Mission: To Set the World Ablazing

What’s up, my ablazing people?! I’m Alexis, the founder of A’Blazing Arts. The purpose of this blog is to tell you all that’s going on in my life art-related…so, that means I’ll be giving updates on projects I’m working on, delving into what inspires me to create my pieces, and sharing what I’ve discovered during my processes. Since this is my very first blog post, you all should get to know me better. I like to draw, of course, but I also like to write poetry, binge-watch on Netflix (Btw I recently finished Parks and Rec and started Riverdale), and explore my surroundings. Now let’s talk about my mission and my perspective of art.

I came up with the name, A’Blazing Arts, after countless attempts to use my own name, but it was for the best. I moved on to find a word that would convey the message I want to spread. I saw the word blaze and knew that it was the one. I combined blaze and amazing to get A’Blazing. Even though I thought that fire was cool, I didn’t know how that relates to me. In fact, I didn’t know what made me stand out from others. Fire is a universally known element, so it was tricky, at first, to make it unique for me. I prayed about why I was drawn to fire, and I got the answers I needed.

First, I had to figure out my mission. The following was born: The mission of A’Blazing Arts is to show people that there is still beauty in this world. This is important to highlight, especially during these times. The coronavirus came in without warning and is causing devastating damage. Our lives changed before our eyes, and it’s easy to stay down. Although it seems drastic, we can take advantage of this time to be creative and appreciate what we have. Even in the midst of this pandemic, there is still crime, hatred, and other things that don’t belong in this world. We need something to keep us positive when everything else seems negative, and art is the solution.

My time in prayer also gave me a new perspective on art. I believe that art is a derivative of God, meaning it is based on God’s creations. I believe that God created this universe and everything in it, so whenever I draw people, plants, animals, etc., I am giving a reflection of God’s creation but with my twist on it. Since I believe we are created in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27), I am using my God-given creativity to make my version of His creations.

Once I defined my mission and received a new perspective of art, I knew how fire applied to me. For A’Blazing Arts, fire represents three aspects: God, hope, and passion. Here are some scriptures that relate fire to God:

Exodus 3:2 KJV - And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Exodus 13:21 KJV - And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Exodus 24:17 KJV - And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

Since I believe art is a derivative of God’s creations, people will see God when they see my art. The flame is a reminder that God is present in every one of my pieces. Hope is correlated in my mission; as I’ve mentioned, I want to show people that there is still beauty in the world. The fire, specifically on a torch, serves as a light to guide people to this hope. Artwork should be a sign of hope, serving as a reminder that there is still something to admire. Finally, fire represents the burning passion I have for art. I know that sounds cliché, but if I’m not passionate about art, I should not be doing it. Fire itself spreads rapidly and makes its presence known, so my works will make a lasting impression.

I know I wrote a whole essay, but I’m excited about what I created. I can’t wait to share more of my life with you all. I’m open to suggestions, so if you have any comments, reach out to me. I can also answer any questions or discuss specific topics in future blog posts. Let’s set the world ablazing!

In response to recent events (the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, as well as the violence that erupted from frustration with injustice), I want to say that I stand for peace, unity, and equality. I do not condone violence, but injustice is intolerable. We should treat one another with love and respect. With that being said, when I said, “To set the world ablazing,” that means we should make our mark by spreading positivity instead of hatred. We must become what we want to see, and we will be the spark that will ignite the change.