Sometimes we can be extremely hard on ourselves and negative towards all that we have done or the opposite can be true where we are overly confident in the work we produce. The question is, do we know who is above us? Do we know who’s we are? When we take a step back and put all things in the right order, peace and joy enter in. Artist Jessie Kohn shares his enriching encounter with the highest beauty where he stepped back to see the world as it truly is and in turn is left in awe.

 

“One evening, I was sitting in my room, working on a piece of artwork. I had been working on this piece, a portrait, for a while and I was finally nearing the end. Like any other artist, I had gone through some rough patches where I was feeling unmotivated to paint or unsatisfied with how it was coming out. At this point however, I had surpassed all these moments and had finally broken though the barrier to a point where I was very pleased with what I had produced.

 

As I was putting in the finishing touches and admiring my work, I looked to my left out the window, and saw the most breath-taking sunset I’d ever seen! The sky was exploding with bright colors: fiery red, bright orange, deep blue. I live at the top of an apartment building so I could see the town houses reflecting the colors of the sky. The lit-up clouds were moving slowly but majestically across the sky like whales in the ocean. I was just in awe!

 

That to me was a clear statement from God saying, “You think you’re good? Check out what I can do!” God was showing off and I loved it. It was as if the masterpiece I had created suddenly became a kindergarten scribble sketch in comparison. Mine was a small static mix of colors that only appealed to my sense of vision. God’s painting was miles wide, constantly changing from one spectacle to the next, and appealing to every one of my senses. I could hear the sweet sound of birds chirping, feel the fresh air brushing my face, and could smell the blossoming spring trees. Everything worked together to show how incredible God’s masterpiece in the sky was.

 

After I finished watching the sunset I quietly reflected a little on how wonderful it was to be able to be a part of something like that. It was like a theatre show was happening and I was right in the middle of it! I couldn’t help but be honored and thankful for the opportunity I was given. As I returned to my artwork, part of me felt like a complete amateur in something I had made a career out of. I welcomed this feeling, though, because it put me in my place and forced me to stay humble. The other part of me felt like royalty. I was selected to be the master’s apprentice by also creating beauty. Though I will never be as good as Him, I am able to enjoy the process of creating something out of nothing. The joy of creating art, even on a small scale is like no other, especially when you know your master is the great Almighty!”

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Jessie is a painter and graphic designer originally from Austria (Europe), but since his father is from the US, he has spent almost half of his life there. After having studied graphic design and illustration in the U.S., he has moved back to Austria where he now works as a freelance illustrator/graphic designer. Due to the nature of painting digitally, he has gotten more and more into painting and then printing his works, mostly portraits. Jessie exhibits them in art shows in Austria as well as in the States.

 kohnjessie@gmail.com

 www.behance.net/kohnje

www.behance.net/jessiekohn

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Are you a lover of beauty?! Maybe you are sick of the crazy modern culture that rejects truth? Check out Visual Grace’s Artist, Kate Capato, and see her Sacred Art works, Photography, and Dance works that aim to restore this culture and share truth! Let us share beauty together and live this life to the fullest.