Empty-nest syndrome can be a tough time for many parents, especially for those who for whatever reason weren’t able to fully pursue their God-given gifts and talents during the parenting season of their lives.
This was the case for Jane Lazenby, Birmingham-based artist, illustrator and author. Her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother had all constantly worked with their hands. Lazenby apparently inherited that trait because she always loved to doodle and would take watercolor pencils on trips to stay occupied.
Although she realized her love for drawing early in life, she never studied art formally. During her child-rearing years, she did crafts with her children and attended craft shows together to show and sell what they made.
She was able to begin learning about art after signing her daughter up for art classes. Her daughter’s teacher also taught an adult class, and she decided to try it.
It was the beginning of a new chapter.
But it wasn’t until her children all left home that she embarked on a more extensive art journey.
Community
“[Raising children] had been my life for so long. I wasn’t prepared for that part of my life. I had to figure out my purpose at that point, so that’s when I started diving more into this and figuring out what to do with that new chapter in my life,” Lazenby said.
That initial art class became her first art community. They stayed together for nearly 20 years.
“A lot of times you’re by yourself, and that’s why it’s nice when you get out and do something together as a group,” she said.
After recognizing the need for more community, Lazenby discovered artists online. She took classes and became part of social media groups of those also learning.
Not only does Lazenby love to draw, but she’s also a self-proclaimed “word collector and people watcher.” She has journals all over her house with sayings, and she writes both fiction and nonfiction stories, most with a related inspirational thought.
“It’s important that my art relates to people so that they’re hearing what they need for that day. That’s always my goal, to reach somebody where they are, to inspire somebody who needs to hear it,” Lazenby said.
When her mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Lazenby began a blog on CaringBridge to share stories and keep friends and family informed of how her mother was doing. She continued this even after her mother’s passing as she recalled more memories about her mother and her influence on Lazenby’s life.
People started encouraging Lazenby to compile these stories into a book. When her brother told her Samford University in Birmingham was offering an author’s workshop, she attended and was inspired to take on the project.
Lazenby is especially fascinated by faces and angels. In 2010, this love met her love of stories and sayings and resulted in the book “Expressions: Artwork and Stories Woven with Grace.”
“Expressions” has 90 topics, each consisting of a one-page story, most with a related Scripture and an exquisite original drawing. With topics such as “Beautifully Broken,” “Whispers of Grace” and “Hiding Our Scars,” this coffee-table book can be a devotional or a relatable art collection a person can pick up anytime for a moment of inspiration.
She attributes the book’s eventual publication in 2018 to the importance of community she had learned earlier, having brought together a team with a life coach-mentor, photographer, designer, printer and publisher.
Memories
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she felt led to begin another project — a similar book she named “Chosen: An Intricate Weaving of Art, Scriptures and Memories.” It was released in February.
“It’s kind of a combination of art and memories,” she said. “You may not have the same memories that I have, but we’re all chosen to be part of God’s family.
“It was based on 1 Peter 2:9 about your chosen generation and a royal priesthood and a holy nation. So this one was in memory of the women who went before me and how much they meant and changed my life.”
“Chosen” is targeted to young girls. Lazenby believes that a lot of the kinds of memories she has with her mother and grandmother are not being developed in this generation. For example, girls often don’t cook with their grandmothers because they are too busy to visit.
As she worked on “Chosen,” she envisioned a young girl reading this with her mother or grandmother who would use it as a springboard to talk about their own family memories.
Lazenby also creates original Scripture cards with stories on the back, as well as coloring books for various ages.
“As long as I’m physically able to, I’ll just spread His light as long as I can. I’ve learned He’s always in control. That’s the important part — that I don’t run ahead of Him and His timing, and I just have to be patient and wait.
“Also, it taught me personally how important family and traditions are and how significant they are. I think that everybody’s in a world of busyness now and that we need to dwell on the important eternity treasures that we’re building up and not so much trying to please the world.
“That’s where our focus should be.”
To learn more about Lazenby and to order her books and her art, go to www.JaneLazenbyArt.com.
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