Art

kaylanorrisart

I like putting words and pictures together.
✨Visual note collection on Reels page

I got an Apple Pencil two years after I started co

I got an Apple Pencil two years after I started coming to Curate.

It took me another year to get the courage to bring my iPad to church.

Honestly, I thought I was just going to be a distraction. At worst, I feared people would think I was obnoxious. Tall poppy syndrome at its finest.

But God challenged me. I was perfectly fine with taking visual notes in my YWAM classes. Why not at church?

“I don’t know anybody,” was my excuse. I mean, I knew my kids church team. But at that point, I’d often go to gatherings alone because my friends were rostered on various serving teams.

“People don’t know me,” I tried to protest.

Well, I realised that’s a two-way street. And God was challenging me to let myself be seen. Let myself be known.

So I would gingerly slip out my iPad and hope that I wasn’t distracting anyone. I felt the most “myself”, more than I ever had before at church. If I don’t have a pen in my hand, I get bored—no matter how gifted the speaker is. It’s something to do with “auditory learner” being low on my list. But I know that’s not an excuse to check out.

So, I take notes to pull the abstract auditory world down to something I can see, hold, and touch.

When I do, I feel utterly myself.

Then one day my plans of flying under the radar failed. I “distracted” a lady sitting behind me who happened to be a friend of our lead pastors.

“Email these notes to Joel!” she ordered happily.

The rest is history.

I’m so grateful for a community that breeds creativity, waters it, lets it thrive. Yes, no community is perfect, let’s be clear. But I grew up in Christian ministry. My bar has never been “perfect”. My standard is more for a group of people willing to learn from Jesus, grow through mistakes, and be ridiculously honest about the mess as well as the beauty.

And for the last five and a half years, Curate has been that community for me.

Here’s to the days I grabbed a coffee and ran, here’s to kids team for three years, here’s to being a rogue member of the creative team, here’s to one riotous year of Youth (i.e. YOUF YOUF YOUF), and all the legendary moments in between.

Love you all.

A hui ho,

until we meet again.

There’s a lot of battles we’re facing at the m

There’s a lot of battles we’re facing at the moment—and a lot of reasons to fear.

But the Psalmist is clear.

“Yet I will be confident...”

We have far more reasons to be confident.

Time to start listing those reasons.

#2022calendar #handlettering #bibleverse #psalms #applepencil #procreateart

“The Lord will fight for you, you need only to b

“The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.”

-Exodus 14:14

The theme for the 2022 calendar kicks off with that.

Sometimes, to fight, you must rest.

Take a moment to be still this weekend.

God loves to meet you right where you’re at.

There’s a paradox scattered throughout the Bible

There’s a paradox scattered throughout the Bible, a never-ending tension that breaks all my neat little boxes.

It’s the paradox that sometimes to fight, you must rest.

Sometimes taking ground looks a lot like being still.

There’s another paradox littered throughout the Scripture, an endless contradiction that shocks me from my fears.

It’s the mystery that sometimes to have peace, you must fight.

And not just any fight.

Fight with truth. Speak out what you can’t see, and proclaim, “It is written”. Fight with the sword that changes everything, every time—the Word.

Fight.

Rest.

The 12 verses I’ve picked for the 2022 calendar are centred around just that—the bond between two words—fight and rest.

None of us know what 2022 will hold. Well, wait. No. We do know what will 2022 hold, and that’s why I keep plastering my walls (and social media) with Bible verses.

God is with us.

There’s no need to fear.

Rest, and fight.

#2022calendar #handlettering #handlettered #lavender #supportsmallbusiness #procreate #procreateart #applepencil #bibleverse #bibleverseart

ORDER TODAY ✨ 📅 20x20cm closed / 20x40cm ope

ORDER TODAY ✨

📅 20x20cm closed / 20x40cm open

📷 Preview photos available soon!

$25 (NZD) GST + postage covered*

*New Zealand orders only. International and digital orders available depending on region, email kaylanorrisart@gmail.com to request.

🎄Bulk order discount: Purchase 4, get 1 free

🎁 Estimated Delivery: 1-14 December, 2021

#2022calendar #handlettering #handlettered #lavender #supportsmallbusiness #procreate #procreateart #applepencil #bibleverse #bibleverseart

✨ PREORDER NOW ✨ 2022: a calendar of verses

✨ PREORDER NOW ✨

2022: a calendar of verses drawn by @kaylanorrisart

I can’t wait to share more previews this week!

🎁 But for now, secure your order today to be ready for Christmas!🎄

$25 (NZD) each, with deals on bulk orders. Pay by card, PayPal, or direct bank transfer.

Link in bio 📅

www.kaylanorris.com/calendar

#handlettering #2022calendar #bibleverse #procreate #applepencil #supportsmallbusiness #christmasgiftideas

I wanted to say thank you so much to the dozens of

I wanted to say thank you so much to the dozens of friends and strangers who pestered me to make the 2021 calendar a reality.

I want to say thank you, not only for ordering the calendar, but also for sharing with me how God encouraged you through the verses each month.

And thank you to @gemmarosetong who is arguably my biggest fan and most constant encourager when it comes to getting next year’s out there.

2022 is coming.

But for now, thank you so much for making 2021 possible.

#2021calendar #creativeteam #handlettering #appreciation #thankyou #2022calendar

“For He who is mighty has done great things for

“For He who is mighty has done great things for me.”

-Mary

As the year ends, this is what I want my song to be.

Because God has done great—and small—things for me.

#handlettering #bibleverse #procreate #procreateart #applepencil #applepencilart #bookofluke

Hello! I want to (very belatedly) join the trend

Hello!

I want to (very belatedly) join the trend and share 10 things about myself!

🌴 I was born and raised in Hawaii (Yes, people actually live there, and newsflash, the beaches are tiny, rocky, but well, gorgeous too).

👩‍👧I don’t actually do @kaylanorrisart full-time. My days are spent teaching tiny humans at a preschool in Tauranga—where I get the most entertaining work stories ever.

🌏 I’m a dual-citizen—my parents are from New Zealand, and I moved here at 18 to go to @bethlehem_tertiary_institute . I’ve got an American accent, but I call a counter a “bench” now.

🐈 I love cats.

✈️ I’m a YWAM Kid and a YWAMer through and through. Born and raised in @ywamkona DTS in @ywamnewcastle 4 years at @ywamfurnacenz

📚 I’m a full-fledged nerd. To put it simply: I read books about writing books in my free time.

🕺I’m related to Chuck Norris. Just kidding, not that I know of—but my family is a big deal and I can’t wait to hug them in person again.

📅 I made my first calendar as a fundraiser for 2019 and my friends (and strangers) pestered me enough that I finally did one for 2021 and YES ….. 2022 is coming.

✏️ I started taking visual notes in high school history class because Mr. Hagen said doodling can help us learn better. I want to be a teacher like that one day.

💕 I love Jesus—which is probably obvious with how many Bible verses I post. He’s my constant, my hope, and my joy. I like Him a lot.

What’s a random (or very on-purpose) fact about you? 💬

#artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #newzealandartist #ywamkona #ywamnewcastle #ywamfurnacenz #mountmaunganuibeach

the crash of waves on bare shores chattering frien

the crash of waves on bare shores
chattering friends at the kitchen table
ice-cold ginger ale

Thank you, I breathe.
Thank you.

a small hand clasping my own
clattering trains on a preschool floor
the moment a tantrum ceases

Thank you, I breathe.
Thank you.

I’m not professional at thanksgiving. No matter that I grew up with the institutionalised holiday. No matter that it’s my parents’ repeated sermon. No matter that I've worked many jobs surrounded by thankful people.

Thanksgiving still takes practice.

Over and over again.

Conscious little decisions.

Yes, when things are going well.

But also when things aren’t.

Thanksgiving still takes practice.

It takes practice to count the gifts around you, especially when everything is going to crap.

And yet thanksgiving changes everything.

a flickering phone screen
typed words
and the opportunity to write
to you.

Thank you, I breathe to God.

Thank you.

#2021calendar #thanksgiving #1000gifts #onethousandgifts #thankful #gratitudejournal #handlettering #applepencil #procreate #procreateart

It may be time to dive in ice cold water and r

It may be time
to dive

in ice cold water
and realise

you were
made

to be

alive.

#waihibeach #orokawabay #newzealandbeaches #beachinspired #procreate #applepencil #applepencilart #handlettering

There's this massive rock about five minute's swim

There's this massive rock about five minute's swim from shore.

You have to plow through frothing waves, and avoid slicing your feet on coral and more lava rock.

Once you get there, you attempt to clamber up through the ever-swelling tide. You can't grab hold of any mystery holes—there's usually sea urchins ready to stab you.

But you manage to get up. You hoist your whole body on the salt-splashed rock, with only a slightly grazed knee.

The buzz of the crowded shore suddenly seems faraway.

The crash of the tide can't quite reach you.

You're safe.

When I came to this month's verse, this spot at a beach in my hometown in Hawaii came to mind. My high school friends and I never swam out to it because we were "in danger"—more often than not, we created danger for ourselves by doing so. Beaches in Hawaii are pretty unforgivable—we have the scars to prove it.

But those high school days were also marked by this verse—tumultuous days where nothing seemed very constant, and we were all trying to figure what on earth to do with our lives.

Be to me a rock of refuge
to which I may continually come.

I repeated it, over and over.

A prayer, pleading for something steady.

And in 2021, I know we need it more than ever.

Be to me a rock of refuge
to which I may continually come

This isn't a one-time thing.

You can keep coming.

Over and over again.

Be to me a rock of refuge
to which I may continually come.

#handlettering #bibleverseoftheday #2021calendar #procreate #procreateart #applepencil #applepencilart #psalms #bibleverse

Sometimes it’s the little blessings we need most

Sometimes it’s the little blessings we need most of all.

#countyourblessings #handlettering #applepencil #procreate #procreateart #lavenderfarm #wanakalavenderfarm

This comes on the back of Jesus’ commission to g

This comes on the back of Jesus’ commission to go into all nations. A beautiful promise, especially for those who travel.

But I write to you from New Zealand’s second nationwide lockdown.

I used to travel annually, at least. It came with the territory of being a dual citizen, but also being part of a missionary training movement for five years. Long-haul flights, baggage carousels, juggling passports. It was normal life. And I repeated the truth that God was with me wherever I went.

But what does this mean on the days when things are a little less … global?

Well, first off, I must clarify I don’t think a pandemic makes the Great Commission any less valid. We’re still called to disciple all nations, we’re still called to go—and that can be in many different ways. We can’t forget the nations are in the heartbeat of our God.

But in the waiting, or even on the other side of “going” (much of missions really involves staying)… there’s a lot of our lives that include being stationary. One place. Not moving.

And that’s where I need new eyes to look at my circumstances.

Jesus, with me.

With me, in the corner of my living room.

With me, as I tackle learning how to use the espresso machine.

With me, as I stare at a computer screen for work.

With me, as I pace the quiet streets of my suburb.

With me, even in the little things.

So today, I pray you’d see Him—with you, right there.

He never left.

#bibleverseoftheday #handlettering #2021calendar #kaylanorrisart #procreate #procreateart #applepencil #greatcommission #wordsofjesus #applepencilart

Whether it’s to your backyard, or to the other s

Whether it’s to your backyard, or to the other side of the globe.

Adventure again.

#kaitefalls #handlettering #adventuretime #adventureawaits #applepencil #procreate #procreateart #ipadpro

There's a darkened room, candlelight flickering.

There's a darkened room, candlelight flickering.

Outside? Political riots, religious outrage.

But not in here.

Just a man, tearing bread apart, passing it to his closest friends.

Just a man, the night before his torture and execution.

Saying:

"...So also you have sorrow now,
but I will see you again,
and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy from you..."

***

When I chose this verse, I really hoped I'd be on the other side of "you have sorrow now", especially by August. I live in New Zealand, ruthless with Covid border control. Being a dual citizen, it's not impossible for me to see my family overseas. Just... difficult.

As it nears three years since I've seen my hometown—and two of my siblings—the sorrow doesn't dull. I'm rubbed raw, peeled by the crooked knife of unpredictable pandemic restrictions. It would be simple if I didn't love New Zealand. I'd just leave.

But love is unpredictable, too.

When the man you love sits in a darkened room and tells you—don't worry, you're not going to see me for a little bit, but then you will and you'll have joy unfathomable—it's hard to know what to expect.

Then you see him dragged away by guards, pinned to wood soaked in his blood, until he drowns in it himself—"I will see you again" is not what you expect.

But love is not what you expect.

***

There's a darkened room, sunrise flickering through.

Outside? Political riots, religious chaos.

But not in here.

Just a woman, wide-eyed at a folded grave-cloth.

Just a gardener, behind her, saying:

"Why are you weeping?"

#monthlydevotional #2021calendar #kaylanorrisart #bibleversetypography #john16 #ipadpro #ipadart #applepencil #applepencilart #procreate #procreateart #bibleverse #verseoftheday

It’s impossible to separate the two. Looking f

It’s impossible to separate the two.

Looking forward to Term 3 with @curatechurchyouth 🤍

#curatechurchyouth #curatechurch #curatemount #term3 #relationshipsandidentity

Where is the Jesus in the room? I like to imagin

Where is the Jesus in the room?

I like to imagine it, when I have a quiet moment. We talk about God's omnipresence, how He's close, how we don't have to invite Him into the room because He's already there.

And we know God is not some mouldable playdough that floats through houses (but sometimes it may seem a bit like that). He's a person, right?

So surely it's not completely heretical to imagine Jesus in the room.

What would He be doing if you could see actually see Him? Sitting or standing? Relaxed? On a mission? What about His expression? Focused? Grinning? Maybe even blushing? (It says He loves you, surely His heart can melt a little when He sees you!).

Use your imagination. “An imagination is a wonderful thing to have… but like every gift, we must possess it and not let it possess us.” (L.M. Montgomery). Use the gift God has given you to see into the spiritual reality that yes, gets a little messy sometimes—but worth all the risk to see.

So if God is near—don't you want to see Him?

Take a moment and ask the question:

Where are you, Jesus?

It could change everything.

“Then He got up and rebuked the wind and waves,

“Then He got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.”

-Matthew 8:26

@curateyouthmount ✨

#bestill #jesuscalmsthestorm #matthew8 #handlettered #handlettering #ipadpro #applepencil #procreate #procreateart #curateyouth #curatechurch

When I was in fourth grade, we had a memory verse

When I was in fourth grade, we had a memory verse for each week.

Being a visual thinker (I believe we all are, but that’s a rant for another day), I wasn’t the greatest at memorization.

That’s when we got the CDs. “Seeds of Faith” and “Seeds of Courage” were albums of kids songs with straight Bible-verse lyrics.

Needless to say, I didn’t have trouble with memorization after that.

So much so, that when it came to choosing verses for this year’s calendar, I could still sing Isaiah 41:10.

And I knew the middle of your year, my year, needed this.

This overplayed Sunday sermon, this too-good fairy tale...

This truth:

That wherever you are at,

the yawning hole of winter
or the burning relief of summer,
your job or your school,
travel or home...

This truth, straight from the heart of God:

“I will strengthen you,

I will help you.”

#applepencil #applepencilart #procreate #procreateart #2021calendar #handlettering #bibleverses #handletteredbibleverse #isaiah4110 #donotfear #ipadart #ipadproart

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