It's Not the Beginning, but rather the Ending that Counts

Sometimes when I start a painting, it looks sooo ugly. lol. But then, over time, I begin to see God revealing things to me as I paint. Ideas come to me in process. It doesn't matter how a painting starts out, only how it looks when finished. That's the way it is with us as well. We start out as Christians, and we're not too pretty. We're a mess!! But God, over time, begins to reveal and bring out something very special in our lives. It's the work of the Holy Spirit. Satan wants us to focus on our past messes. God wants us to see our future, beautiful, amazing, and wonderful. David said to the LORD: "I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. So don't be discouraged if your life looks like a mess right now. God knows what He is doing. Just keep trusting Him, keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith!!!

Christian Talk Radio

On January 15th at 1PM, I have been invited to be a guest on "Daily Call", a Christian Radio Show on Arizona's Christian Talk, 1280 KXEG and 1010 KXXT. Annie Vaugier, the station manager will be the host! Be sure and tune in. It's gonna be exciting!!

God Gave Me Permission to Paint

     As I lay in my hospital bed at St. Joes Hospital in Phoenix, AZ, I had a lot of time to think and pray. That was 5 years ago.
     Something was terribly wrong, but I couldn't really figure it out. I was cleaning out my turtle tank, and I started feeling weak, so much so that I barely got the tank back to it's place on the boxes in my bedroom. I felt like passing out. I stumbled into the living room and felt like throwing up. Sweat began pouring off me and I was soaking wet. Yes, I felt like my life was slipping away from me. Fortunately, I was able to dial 911, and within minutes the paramedics were there. I was rushed to the hospital, which was only a block away, where they found that I was bleeding internally. Yes, I didn't know it but I had over-medicated from ibuprofen that I was taking for my bad headaches due to extremely high blood pressure. I had to have blood.
     Fortunately for me, i did not die that day, and I'm so thankful to God for that, because I felt that my purpose on this earth was not completed yet. And as I lay in my hospital bed, I began to visit with God. LORD, why does my life feel so empty? I'm stuck, with nowhere to go. I have a dead end job that's killing me, literally, and my dreams are fading away into the background. I knew I would die if I lost my dreams. "What do I do with my life, Lord?" I asked. At that moment I felt the Lord answer me back;
"What do you want to do?". And I answered, "I want to paint, to do art, to be creative the way you made me. You've given me all these ideas and dreams, and their just bottled up inside me."
It was at that moment I felt the Lord unleash me. He said, "Well then, paint! I give you permission." I felt him downloading creativity into me. I felt so much freedom!!!! I was excited!! 
     When I got out of the hospital I still had my dead end job, but I didn't care. I just started painting with passion, and I haven't stopped since.

                                 D10-16 Doodleboy and his friends love playing in the snow!

"The Test" by Corey Couturier

                                                  "The Test" by Corey Couturier
                                                               2013

Celebrating the Art of Corey Couturier for Youtube

Corey Couturier, The Works

"Remember When" by Corey Couturier

                                                                                   "Remember When" by Corey Couturier. 2013.  Mixed Media on Canvas.  size: 5ftH by 6ftW

"Remember When"  is a painting I did while living in Northern Montana in the winter of 2013.  I was born in a small town in Northern Montana by the name of Chester, and was raised in Chinook.  All these little towns in Northern Montana sprung up along the tracks of the Great Northern Railroad.  Unfortunately all these little towns are gradually getting smaller and smaller as time goes on.  Eventually, perhaps the only reminder of these towns will be some ancient graffiti left on a wall somewhere.  As I was contemplating the fate of these little towns, I realized that the cemeteries of these towns are filled with my family and relatives, and that one day I myself may be laid to rest in one.  I realized that my life here on earth is going to end someday.  This piece is my cry to "not forget me."  The symbols and words and dates are important to me, like July 20, is the day I gave my life to Jesus.  There are other hidden things in this painting as well.  My hope is that it will speak to each  person in a different and profound way.  In a way, it's my way of making my mortality last beyond my life.  Enjoy!!

Corey Couturier Art Show 2012

Let My People Go!  by Corey Couturier. 2013

Let My People Go!  By Corey Couturier. 2013

"Let My People Go" is as much about my personal journey to find peace with God, as it is about one of the most controversial issues in the Church today.  I grew up thinking that God was always mad at me, and I grew frustrated thinking that I never measured up, was never good enough to please Him.  I lived a very frustrating life as a Christian, until one day when I was in my late 30's, I discovered a word, "Grace".  And even though I didn't understand it, I set a life long goal to embrace it and to understand it and how it applied to my life.  The result has been life changing, and it is a passion of mine to share it through my art.

Barefoot and (pregnant) In Love by Corey Couturier

       Barefoot and (Pregnant) In Love
I painted this painting while staying in Chinook during the summer of 2013.
It measures 30"W by 40"H by 1 1/2"D.  Mixed media on Gallery wrap canvas.
http://www.coreycouturier.com

When I am painting a new painting, I have found it helpful to hide my other paintings from my sight, so they don't influence or distract me from what I'm doing. I want each of my paintings to be unique. When I have another painting around, I find myself getting discouraged that the new one might not look as good as the finished one. And so now, I simply won't look at a finished painting while I'm in process. That way the new painting will be fresh and new, and excellent in its own way. Blessings!!

Art For Chinook by Corey Couturier

Art For Chinook

Art For Chinook by Corey Couturier

Mixed Media on Canvas.  6ftH by 7ftW by 3.5"D

2013

Prints available at:  www.coreycouturier.com

LOVE!!!

                                                               D9-37  LOVE!!!
                                              2013  Doodle Art by Corey Couturier
                                                 http://www.coreycouturier.com

Corey Couturier Art Show 2012

The Two of Us Fashion by Corey Couturier

Another of my designs. 2013.  The Two of Us.

Corey Couturier Fashion 2013

Corey Couturier Fashion 2013.

I love simplistic, yet sophisticated designs

with lots of contrast.  From my "Black and White" Series.

Corey Couturier enjoying Summer in Chinook, Montana. 2013

Enjoying my summer here in Chinook, Montana!

Art For Chinook Project

http://www.coreycouturier.com

Art For Chinook Art Project 2013

Art For Chinook Project  8/3/13

My summer art project is moving forward nicely here in Chinook, Montana.  I've decided to actually paint the painting in the garage because of the size of the painting.  It is just too large to paint in my studio, which is ok.  One good thing is that there's electricity in the garage so I will be able to paint at night if I like.  I have located a volunteer carpenter to build the stretching frame and we will stretch the canvas together.  I've decided to actually use a large drop cloth canvas for the canvas and will gesso both sides.  I received that advice from an art expert I met in Phoenix last year.

My prayer is that the city of Chinook, the people who live here, will support me in this venture.  I believe God gave me the inspiration to do this project, and so, I move forward by the grace and favor of God.  Already one person, who read the article in the newspaper, stopped me at the post office and wrote me a check for $50.00, and that's a very positive sign.  Last week, I was at a local meeting place(a bar. lol) and one guy came up to me and told me that the town of Chinook would not support me, and he and his girlfriend began to trash me and my project.  Oh Well.  All I need to do is move forward and do what God has laid on my heart to do.  I put my trust in God, and not in men.  I refuse to listen to negative reports.  Any time anyone decides to step out of the box to do something unique and great, there will be much opposition from people without vision, from the naysayers, etc.  I understand that.  Basically, I'm putting my head on the chopping block.  But I also believe there are so many good people in this town who are rooting for me, and for that I'm appreciative!!

Corey Couturier Fine Art

I Pray for Rain

"I Pray for Rain" will be donated to the CFTN Community Center in the fall of 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Hands of Love 2012

Hands of Love 2012

This came out in the Blaine County Journal yesterday. I'm very excited about taking on this challenge, which will be the biggest challenge I have taken on so far. I keep pushing myself to dream bigger dreams, to attempt the impossible, to live in the realm of faith. I choose to live the dream God downloaded into my heart.

D9-17 Quite the Ride!!

D9-17  Quite the Ride!!  Doodle Art by Corey Couturier.  http://www.facebook.com/coreycouturier

Your Presence is Heaven to Me Israel Houghton *NEW VERSION*

Once In a Blue Moon

D9-15  Once in a Blue Moon.  Doodle Art by Corey Couturier.  www.coreycouturier.com

Chinook Art Project

7/22/13  My quest to do a painting of Chinook, Montana, this summer is going well and on track so far.  I just spoke to a guy named Mac who has agreed to donate his time to build a frame for the canvas to be stretched on.  The painting is being planned out to be 7ft wide and 6ft high.  I'm planning on getting the canvas and wood on or near the first of August.  I will also have the entire month of August to obtain sponsors for the project.  It will be a very busy month.  I'm praying for the LORD's favor as I move forward with this project.  LORD, you are the one who opens and closes doors.  I pray you will open the hearts of Chinook Residents to join me in this endeavor.  It will be good for the whole city.  I have my studio set up and I'm praying it will be large enough to hand a painting of that size.  If not, I'm not sure what I'll do.  I've been taking photos around town and talking to people to get ideas of what to include in the painting.  Some have suggested "The Bear Paw" mountains, and others have suggested mosquitos.

Can't wait to get the internet at the house.  Dominique called the telephone company this AM to connect phone and internet service.  Praying everything will go well.

"I Am Loved" by Corey Couturier

"I Am Loved" by Corey Couturier. 2013 on plywood. 4ft by 5ft.

My first painting done in Chinook, Montana. Painted live at the Blaine County Fair. Looking for a great piece of wood to paint on when my dad told me he had an old piece of ...plywood out at the farm that had been sitting there for years. At first I hesitated, but then, I decided to take a look at it. It wasn't very impressive when I looked at it. It had been tossed over the fence and left for some future project that never came. And so the plywood sat there, unused year after year. But when I took a look at it, I didn't see an old piece of plywood, but rather a wonderful painting to bless people with. I didn't look at what I saw, I looked at it's potential. That's the way God is. He doesn't look at us in our brokenness. He looks at us and he sees our potential. He's sees something great, something redeemable, no matter how worthless we feel, or how cast away we view ourselves. God wants to make a masterpiece out of each of our lives and it's all possible through Jesus, who made a way for us to have a relationship with God. How awesome is that!!!See More

"The Narrow Gate" by Corey Couturier

My last painting while living at my residence in Glendale, AZ.  Mixed Media on Gallery Wrap.  24" by 24" by 1 1/2".

"The Battle of the Desert" by Corey Couturier

Battle of the Desert started as a Doodle.  I fell in love with it and so decided to make it into a painting.  I made several changes to the original doodle.  I am extremely pleased with the finished piece.  5ftH by 4ftW by 1 1/2" D  Gallery wrap.  Mixed Media.  Original Painting.  $8000.00
www.coreycouturier.com