Painting by Numbers

By Donna McMorrow

I enjoy browsing in the thrift and secondhand stores that abound in this area. There is always a treasure waiting to be found. For example, see on the left the wonderful original oil painting of a  clipper ship in full sail that I discovered. 

Some of you art connoisseurs may have noticed that it is a Paint by Number Kit. Paint by Number Kits included a cardboard canvas with wiggly blue sketched areas appropriately numbered so that when you applied the coordinating paint to the segmented spaces, you would,  eventually, end up with a masterpiece. 

The beauty of Paint by Numbers is that even though a kit may start out exactly the same as a million other kits, the end result was determined by the artist’s hand. Some left sure deft strokes of paint, while others painted funny little blobs and smudges. Some were signed with pride when completed, while others were left unfinished and hidden in the back of a closet.  

I loved doing Paint by Number Kits as a child. I painted kittens, horses, ballerinas, and landscapes. Paint by Number Kits made me, ME, an artist. Even the box proclaimed, “Every man a Rembrandt.” I still remember the scent emanating from the little oil paint pots as I  carefully opened and stirred them. And oh, the challenge of cleaning those little paintbrushes so that the next color would be true and the brush supple enough to paint within those blue squiggly lines. I always signed my completed works with pride. 

Vintage Paint by Number paintings are collectible. There is even a Paint By Number Museum. People have even replicated the images as murals in their homes. 

The Book of Genesis says, “In the beginning, God created ... ” Anyone looking at a beautiful sunrise, the blues of the ocean depths or the flight of a bird can see God’s boundless artistry. And when God made us in His image, He shared His gift of art with us. We are all artists. Now some of you are disagreeing: “I’m not an artist. I’m a principal.” “A construction worker.” “An accountant.” Because chances are, most of us haven’t gone to art school or been commissioned to sculpt marble or paint murals. 

But could it be that our very actions of service are the art that we are to create? That the daily responsibilities and obligations that we just want to get through so that we can get on to the bigger and better things are the art arenas of our lives. Could it be that we are artists when we serve our spouse, care for our children, and are faithful in our work? Could it be that the very place of service where our feet stand is exactly where God is calling us to create our masterpieces? 

Let’s allow our lives to be guided by the True Artist. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good  things he planned for us long ago.” – Ephesians 2:10 

You are an amazing work of art. A masterpiece purposed in love and signed and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Donna McMorrow and her husband have been married for 41 years. She is a retired special education teacher, adoptive parent, cancer survivor and child of the King. In her free time, she enjoys reading, photography and painting.