B
efore you continue reading about the inspiration and process behind this painting, have a look at this short 3min video I made for you. It’s the first one I’ve done about any of my paintings, so I’d love to hear your thoughts:
When I started working on this painting I was stirred up by this Verse:
“And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.” – 1. Kings 19:11-12 (NASB)
I find it fascinating that Elijah heard God’s voice in the “gentle blowing”. How comes God wasn’t in all the super loud, attention grabbing, majestic appearances?
Many believers pray to God every day that He may speak to them and are disappointed when nothing seems to happen. No fiery hand appears and writes on the wall, no thunder, earthquake or angel’s trumpet make known the Lord’s will. I believe God always wants to speak to us, He has all the solutions and wants to guide us. So why do so many Christians still not hear him? I believe there’s several reasons:
1. He speaks many languages.
God can utilize pretty much everything to speak to us. Other people, a song in the radio, a movie scene, the beautiful scenery of a landscape, emotions, dreams… Just like Elijah we have to move away from our prejudiced imagination on how exactly God is going to show up and speak to us. Sometimes he seems to like to choose the least obvious way.
2. He speaks when He wants to.
I’ve discovered that often times God chooses to speak at times I’d least expect it: on the way to work in the car, when I wake up in the middle of the night, during work at my desk… the point is that if we’re only open for His talking during our “quiet time” from 6-6:30am, or on a sunday morning, we’re definitely going to miss out on a lot of divine encounters.
Tweet this:
expecting His talking only during our quiet time, or on a sunday morning, means to miss out on many divine encounters ow.ly/c9YF5
— Daniel Vogler (@Daniel_Vogler) July 11, 2012
3. Often times He has already spoken
Have you every tried to imagine how your life would be like, if you’d truly hold on to what God said in the past? What if every day before you start in to your routine, you’d make yourself aware of all the truth and promises God has ever spoken over your life? Unfortunately what’s true for most of us is that whatever God spoke yesterday, we’ll have forgotten tomorrow. Most believers need to hear that God loves them every week, because they’re not able to trust his word enough to make it their reality. This might sound tough, but I’ve discovered that sometimes God doesn’t like to repeat himself anymore. On the other side we can become such good stewards of His words and promises, that we’ll attract more and more of it. It’s totally up to us.
4. We don’t really listen.
I personally didn’t start experiencing God every day, until I learned to tune my spirit into His in the midst of every-day business. I had to become sensitive towards His presence to be able to notice his “gentle blowing” at any time and in any situation. It’s like one of your best friends is calling you. You’d probably pick up the phone and interrupt whatever you’re doing, am I right? Once I started treating God the same way, I experienced a huge increase in supernatural leading and constant awareness of His presence.
In this painting I felt inspired to capture that moment of being fully immersed in His gentle blowing, being sensitive to His warm presence and allowing every thing else to fade into the background. One day not too long ago I heard God say these words to me:
“Daniel, worship is to simply enjoy me.”
Tweet this:
Worship is enjoying God… ow.ly/c9s9B
— Daniel Vogler (@Daniel_Vogler) July 10, 2012
This short sentence literally changed my life forever. Is it possible that living al lifestyle of worship is as simple as taking a deep breath and enjoying him in this very moment? I hope when you look at this painting you can feel this sense of peace and relaxation in Him.
The Creative Process:
Okay, now let me take you through the step-by-step process of this painting. As I thought about how I’d express that feeling visually, I imagined a close up of a woman caught up in a moment of an encounter with God. I wanted her face to look really relaxed and concentrated at the same time. That’s why I decided she’d have her eyes shut. As I was looking through some images to use as reference for the painting I found this amazing photograph used as a CD cover of the amazing artist Ellie Goulding and felt many elements of it would were exactly what I was looking for.
I began by coloring basic background and blocking in some basic shapes and colors of the female character.
Step 1: Blocking in basic shapes and colors
Once I felt happy with the composition and shapes, I re-adjusted and intensified the colors to give it more contrast.
Step 2: Adjusting the Color
Then I added the bright light beam, which I thought would be perfectly representing an encounter with the supernatural.
Step 3: Adding more Detail
At this point I decided to go ahead and add more detail. This is the part in the painting process I enjoy the most. It’s amazing how a few highlights here and there can make the whole painting come alive. I knew the only way I could let the viewer know that she’s surrounded by wind (the gentle blowing) was to make her hair float in the wind’s direction. In this case this was an easy talk since my reference photo already caught that perfectly.
Step 4: Final Touches
Now that I was almost done, I suddenly felt like the background was a little bit distracting. I erased it, added a little bit more of texture and dust and came up with this final result:
The Final Product!
I’m definitely happy with the final product and hope it communicates the message well. If you know me a little bit already, you’ll know how much I love to hear from you. What do you feel/ think off when you look at the painting? Do you have any questions? Please leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!
Get the Free Wallpaper!
For a limited time only, I’m giving away a free wallpaper of this painting for your computer screen! I pray that it will remind you at His presence every time you launch your computer. Just click on this image to find out how you can download it!
Prints of this painting and global shipping are now available!
“Listen” Print 
“Listen” Widescreen Wallpaper (digital) 
“Listen” Canvas Print 26 comments
Trackback e pingback
No trackback or pingback available for this article
Leave a Reply
Popular Posts
efore you continue reading about the inspiration and process behind this painting, have a look at this short 3min video...
ast night I was watching a medieval movie when I felt inspired to paint a scene in which an army...
The Painting Process If you’re not interested in the technical side of things, please scroll down for the final version...
Recent Comments
I don't know how I got to your art page but these warriors are beautiful.....be blessed ! »
William, thanks for your feedback. I mostly use photoshop cs5 in combination with a wacom pen & touch tablet and... »
This painting reminds me of walking into wonderful summer breeze… You stop and take it in. Gifts from God whether in the natural or of the spirit… You take it in like a deep breath.
Love this!
Thanks for your feedback Deborah! I love that description. I believe that the essence of Worship is to simply enjoy God. As we learn to “take in” those moments with Him, we’ll develop a lifestyle of Worship. Glad you like it!
Hi Daniel, I love your work and again this really speaks to me as prophetic art should. I had seen the swirling wind around my head and had thought of God coming in a whisper. You put into a painting what many of us are experiencing…love that!
Hi Janine, welcome to my new website! Thank you so much for the feedback. It always fills me with joy to read what others are experiencing when they look at my art work! So thanks for taking the time to let me know!
Can I ask how you found out about this website?
Blessings!
Daniel, your post and painting have really inspired me. I was very touched by what God said to you, that worshipping Him is just enjoying Him. Needed to hear that. Also the analogy of picking up the phone to talk with a friend, interrupting whatever you’re doing at that time. I’ve felt challenged to include God more in my daily thoughts, moment to moment. Thank you for sharing your process as well, it’s a blessing!
Please also check out http://theresadedmonministries.com/, she came to our church last Sunday to teach and share about creative ministries. She also does prophetic art!
Bryan! I think you’re the first man who actually posted a comment on this website son congratulations haha
So glad to hear my writing and painting inspired you!
I know Theresa very well (spent 3 years at Bethel’s School of Ministry) and might do some stuff together with her in future
Thanks for taking the time to share the encouragement!
Are you an artist yourself? Don’t forget to take advantage of the free Wallpaper!
Bless you!
Thought-provoking post bro, lovely piece of art and sleek site design. White space rules! esp good to get the focus on your paintings. Daniel down below the page that blue patch where you have put recent comments–the text colour is making the text unreadable.
Kim, thanks for stopping by! I’m glad to hear you’re liking it! I didn’t even think of how the white background helps my art to stand out, just kinda knew I wanted everything to be very clean and bright so I went for it haha Thanks for pointing out that issue with the footer, I’ll make sure to change that!
This one looks so real Daniel! It looks so alive.. I can feel the emotion. And I so love the article. This is what I need. I’ve been asking God about some things lately and I felt like He wasn’t answering. After reading this, I realized He already spoke. I’m not just believing it. bless u!
Cess, you don’t even know how much it means to me to hear how the painting and article helped you out! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know! Btw I just checked out your blog and must say it looks great! Well done!
I am so blessed by this paiinting because it represents exactly how our Father God loves to speak to us at times, not only do we hear Him, but, we also are blessed to feel Him. Her face says it all what words cannot say, He presense is so overwhelming to our flesh and such a breath of life to our spiritual man.
Again your painting here says it all, annointed by the hand of God!!
Thank you for sharing this blessing.
Super happy to read that this blessed you so much, Janet!
Thanks for taking the time to let me know! Messages like your’s are why I’m doing all of this
Hai Dan,
Your Work, overwhelms me. I just remember the time when i visited a park where winds sweep softly and all i did is singing priase to Him.
Fatima,
Thanks for letting me know. I’ve got several more paintings lined up to be released soon so make sure to check back often or subscribe to my email list to stay up to date
by the way what program you used?
I used photoshop cs5 in painting? airbrushing mode and in combination with a Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch Tablet. I’ll post a video about my equipment some time soon. Would anyone else be interested in this?
I am 70 years old and have been trying to get myself to start painting again because the Lord has given me pictures in my head. The one that is in the forefront is of a little girl skip-stretch-stepping into the footprints of Jesus. This one of yours has inspired me deeply. I, too, have discounted the idea of too much background. I want the focus to be on the little girl and Jesus in the distance. I have been trying to begin acrylic which I haven’t done in the past. Busyness with grandchildren and chronic pain have also been deterrents. I may have some extra time in the next few weeks–thank you again. I feel the breathlessness in this painting of yours when the Lord’s presence literally takes your breath away. It’s beautiful.
Hi Sharon,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share about what my work speaks to You!
You definitely should start painting again, it’s so much fun to explore tab into Heaven’s inspiration and partner with Holy Spirit and one’s own creativity to express those visions.
Let me know about your progress!
Thank you for your response. I’ve struggled with the picture in my head for about a year, and last week the Lord gave it to me again to clarify the background. Confirmation that I am to do it!
But, being 70 with chronic pain and trying to help with 6 grands is difficult. I trust one of these days, he will give me the fortitude, perseverence and grace I need to carry through. Thank you for the encouragemnet. 
I can only imagine how difficult that has to be Sharon.
I declare complete healing over your body in every area of pain right now.
Let me know when you’ve found the time and energy to get started again! I’d love to see it
We showed this video before our worship on a Sunday morning. Many people were touched and released to just enjoy the presence of a Mighty God. One young man in particular had a very challenging week. Three children, late nights, two jobs, lots of distractions during the week. He walked in exhausted and not “feeling” like worship. He gave a testimony at the end of the service about how amazingly this video had released him to “enjoy”, just enjoy God’s presence as worship. It was a dynamic worship time with others being set free to “enjoy Him”! Thanks Daniel. We encourage you to keep asking God questions!
WOW! Thanks for this AMAZING feedback Carey! That’s so encouraging! I’ll be working on many more videos when I’m back in my studio in Germany
amazing.
Thanks!
Wow… I stumbled across this site and feel so inspired by your work! I love the description of worship that God gave you. This image and your blog post has really made me want to enjoy God’s presence more through art and pursue the whole idea of prophetic art!
Kiri, that’s fantastic feedback! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know how my work inspired you! Let’s create artwork that shares God’s heart with this generation and many to come!