How do you create + play? Interview with Audrey

This interview is a special one because today we get to hear from a teenager who is very special to me. She is someone who has taught me to create just for the fun of it, to play with different mediums, to take chances, and to keep going. I've never seen someone develop a style that is so distinctly her own and then continue to work at it, allowing it to grow and evolve while still remaining uniquely hers.

But beyond all of that, she reminds me of something I am often learning: children have much to teach us about how to play, create, and approach God.

As she shares about drawing favorite characters, trying new artistic mediums, and reconnecting with her inner child through watercolor, we are invited to consider how creating helps us notice who we are, what we love, and the ways God quietly meets us there.

What do you like to create? What brings you back to creating so often?

My favorite way to create is through drawing, especially drawing people, though I really enjoy drawing anything. I've spent years, from the time I was a little kid until now as a 15-year-old, developing my own unique style.

What usually brings me back to creating is a good character. Whether they're from a movie, book, video game, or TV show, I often become attached to a favorite character. The way I express my appreciation for that character is by drawing them.

What happens in you when you're creating? What do you notice, feel, or pay attention to?

When I'm creating, I notice that I feel content. I don't need to be anything more than I am in those moments. I can simply use the talent I have right now without feeling like I need to improve for myself or anyone else.

Do you ever create in a community? If so, what happens when you are creating with someone else?

I mostly create by myself as a way of expressing my thoughts, but I also take art classes at school. More than anything, those classes have helped bring me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to try new mediums, subjects, and techniques.

Has creating ever helped you slow down, notice beauty, or connect with something bigger than yourself?

I think creating helps me connect with my innermost self more than anything else. My drawings are some of the rawest expressions of who I am. They show my interests, the things I love, and even things I sometimes struggle to understand or control.

One of my favorite parts of creating is connecting with my inner child. When I watercolor, I often feel like a little kid again, simply trying to make a beautiful picture with hands that may not have practiced enough. There's something freeing about that.

If you can imagine Jesus sitting with you while you create, what do you think he is doing, saying, or thinking?

I don't think Jesus necessarily says anything when He's with me. Instead, I think He uses my art to reveal deeper meanings and show me different parts of His grace and beauty.

I also think He's the source of that feeling of contentment I mentioned earlier. He helps me know that I don't need to be anything else in those moments. I can simply be myself.