creative highlight
from our community
ChanMi Jung Pyles
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My name is ChanMi Jung Pyles and I am currently a full-time stay-at-home wife and mom to two beautiful children (4 year old girl and 3 months old boy) - and creating is my passion and joy. Whenever I get some downtime in between housework and taking care of the kiddos, I love going outdoors to enjoy God’s creation in nature, paint them on paper, and write about what God’s teaching me in my journey with Him.
You can see my artwork here:
Instagram: @chanmisartjourney
Facebook: @chanmisartjourney
You can see my artwork here:
Instagram: @chanmisartjourney
Facebook: @chanmisartjourney
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Can you tell us about your introduction to art? How did you know you had a creative gift?
As a kid, I’ve always loved any type of creating. I loved drawing, painting, writing poems, crafting, playing and making music. In grade school, I learned traditional calligraphy from my grandpa who himself was an artist, and also learned painting from a church member at my dad’s church.
Did you ever think you’d be selling your art, or teaching art?
I did not major in art. My majors in college were English and Spanish, and my graduate degree was in education, Even though I’ve always loved art, I did not think I would be teaching or selling art since I was not “professionally” trained. But in recent years as I focus on motherhood, somehow God has brought me to teach others art and tell about God through art, and I am so grateful for it.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don’t find themselves in a creative background or field? Life family/friends/strangers?
A majority of my friends were surprised to find out that I could paint, calligraph, and create. Prior to diving into art, I worked as a teacher at a non-profit organization and at a church working with college students and young adults. People did not know that I had a passion and gift in art, but once they found out, they were supportive.
As a kid, I’ve always loved any type of creating. I loved drawing, painting, writing poems, crafting, playing and making music. In grade school, I learned traditional calligraphy from my grandpa who himself was an artist, and also learned painting from a church member at my dad’s church.
Did you ever think you’d be selling your art, or teaching art?
I did not major in art. My majors in college were English and Spanish, and my graduate degree was in education, Even though I’ve always loved art, I did not think I would be teaching or selling art since I was not “professionally” trained. But in recent years as I focus on motherhood, somehow God has brought me to teach others art and tell about God through art, and I am so grateful for it.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don’t find themselves in a creative background or field? Life family/friends/strangers?
A majority of my friends were surprised to find out that I could paint, calligraph, and create. Prior to diving into art, I worked as a teacher at a non-profit organization and at a church working with college students and young adults. People did not know that I had a passion and gift in art, but once they found out, they were supportive.
How do you encounter the Lord in your creativity?
I started painting again as an adult because it really helped me calm my soul, connect with God, and listen to Him in the midst of a busy schedule. I love the process of painting and creating more than the outcome itself. I usually get inspiration from reading the bible or from seeing the magnificent beauty of God’s creation. I see God’s gentle, delicate, careful, perfect, and sovereign touch in His creation, whether in small flowers, animals, big mountains, or the ocean, and I also feel that God speaks to me about the truth of God’s grace and love. Moreover, I feel the Holy Spirit’s promptings to encourage others through the medium of art and words. So I guess I love how God ministers to me through art - and how I can also minister to others through art.
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I feel that God wants me to use the gift of art to encourage others in this season. Given the uncertainties that the current pandemic brings to each person and each home, we especially need God’s perspective, truths, encouragement, and promises. I want to speak life and hope into people’s hearts and minds through art along with the word of God (bible) since so many people are bombarded with negativity and fears through the news and social media. I want to take every opportunity to use creativeness to speak to whomever through the medium of art about the everlasting love of Jesus. With everyone having to do social-distancing and self-quarantining, I believe God would use social media even more to draw people to Himself. I want to be part of that through my art.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
I think it’s really important for us to not compare our art journey with others’ journeys. With social media, it can be easy to give in to the temptation to desire popularity, envy someone else’s success, and get discouraged about our own journey. However, everyone’s calling and timing is different since God has gifted each person differently even in the artistic gifts in terms of how they will be used. God’s calling for me is clear in my art journey. If my art could be used to bless one person and draw one person closer to God, I’d say I was faithful in my gift and God is pleased and glorified in it. I just want to be a good and faithful servant who stewards His gift well.
I started painting again as an adult because it really helped me calm my soul, connect with God, and listen to Him in the midst of a busy schedule. I love the process of painting and creating more than the outcome itself. I usually get inspiration from reading the bible or from seeing the magnificent beauty of God’s creation. I see God’s gentle, delicate, careful, perfect, and sovereign touch in His creation, whether in small flowers, animals, big mountains, or the ocean, and I also feel that God speaks to me about the truth of God’s grace and love. Moreover, I feel the Holy Spirit’s promptings to encourage others through the medium of art and words. So I guess I love how God ministers to me through art - and how I can also minister to others through art.
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I feel that God wants me to use the gift of art to encourage others in this season. Given the uncertainties that the current pandemic brings to each person and each home, we especially need God’s perspective, truths, encouragement, and promises. I want to speak life and hope into people’s hearts and minds through art along with the word of God (bible) since so many people are bombarded with negativity and fears through the news and social media. I want to take every opportunity to use creativeness to speak to whomever through the medium of art about the everlasting love of Jesus. With everyone having to do social-distancing and self-quarantining, I believe God would use social media even more to draw people to Himself. I want to be part of that through my art.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
I think it’s really important for us to not compare our art journey with others’ journeys. With social media, it can be easy to give in to the temptation to desire popularity, envy someone else’s success, and get discouraged about our own journey. However, everyone’s calling and timing is different since God has gifted each person differently even in the artistic gifts in terms of how they will be used. God’s calling for me is clear in my art journey. If my art could be used to bless one person and draw one person closer to God, I’d say I was faithful in my gift and God is pleased and glorified in it. I just want to be a good and faithful servant who stewards His gift well.