Win a CD and Art in this....ART & MUSIC GIVE-AWAY: FEATURING THE ART & MUSIC of SARA & DAVE MINCY

Dave & Sara

To be entered in this Give Away just leave a comment on this post. (And join our list of followers if you'd be so inclined. We'd love to have you :)

We will have 2 winners~ one for Dave's beautiful Christmas CD and one person will be blessed to win a pack of Sara's Christmas Cards!!! Wish I could enter :)
PLEASE SHUT OFF MUSIC PLAYER ON SIDEBAR TO LISTEN TO DAVE'S MUSIC. The first song shared is a beautiful arrangement of an old hymn, The Old Rugged Cross. Farther down this post you'll find one of Dave's own songs.

I'm very excited about this next interview/feature about the delightful and talented duo, artist Sara Mincy and her piano playing, songwriting husband Dave ...they are a Godly couple busy raising their children while creating art and music that reflect their love for their Lord. Sara has a very popular etsy site with such affordable art she has
currently sold 153 pieces (well, 154 now 'cuz I just bought a scripture print :)You can find Sara's blog at sara's art* house and it is jam packed with her artwork...she paints on everything that will stand still long enough...from traditional canvas to nursery room walls. When you look at Sara's photograph, the first thing that strikes you is how her eye's are lit up with JOY! Her home, blog and etsy are filled with those joyful expressions.And finally, Dave's lovely music... (his site is at Mincy Media). You can listen to some of his music there for free and he's got a fantastic Christimas sale going on: 3 Cds and a package of Sara's Christmas cards, all for only $30. If you could bear to part with any them, it could take care of three Christmas gifts on your list.

Sara:
Tell us in a nutshell about you and your family:
I am wife to my best friend, Dave. Mom to 3 kids- 2 boys ages 8 and 6 and a little girl- age 3. We love the Lord and we are trying to use our art & music to bring glory to God! I homeschool the kids; so we spend our days reading, learning, creating, playing, and exploring together.

(Don't Be Afraid... Art by Sara Mincy)

What is your favorite medium and tools to use?
I use acrylic paint on stretched canvas. Painting is my favorite thing to do- it is totally enjoyable and relaxing to me. I also play around with fabrics and sewing, and paper crafts such as card making and decoupage.

What is your favorite time to create?

This is a hard question because I am so busy taking care of the house and kids that whenever I get a spare minute I jump at the chance to create!!! morning, noon, night- whenever the urge and time arises.(Trust in the Lord with all your HEART. Art by Sara Mincy)

Where do enjoy creating the most? (ie. kitchen table, outdoors).

I used to paint in the kitchen- and this was OK- but basically it was because I had no where else to paint- and it was quite the mess- between all of my art supplies, the dirty dishes- the food, the kids, the dog- you can imagine!! So we shuffled some rooms around the house- turned the playroom into Dave's office/game room- and turned Dave's office into an art room for me!! Yay- now I have a place for all of my tools and paint and canvases, etc. It has helped the creative process a lot and just knowing I can go up to my art room and paint for awhile without having to put it all away after has been priceless.(A peek into the Sara's kitchen *see blog for more)

What do you want people to know about as they view your art?
I just want them to buy art that makes them happy. I am all about that in our house- I have my art up everywhere- simply because it makes us happy and inspires us and helps us to keep our focus on God and His word. I would encourage especially young people, when they are decorating a house or apartment for the first time to just have fun- buy what makes them happy, look around gift shops and goodwill and etsy to see what inspires them- you don't have to wait until you have the money to have fun with decorating. That is the reason behind what I do- I want people to be surrounded with art that will inspire them, encourage them, and make them happy.

Do you have a life verse?
My life verse has always been II Timothy 2:15- Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth....
But as time goes on there are so many scriptures that speak to me and inspire and encourage me! I love Psalms, and so many books in the New Testament- Ephesians 2:8-9 is great, and Proverbs 3:5-6. The kids and I are memorizing James 1- so those verses are really special to us right now.

Sara & Dave: What are your dreams/hopes for your folk art and music business? The Bible says that every person has been put here for a purpose. Personally, Sara and I believe that our art and music are very big parts of our purpose. We recognize that God, in His graciousness, has lent us both our passion and our creative gifts, and so we feel that it is our privilege and responsibility to share our faith through our art. If we can impact people’s lives for eternity by a simple picture or quiet song, then we have fulfilled part of our responsibility before God to use the talents He has given—and we find real joy and peace in that!

(Be strong and of good courage...Art by Sara Mincy)

Dave:
What is your favorite time to write music?

All the time …unfortunately, that’s not possible. Really, mornings are my best creative time when it comes to actually hammering things out on the piano or written music, but the “muse” can strike any time. I’ve had songs come to me while mowing the lawn, studying for a Sunday school lesson, listening to a good message, or thinking or praying about a specific issue.

How many songs have you written, app.? I have never counted how many songs I’ve written, but if you only count the ones I wrote the music and words for (not arrangements of old hymns) then I’m guessing around fifty or so. Up until the last few years, I actually wrote very little of my own music (did more arranging of existing hymns). I thank the Lord for opening up my heart and giving me the desire and ability to write original lyrics/music. So many of my songs are a direct response to how He is working my life, the lives of those around me, or in our church. How many CD's do you have for sale? 4.

How many instruments do you play? I only play two instruments with any real skill…the piano and the trombone. I was a band director for a few years though—and my degree was in Music Education—so I’m “dangerous” at most of the instruments to some degree or another :-/ What is your favorite instrument? Definitely the piano. If I didn’t have my piano, I’d be in therapy somewhere :-/

When do you find that you are the most creative? I am absolutely the most creative when my heart has been moved by something spiritually…something “clicks” and my mind begins to go crazy on a certain theme. This will happen to me sometimes in the middle of a service at church. Pastor says something, and I start madly scribbling lyrics…with my wife elbowing me to “pay attention” all the while! But I am paying attention…that’s the reason it happened in the first place! It either happens that way, or I’ll mull on a “seed” thought for days or even weeks and then just sit down at the piano and start “messing around”. Those are great times for me, too.

How long have you been a musician? Uhmm…well, I STILL might not be a musician, but I’ve been playing piano since I was 5 J My mom was a real slave-driver, but I am SO THANKFUL! I would have never had the discipline on my own.

Do you have a life verse? Absolutely…Psalm 28.7 – The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him. (ESV)


ALL ART AND MUSIC USED WITH PERMISSION.


I want to thank both Dave and Sara for joining us at Faith Folk. I pray that God blesses them and their family as they serve the risen Savior. And I hope you take some refreshing time to enjoy their work at their blogs and be sure to heart Sara on Etsy.