Just Not that Kind of Angel!

Linda Finstad’s laugh out loud look at everyday angels

 

Stuck indoors with dwindling art supplies, artist Linda Finstad struggled to find solace at a time fraught with tension, panic, and uncertainty. To distract herself from the emotional anxiety and the grim news coverage of Covid-19, Linda turned to her art. 

She dipped her paintbrush into what she could find in her home — instant coffee and triclad paint. With her new medium, Linda painted to soothe the turmoil inside, and perhaps, to channel some much-needed joy. Linda hoped the therapeutic creative process would help her navigate uncharted territory.

Unlike typical depictions of women and angels with flowing locks and slender figures, Linda’s Coffee Angels are voluptuous, full-figured women portrayed in their day-to-day life. Infused with personality and humour these angels offer a glimpse into our playful side. 

With only an outline for their face, each angel makes an amusing statement. These phrases helped Linda find strength and resilience. It was her attempt to inspire some lighthearted fun as she searched for relief from the anguish of adapting to an unknown new normal.

Painting boosted Linda’s spirits, but despair still consumed her. Continuing to rely on her worldview of suppressing the negative and harnessing only the positive was no longer working. Linda then reached for the Holy Bible for guidance on how to cope. What was her God's advice in the aftermath of great turmoil and tragedy? In the gospels, Linda found practical and encouraging words of wisdom.

In the pages of her little book Just not that Kind of Angel: a laugh out loud-look at everyday angels, Linda compares conventional worldview to coping with God's counsel. Her hope is that one or the other will bring us all some comfort in the face of emotional exhaustion and continued pandemic lockdowns.

 

How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings! Psalm 36:7

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever. Psalm 23:6

 

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a women who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

For as a man things in his heart, so is he… Proverbs 23:7

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, Titus 2:7

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. Psalm 139:14

You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1 Peter 3:4

They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing. Psalm 92:12-14

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:1-2

 
 
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Check out Linda’s companion book. All her sassy angels in a beautiful coffee table book.

As Linda says, “Big bums, frizzy hair, and even bigger attitudes. This fun book is an absolute delight and the perfect coffee table book”.

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MORE LINDA!