing her and guiding her through the ups and downs of lives.
Encouragement comes in many forms, and Hendrick has found her niche through the daily exercise of faith – a faith that she assuredly employs in her own life as well.
The Kickstarter, now completed, gave opportunities for patrons to buy the book ($35) or individual pieces of artwork. 71 backers pitched in over the three month period, with 10 backers taking advantage of the early bird special of a book for $5 off.
Each page consists of an individualized art piece, a space for journaling and reflection, the full Psalm that inspired the piece as well as an explanation from Hendrick about the meaning behind the artwork.
While delighted with the overwhelming response towards her artwork, Hendrick found that the fundraiser was not without its setbacks. Her trials came in terms of the publisher she had chosen to create her book.
On her website, Hendrick described how the publisher she had lined up with had “encountered issues” prior to publishing, which forced her to seek another publisher at the last minute. Luckily, she was able to partner with a new publisher who not only ran a veteran-owned business, but upgraded their project to a better quality.
Instead of the lower quality paper that she had agreed upon with the former publisher, the new publisher decided to upgrade their paper stock to increase the luxurious feel and look to the project.
The unexpected blessing came as a surprise to Hendrick, and grounded her conviction that “The Psalms Project” was something that pleased God.
While the fundraiser is now over, copies of “The Psalms Project” are still available at Hendrick’s website Mercycreates.com for $35. Individual art pieces along with hand-woven art are also available as gifts or personal reflection tools for the individual God-seeker.
