NOTE: All sizes of the artist's images are limited to a single small dpi. This is the result of an agreement between the artist and the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. To inquire about larger sizes of her work, or to purchase prints and other works by Lauren Wright Pittman, visit http://www.lewpstudio.com

"As I drew layer after layer, I had to sit in brokenness with the psalmist and experience the repetitive painful sting of the vivid imagery the psalmist provides. Once I reached the outer layer, I decided to add breaks in the mandala that start on the very outside with light bursts of yellow and orange and reach through the traumatic imagery to a thin yellow circle that holds the psalmist in the middle. The yellow light also completes the outside of the mandala and holds all of the imagery. I wanted the light to be subtle to create space for the imagery to breathe, and for these breaks to represent God’s light holding the psalmist through it all. What resulted is an overall flower shape that I wasn’t expecting. I think the lesson in all of this is that if we allow ourselves to grieve before God, to really open ourselves up to the difficult inner work that takes, then that’s where true and profound growth happens. The overall imagery is almost entirely transformed by God’s light breaking."

Lauren is an artist, graphic designer, and theologian. She studied Media Design at Middle Tennessee State University, worked as a wetlands advocate in Southern Louisiana, and attended Columbia Theological Seminary to piece together her passions for artistic expression, design, and Creation Care.

While in seminary, Lauren found a passion for seeking after God and processing scripture through visual exploration. The visual arts offered her a holy space to ask questions, take risks, and make bold statements. Her paint brush, acrylic paints, sharpies, and colored pencils became mediums for liberation, helping set her voice free. Once she began this journey in visual self expression, she became determined to create spaces where others could find this freedom and find their own voice, whether it be in the act of creating, in liturgical arts, or in visual meditative practices like Visio Divina.

While at Columbia, she also realized her background in graphic design was a great asset in ministry. In the midst of the Church's struggle for relevancy in a rapidly changing world, she saw the need for faith communities, ministries and non-profits to share their story and mission more effectively and fully through visual means.

She is Founding Creative Partner & Branding Director for A Sanctified Art LLC, a collaborative arts ministry providing multimedia resources for worshiping communities. She also helps faith communities and non-profits share their vibrant stories through branding & design services.
[from: http://www.lewpstudio.com/about ]