Daily Inspiration: Meet Debbie Bergren

Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Bergren

Hi Debbie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Though I have always loved to do something with art or work with my hands at something creative, it wasn’t until I felt God’s urging to honor Him with my art that I began to seriously dive into it.

I received a small but important Christmas gift in 1999. It was a photo of our oldest daughter’s baptism in a river in Northern California. This was important because of all that she had gone through yet had come out on the other side wanting to follow and serve Jesus.

That photo sat on my end table and every time I looked at it I felt God saying to me that I needed to paint that picture. I pushed back at that thought because I’d never painted before plus there were people in it! Eventually I said, Ok, but You’re going to have to give me the ability, and He did and the act of making that painting became a thanksgiving for all He had done in our daughter’s life. That painting was juried into my first ever art competition, Celebration of Art, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I continued to paint whenever I saw something that inspired me but was busy with kids still at home and life so I didn’t treat it that seriously. Then in 2016 I was in training to become a spiritual director and we were talking about liturgy, that is, “a form or formulary according to which public religious worship, especially Christian worship, is conducted”, I had mentioned how hard it was for me to go through all the preparation to paint even though I really enjoyed it. One of my fellow trainees then asked me, What if you made the preparation into a liturgy? This turned on a light bulb in my head! I could continue to use the gift to honor God and even the preparations could become part of this liturgical practice! This has lead to a prioritizing of putting in the work of creating.

I don’t paint specifically “spiritual” paintings but I do believe that the things I paint lead people to see the character of our creator God. I often have people comment about how they feel peace, or hope when looking at my art and also the beauty of His creation. This is my greatest desire, to honor God in every piece of art I create as His “image bearer.”

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
At first, having a dedicated space to work, but now I have my own space for a studio. My own inertia was an obstacle until challenged to make even getting ready to paint a part of my worship to God.

I find practicing to be difficult. I just want to start and complete a painting!

I also struggle with creating things that then sit in my studio and wonder if I’m still to continue. But I know this is something God has called me to, so I continue. Marketing myself is very difficult which is part of why my work sits in my studio!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I paint mostly oil on canvas and from photos I’ve taken or someone I know has taken and given permission to use. I have done a few plein air paintings but usually am in my studio.

Most of the paintings are landscapes and my favorite thing to paint is water! I love being in and around water and how it flows and reflects and refracts and catches light. I’ve also done paintings of people as gifts and pets as commissions.

What I’m most proud of is that I have a husband who has supported my passion for painting though I’ve gotten so little return on it so far!

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I read something that I try to remember whenever I’m painting: “We tend to think that what we’re making is the most important thing in our lives and that it’s going to define us for all eternity. Consider moving forward with the more accurate point of view that it’s a small work, a new beginning. The mission is to complete the project so you can move on to the next. The next one is a stepping-stone to the following work. And so it continues in productive rhythm for the entirety of your creative life.” Rick Rubin

With this in mind I’m learning to relax into my work rather than believing this one has to be perfect. Instead each one becomes an adventure into what I can discover about the medium, about the brush strokes and about myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dbergren.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/debbergren/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063601632387