About the Painting
MiMi Whaley is a local Charleston artist and part of the St. Andrew's community. Her God given artistic ability has been powerfully used to translate what joy in the presence of God can look like in the everyday woman. This is what she has to say about the painting, "Count It All Joy".
"Count It All Joy" was as much a surprise to me as it was to those who watched me paint it during the main worship and speaking session of the last evening of St. Andrews' annual New Wine Conference, June 20, 2009. The inspiration for this piece was simply an offset "cross" or cruciform design that I had sketched out while listening to Bishop Mark Lawrence's breakout session that afternoon.
As I was painting the reds in the background, the suggestion of a figure came forth and with a strong sense that the Lord was nudging my hand in this direction, I just followed his lead in surprise and delight as this female figure kept emerging in freedom and joy, and suddenly I heard the speaker, Kenny Borthwick, saying in his wonderful Scottish brogue, "…and we are to worship God with our whole bodies!" For the first time, I realized that I was painting in "real time" what Kenny was speaking, and it's only the Holy Spirit who can bring that about.Several years ago during one of his visits to St. Andrews, Mike Breen said, "Joy is Peace dancing. Peace is Joy at rest." These words made a strong impression on me, and this painting is a visual reminder to me that true joy is not dependent on the circumstances of my life. True joy comes in and through Christ, freeing me to become all he created me to be.
About the Artist
Amelia (Mimi) Whaley was born in Charleston, SC, grew up at Edisto Beach, SC and currently lives in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of South Carolina. Mimi is a member of the Charleston Artist Guild, South Carolina Watercolor Society and CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts). Her paintings have been reproduced as cover art for music tapes, CD's, books, and she has illustrated several books for Ariel, a Ministry of Proclamation. She also recently designed and painted the artwork for the shield of St. John’s Episcopal Chapel in Charleston, SC.
Mimi is also the Real Time Painting Team Leader at St. Andrew’s and paints in Real Time during worship services and special events. She also paints in Real Time at conferences and has helped to raise up Real Time painters at Mahesh Chavda’s All Nations Church near Charlotte, NC. She enjoys leading day or weekend workshops in watercolor, collage and the release of creative play. In 2009, she led a weekend workshop in North Carolina entitled “Made in His Image: Finding and Flowing in Your Creative Gifts” where participants were encouraged to discover and express their creative gifts through prayer and collage.You can view some of her work at AmeliaWhaley.com and MiMisPaintingaDay.blogspot.com.