5 artists who have been inspiring me lately
- Abbi
- Jul 3, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 4, 2024
Hi, friends! I try to alternate between posting poetry, reflections, and reviews to keep things interesting around here. This week, I want to share a list of artists whose work has been inspiring me. I hope this is meaningful to you!
Jess Ray
I've mentioned Jess Ray on here before. But my passion for her music has been reignited since I attended one of her concerts a few days ago. Jess calls her style "friendly-folk". A few additional descriptors that come to my mind are raw, soulful, healing, honest, and faith-filled. I'm drawn to music that feels both soft and strong, and that's exactly how I'd describe Jess Ray. Some of my favorite songs she's created are "Runaway", "Too Good", "Gallows", and "Lilies & Sparrows". Jess has also recorded some beautiful renditions of classic hymns.
Kate DiCamillo
Kate DiCamillo is the author of many beloved children's books, including Because of Winn-Dixie, Flora & Ulysses, and The Tale of Despereaux. I recently read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, which many consider to be her best book. It's quickly becoming one of my all-time favorites. DiCamillo writes the literary equivalent of Pixar movies - stories that kids love, yet contain profound messages that will resonate with many adults. Her writing has also inspired me to begin working on a middle-grade novel...
Justin Gerhardt
As someone who's grown up in church, it can be tricky to consistently want to read the Bible. Often it feels like I've heard it all before. However, this has been changing ever since I discovered the podcast "Holy Ghost Stories". The creator, Justin Gerhardt, is a former preacher and natural storyteller. Through this show, he weaves poetic descriptions with bits of historical context to create retellings of Old Testament stories. The result is something like the sorts of thrilling tales you'd hear around a campfire. Sometimes the episodes can get pretty graphic, but then again, Scripture isn't exactly a tidy narrative. I'm amazed by the way Gerhardt can make these stories sparkle with intrigue while veering very little from the Biblical text. His artistry encourages me to approach the Bible with a new level of excitement. Also, if this man ever decides to publish a novel, I think I'd be among the first to read it.
(Despite the advertising, Holy Ghost Stories aren't, in my opinion, actually scary. At least no more than the Scriptural stories they're based on.)
Anna Asbury
Anna Asbury is a mother, singer-songwriter, and wife to the worship leader Cory Asbury. Lately, I've been very inspired by her paintings. I would describe Anna's style as peaceful, light, free, and healing. Much of her work centers around watercolor depictions of nature and landscapes. I recently had the privilege of meeting her in person, and loved hearing about how God has met and spoken to her through art. Please check out her incredible creations through her website (anna-asbury.com) and/or Instagram (@annaasburyart)!
Jonathan Roumie
Many of you may recognize Jonathan Roumie from his role as Jesus in the TV show The Chosen. He was recently featured in a docuseries called Jonathan & Jesus. I'm so impressed by Roumie's heartfelt portrayal, especially considering that he literally has God-sized shoes to fill. In Jonathan & Jesus and other interviews, Jonathan (who is a devout Catholic) talks about how he reached a point where he felt incredibly unworthy to play Jesus. He prays that, nonetheless, God will use his unique career to impact people. While most of us can't relate to Roumie's exact journey, feelings of inadequacy and being unqualified are something we all experience. If you're not caught up on all four seasons of The Chosen, I'd highly encourage you to do so!
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