Meet: Sparrow Daenitz
“Creating art for others is my passion,” Sparrow says.
We love to celebrate and introduce you to graduates of our Foundations Art Ministry course.
These artists have put in a lot of work and we are extremely proud of them, grateful to have them in our God Loves Art community, and excited to see where God leads them next in their art practice and ministry.
May you be inspired by these artists and may you keep creating because God Loves Art!
Meet: Sparrow Daenitz
Mixed Media Artist, Sparrow Daenitz, lives in Meridian, Idaho. At 69-years-old, she is bursting with life with Jesus and through making art for others. Sparrow has “never been happier,” she says.
Sparrow’s art is bursting with life, too. She enjoys playing with new techniques and media, but “I have to say that Mixed Media is my all time favorite,” she says, because, “there are so may ways to take this artform.”
Her creative inspiration and energetic personality are contagious. Sparrow says, “I love playing with all types of art, from visual arts, to writing, to dance, to video making. Life is so full of possibilities.”
What art ministry is Sparrow involved with?
Taking a break from art ministry in an official capacity in 2024, Sparrow says, “I have stepped away from any continuous ministry. I work with different outreaches when asked, time permitting.”
But, she knows first hand the life that comes from a creative practice. In this season, her art ministry is personal. “I needed desperately to have more free time to create just for the sake of creating,” Sparrow says.
As a result of this intentional restructure of her time, Sparrow has had the opportunity to play in some unexpected ways. In addition to mixed media artwork for exhibits both in person and virtual, she is trying her hand at acting.
Sparrow says, “I am also preparing to appear in a Christian film, playing Anna in the story of Simeon.”
What is Sparrow’s creative process like?
Depending on the type of artwork and project goals, she sometimes keeps a structured schedule for creating. Other times she stays open to spontaneous creative playfulness.
“If working on a specific project I am a definite planner. I do however,” Sparrow admits, “enjoy impromptu creativity.”
Why does Sparrow create?
Sparrow says, “I have always loved being creative, coloring and writing poetry. Life feeds my creative soul.” Making art for herself, no matter the medium, feeds her soul, but Sparrow also enjoys making for people in her everyday life. She says, “Creating art for others is my passion, using art as way to touch the hearts and souls of others.”
And Sparrow is never in want of inspiration. Whether it is encounters with artists in her community or trying something new, her creativity is always flowing.
“All the other creative people I know inspires me,” she says. Each month she visits her local library for an event called, Artists Stories. During the time they meet, Sparrow and her fellow attendees “hear about the chosen artist and then create according to their style,” she says. This feeds her mixed media enjoyment, too, as she says, “I enjoy learning new forms of art.”
Sparrow’s favorite author is Maya Angelou because “[Angelou] speaks her truth so elegantly,” she says. A particularly enjoyable book, Now I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, resonates with Sparrow. She says, “It is [Angelou] story of finding her voice.”
I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I am trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.
Philippians 4:12-13, The Passion Translation
This passage fills Sparrow’s faith and her creative well, too. She loves the wording in this translation, “INFUSED ME WITH POWER – WOOOHOOO!” she shares, making her excitement and personal relationship with God evident.
Encouragement from Sparrow Daenitz:
The best advice Sparrow’s received about creativity is to “Create because we are made in the image of God, the ultimate creator. And creating with God is surreal,” she says.
She loves to encourage aspiring artists and any other creative people she encounters to create in abundance and without judgement. Sparrow says, “Create freely, without judgment of self and do not compare, just be you and have fun doing it.”
To find out more about Sparrow Daenitz’s work and to be encouraged by her even more, please visit her here:
Search YouTube to find her channel called, “Crafty Bird Sparrow Daenitz” or: @craftybirdwoman
On Facebook Sparrow’s creative space online is called, “Crafty Birds Nest.”
Sparrow Daenitz is a Foundations Art Ministry Course graduate and member of Emerge, God Loves Art’s online community.
Not yet a graduate of Foundations of Art Ministry?
Find out more here.
Sparrow Daenitz is a graduate of God Loves Art Foundations Art Ministry Course, led by Jessie Nilo.
Sparrow Daenitz says, “I have grown in so many ways. Since graduation I have found more opportunities to be involved in many different art ministry projects. I am truly at home with this calling, which enables me to reach targeted audiences.”
Sparrow says that as an instructor and mentor in Foundations, Jessie is “a loving, inclusive, professional artist that is happy to share her knowledge and talents. She honest to the core and the greatest cheerleader. It is her encouragement, leadership and friendship that I have developed into the art ministry fanatic that continues to find my own voice.”
Thank you for joining us for this installment to share about graduates of our Foundations Art Ministry Course. Artists like Sparrow Daenitz have put in a lot of work and we are really proud of them, glad to have them in our God Loves Art community, and excited to see where God leads them next.
Not yet a graduate of Foundations Art Ministry Course?
Click here to find out more.
About Author + What is GLA?
Molly Ovenden writes Artist Stories. When she’s out in the wild making art you might find her writing poetry on her vintage typewriter for new coffee shop friends, photographing lines or textures in the streets, or experimenting with acrylics and collage.
Meet the rest of the team here.
You were born highly creative. Everyone around you was born creative, too. By the time they’re adults, most people believe they’re not creative at all. Let’s listen to God together. Art is important, so let’s get creating. God Loves Art.