The Painting Table

"Roger Hutchison invites us to pull up a comfortable chair to his kitchen painting table and begin to write, to draw, to mark it with our fingerprint." —from the Foreword by Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

"The Painting Table allowed us to be expressive, in the moment, happy, sad and excited to be wet with paint. It taught us about color and blending colors to make new colors. It brought out conversations about ourselves as we expressed excitement to paint as well as some fear about lack of skill to paint... mostly the parents. The Painting Table allowed us to bond over the art while also allowing us to reflect together with our fellow parishioners. The Painting Table is addictive. Once we finished one painting we went on to another and another until the drying table was more than full with beautiful creations of art and the room was filled with happiness. The Painting Table is healing." —Tracy Day, Parishioner, Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown, Connecticut

"Roger Hutchison knows that the One who ordered and turned a formless void into immense beauty is creative beyond imagination. He also knows that same God is still at work--in our little worlds, in our everyday challenges, and in our own modest efforts to create things of beauty. I have seen Roger guide the hands of young and old into the joy that pens and paints and markers bring. Through The Painting Table he eloquently reminds us that creative expression is not just for formal artists, but can become a part of every life—and an aid to deepening prayer." —The Very Reverend Timothy Jones, Dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Columbia, South Carolina and the author of The Art of Prayer: A Simple Guide to Conversation with God

"All of us need space to tell stories, reflect, and record thoughts in words, doodles, and drawings, but few of us find the resource to make that space possible. In The Painting Table, Roger Hutchison invites you to a sacred place, the table of his beloved Mammaw. The table has shared the laughter of children in celebration and the tears of those in sorrow. Join him there to find the space you need to gain the life God created for you. Join him to celebrate God’s gift of life, moving from loss to light." —The Reverend Michael Sullivan, Rector of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and author of Windows into the Soul and Windows into the Light

"Imagine an ordinary kitchen table transformed by remembering, telling and listening to stories into a sacred place. In The Painting Table, Roger tells a tender story through word and paintings rich in color, texture and symbolism that invites us to set an ordinary table that will be transformed into a sacred space of remembering, telling, and celebrating our own stories with vivid colors of paint, crayons and markers. With the playful spirit of an artist and blank pages with prompts he gives us permission take time to dig deeply and let our very souls talk in a language beyond words. This is the perfect book for home, Sunday School, retreats, intergenerational events and more. I can imagine a child coming home from school or an adult from a long day's work pulling this book out to trace the lines of the paintings and painting her own story for the day. Families grieving the loss of a loved one might use the book to create a storybook as handed down to the next generation. The possibilities are as endless as the communities we gather. It is a place for us to interact with sacred Word and Table of our liturgy of telling, remember, and celebrating." —Jenifer C. Gamber, author of My Faith, My Life: A Teen’s Guide to the Episcopal Church and Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People

"What a gem! Roger Hutchison has written a wonderful little book about death and life, illustrated with his magnificent paintings. In telling his own story about his 'Mammaw,' Roger invites us to experience his acclaimed 'Painting Table' method of Christian Formation through story telling, painting and journaling. An invaluable resource for all ages." —The Rev. Robert L. Tate, President, Episcopal Church Visual Arts (ECVA)

"The Painting Table is a treasure for one person or a group experiencing the grief of loss and the sacred work of living beyond goodbyes. This book is beautiful in image and moving through word and silence. As a priest and a hospital chaplain, I have witnessed the multitude of emotions that accompany grief and loss. The Painting Table is a beautiful way to meet these unorganized and deeply personal emotions through art and reflection. Many people have experienced taking their own seat at a certain 'story-drenched' table, learning to grow as family through the sacred act of holding on and letting go—saying hello and goodbye. Roger Hutchison's gentle, heartfelt telling of his own loss and treasured memories touches those deep and familiar places. A wonderful resource for all seeking a safe place to remember." —The Reverend Carrie Craig, hospital chaplain