Is Contemporary Christian Art Second Rate?
Praying Hands Clip Art. Still Relevant?
I’ve recently been reading “Imagine- A Vision for Christians in the Arts”; a book that many of you may be familiar with by Steve Turner. Steve comes out of the gates with a concept that unfortunately is not uncommon: that a lot of Christian contemporary art is of poor quality, yet a great deal of art created by non-Christians is of good quality.
His point is that many Christian artists use their redemptive experience as the sole driver in their artistic expression, forsaking basics like training, exploring creative culture and old fashioned practice the way that many (not all but many) non Christian artists do.
Here’s how Turner breaks it down:
1. Talent: You’re Born With It. Every artists starts out at the same point with being blessed with God-given talent and ability.
2. Skill: You Have Control Over It. That’s what’s within your control. You have the ability to grow and perfect that God-given talent through the natural. Classes, training, school, tutorials. Not all artist do it, but those that perfect their skill command attention and a voice whether they are Christians or not.
3. Inspiration: You Look For It. From people, from experiences and, for the Christian artist, from the Spirit of God Himself.
Where the Christian artist gets in trouble is that they start with #1 (Talent), run with #3 (Inspiration) inspired by their own redemptive experience, but forsake a lot of #2 (Skill, or the further development of it) and don’t pursue sharpening their skills to compete for the attention of today’s audience.
I’ve seen this frustrate the likes of the independent Christian comics artist and others that are inspired to create a project to reach the people of today, but fail to bring the quality up to that which the people of today have come to expect.
What are your thoughts on the issue? Post your comments below:
I find this train of thought a little troubling. The idea that we can rate art based on quality is a little absurd to my mind. Art is the most subjective thing in the world. I have seen things created in major world class museums that I thought was utter garbage. I went to the FACULTY art show at a major university which included an installation of a human hair randomly glued to the walls with neither rhyme nor reason. Another installation showed a video of a man inflating and then popping paper bags. Mind you these are people who hundreds of parents pay several years salary to have their kids educated by. Beyond that these are the gatekeepers who decide what’s good. It’s ludicrous. Create your best work, keep growing, give it to God and trust Him with it. Since I found out Keith Haring was receiving $250,000 or more a painting BEFORE his death I gave up on the idea that anyone really knows what good art is. (I like Haring’s stuff oddly enough but I can’t hang it with a Rembrandt.) Make what you like, buy what you like and trust God. I think I spend half my time doing workshops just convincing people they can express themselves creatively because people who were educated by people who glue hair to the wall told them they couldn’t. MAKE ART!
Hi Dave-
I agree with you on the crazy stuff that’s found in museums these days. I’ve always said that I could grab something out of my garage, put on a pedestal, post a label on it and a museum would call it “art”.
What I’m getting at in this week’s post is when Christain artists foresake the pursuit of excellence in their craft through practice and training.
I’ve seen many a Christian artist frustrate themselves in trying to launch a Christian themed comic that received little-to-no interest from an audience simply because they needed to practice drawing anatomy more.
yeah I get that too. I actually changed my style as a result of some of that. I decided that I wanted to be looser and so I went to a humor style that works for me. It’s not that I can’t do the other things. It’s a choice, something I like better which again kind of brings me back to the subjective nature of it all. I look at your stuff and go wow, but honestly, that would take me too long. I’m geared to go fast and get it out. It’s the way I’m wired. It’s why I like to do worship paintings and things like that. I simplify it to the point where I can do it fast and if it helps me get the message across, it’s good. But again for me I don’t do art for art sake, for the most part. My art is subject to the message. See where I’m coming from? I think it was Gary Coleman who once said it takes diff’rent strokes to move the world, lol. Good chat!
I’m with yah.
You have done a great job in exemplifying excellence in the humor style. Another artist my attempt that same style, not train, practice or attempt to master it, and will come up short in the craftmanship.
Over the years that I’ve known you, you’ve never skimped on quality in order to communicate the Gospel!
1st question is, did he come up with this notion on his own? I’ve read this question/idea posed atleast in one other source: It was good–making art to the glory of God in Gregory Wolfe’s essay about imagination.
2nd is, i agree w/ him. I don’t know if you can look at it purely in the visual arts, but look at the christian movies. The majority of them are horrid quality and laughable when compared to the secular standards movies have today. Everything from camera angles, script writing, dialogue, acting. To quote from the book I mentioned:
If art is dominated by a moralistic desire to preach at the audience, it will become lifeless and didactic……
…many christians in america ..create a subculture with christian publishers, christian record labels, christian art galleries. the underlying message conveyed by these products is that they are safe and they have the christian seal of approval. But this is the devil’s bargain; in exchange for safety, these products have given up their imaginative power.
I went to both a christian visual arts college and a secular one. With some students, at the christian college, the idea of getting the message out was so important that it always overshadowed the skill to get there. The same was seen in some students at the secular college as well…that their point to get across was much more important than the means to get there. The majority of the time, neither student makes it to “the art world” unless they can honestly think of some bizarre way to get attention. I think it’s unfortunate that you walk into a christian book store it’s often the corny artwork that make it on the walls, but it is what sells.
as far as major art exhibits looking like crap i think it’s important to remember that Picasso could paint realism, but he chose not to.
Myself, i honestly don’t feel i have the training and the skill to put myself out there as boldly as to try to get into a gallery…either i lack the skill or the ability to b.s.
Thanks for chiming in, Casey.
Your perspective is a good one, having studied at both a Christian AND secular visual arts college!
I like what you observed from both camps: “…the idea of getting the message out was so important that it always overshadowed the skill to get there.”
Tony-
Hi all,
Interesting discussion here. As a fine artist (painter) who had a 20 year art practice before going back and doing a Fine Art Degree at a secular University, I can say my experience has to agree with Casey’s observations. I found that in this current contemporary art scene, skill base seems to come a poor second to the conceptual considerations. I personally think that the art that ’sings’ is that which lures me in with a brilliant aesthetic of craftsmanship teamed with an intriguing concept which makes me think. The ‘worldly’ art definitely benefits from the effort it puts into the ideas, conceptually challenging and stretching society’s thinking. Maybe the ‘Christian’ art should look more carefully at it’s conceptual depth and refrain from stating the obvious in such a saccharine and cliche way. I guess that may sound harsh, but I’m personally committed to letting God speak in new and exciting ways through my artworks which don’t necessarily look like ‘Christian’ art. I want to engage in a broader dialogue with my contemporary art peers in the ‘world’ (of which I’m a part) so I am following Jesus’ example….know your audience, use a subtext, be relevant to the cultural conditions, don’t be afraid of darkness in your story/art and be real! Jesus always engaged His audience through a ‘hook’ of real personal experience….and maybe that is what could be lacking in the poorer quality of ‘christian art’ and ‘worldly art’ we sometimes cringe at. Does it resonate with a personal reality? Or is it just getting up on the same soap box and halfheartedly saying the same things in the same way that everyone has heard before and dismissed. We are made in the image of THE CREATOR so we should surely be leading the way into fresh and exciting revelations of His Plan and His Love.
anyway, thats my rant!
blessings!
deb
Great “rant”, Deb.
You sum up a lot of what’s in Steve Turner’s book.
too much to respond to in a single post, so i’ll post several times, noting who i’m responding to.
first, let me say that, while imagine is a pretty good book, it doesn’t even make my top 10 books about the subject of the christian artist. i think that saying that “a lot of christian contemporary art is of poor quality, yet a great deal of art created by non-christians is of good quality” is actually quite misleading. we could just as easily say that “a lot of christian contemporary art is of good quality, yet a great deal of art created by non-christians is of poor quality.” turner goes on to make the point – repeatedly – that an artist works within a tradition, and that they need to acknwledge that as they work. there’s an awareness that’s required to move beyond the “talented amateur” stage and engage with that larger history i.e. embrace the calling and become an Artist.
anyway, i do think the biggest issue that i’ve encountered with [christian] artists (both within the institutional context and outside it) is that they sometimes think that their heart and intention and content trumps any possible criticism of their ability to do the physical, technical work well. and then they hide behind God to deflect that criticism – i mean, how can you critique anything when someone says, God gave me that image, poem, dance, etc.?
to follow up: there are so many christian contemporary artists out there, i’m astounded.
and they even have widespread critical acclaim…e.g. tim hawkinson, tim rollins and k.o.s.
just take a look at the many contemporary art organizations out there: CIVA, imago, IAM, Image…
hey dave – i know we have had this discussion before…i do think we can judge quality in art. the Subjectivity of art does not mean that it is impossible to make judgements about it. in fact, i would argue that is a modern concept, one informed more by the idea of art as someone’s [personal] expression rather than the historical record, in which art is often critiqued for both its content and its execution (style, medium, scale, etc). of course, that is only possible if any art object/ event is considered within its appropriate historical context. daniel siedell’s god in the gallery does a great job of contextualizing art, both modern and contempoarary in that way. where did we get the idea that art occurs in a vacuum and outside of any social/ historical/ political context? besides which, the work you referenced is actually beside the point as those professors, regardless of your opinion about their work (and i’m sure there is a rhyme or reason or, if not, that the lack of it is in fact part of the meaning), are still fully capable of training those students and contextualizing art. which also doesn’t mean that I think that all those pieces have equal weight.
besides, being “creative” and “expressing yourself” is not the same thing as “making art”.
even so, i wholeheartedly agree: just. make. art.
tony,
do you really think that you “could grab something out of my garage, put [it] on a pedestal, post a label on it and a museum would call it ‘art’”?
really?
dave,
could you explain what you mean by “I don’t do art for art sake, for the most part. My art is subject to the message. See where I’m coming from?“
because I don’t see. the way i understand it, the content is coloured and modulated by the style and medium of its presentation (you might want to check out shane hipps’ flickering pixels, even though it is more about media than art, per se). ditto for the method, or mechanics, of its creation/ presentation. and i don’t do “art for art’s sake” either (a most poisonous concept if ever there was one)…
hello casey!
first, i think both ned bustard’s it was good: making art to the glory of god and gregory wolfe’s intruding upon the timeless are great resources for the christian artist.
i think we need to make a disctinction between “christian” as an adjective and “christian” as a noun. what we often call “christian art” (or film, or dance, or literature) often seems to refer to work that is obviously or overtly “biblical”, rather than having a biblical (i.e. theologically informed and True) worldview.
i also received my artistic and literary training at a “secular” institution, though I have been in leadership positions within churches (as worship leader, creative arts pastor) and have taught at christian college. i have seen inane, tepid, cliché work in both contexts, and have also been struck by powerful, rich work in both. ultimately, the artist’s commitment to excellence and pursuing their calling is the determining factor.
but i’m curious. if you’ve completed training in the visual arts in both contexts, why are you afraid to put your work “out there”? what training or skill do you feel you are you lacking? what are you doing about it? why do you think that your focus should even be “the gallery”?
and again, contemporary are is not about how bizarre you or your work is, or how much you can b.s. of course, not all art is created equal.
hello deb!
again, i can’t believe people think that the current contemporary art scene celebrates artists without technical skill. it really depends on the artist. have you watched the art:21 series? it highlights the work of 4 major contemporary artists in each episode, which is always structured around a concept. when you see some of these artists working and speaking about their work, materials, and/or process you realize how much skill and knowledge they do have. yes, not everyone paints like caravaggio or rembrandt but even in their own time that was the case! but i agree, the artist that ‘sings’ is the artist who can marry execution with content in a meaningful way.
i also agree with your challenge for [christian] artists to look deeper and think more thoroughly about the content of their work and how those ideas are presented. again, that’s why i think that the term “christian” should indicate one’s position (where one works from) and not a style. i too want to engage with the larger conversation of contemporary art, but then we are talking about choosing, and being aware of, the context for your own practise. that’s why we need to know where we are called to and engage with that context. not every [christian] artist needs to pursue the gallery scene (or even whether one wants to go the commercial, artist-run centre or public art gallery route) – there are other options for using art to engage with and communicate with people, both within and outside the church. obviously you have made some decisions about how you want to engage ‘your people’ and are being strategic and wise as you do so. thanks for weighing in!
I don’t know that artists who are Christians are any worse than the artists who is not Christians when it comes to practice and study. Has anyone looked at the daily painting sites? Some are fantastic and others are horrible. The same for comics or even illustration.
I believe it all boils down to integrity and what your purpose is for either the Christian or non-Christian. Picking on 1 specific group of artists and declaring most are not of good quality or excellence is stero-typing because a person does not want to look at the individual and make an evaluation on just that 1 individual, instead it is easier to lump every one together in one group and then point fingers.
I’m not saying an artist who is a Christian should excuse themselves from being excellent in worship to the Lord thru their art nor is it an excuse for them to not develop better skills as they progress. We all need to look to our relationship with God individually and be honest with who we are presenting His glory in this world but at the same time not judge one another as we go toward that direction if we are not exactly excellent yet. It is a goal to aspire to as we continue to offer our gifts and talents back into the Lord’s hands. I’m sure He would not be too pleased if we hide it in the ground for fear of not being excellent to begin with. Our Father is patient and kind and wants us to improve always.
I would hate to face the Lord just to find out He gave me grace and time to produce excellence.
Likewise, I would hate to achieve excellence just to find out that I neglected God’s grace and timing.
God has placed it in my heart to practice until a desired result is accomplished, but I must never assume that it is my level of skill that will reward me with God’s pleasure.
Just like eloquent speech can not save a soul, so it is with a mastered skill, but just like disciplining your tongue saves lives, so it is with your skill.
God has to be the judge of quality not the world, but yet my love for Him drives me to perfect what He freely gave me, not for His approval.
I practice to produce quality because He is worthy, not to be the best.
I found this article very interesting because Christian art/music and writing has often generated a ‘Christian cultural cringe’ amongst people within Christian culture, and derision from those without. I agree that talent is one part of the problem, but see a few other factors.
Firstly a lack of engagement with the arts in general. Sometimes Christian artists and musicians work and create within a very insular culture. For example, Christian musicians play at Christian festivals and on Christian radio stations and so don’t have to engage with what other musicians are doing. Artistic encouragement and inspiration does not have to come purely from Christian circles, in fact i think the homogeneity of Christian circles can stifle artistic expression. In the arts scene, Christian artists ought to engage with both worldly and sacred art in order to engage fully with the world in which they live.
Secondly, it sometimes seems that Christians watch what happens in secular society and then try to mirror it with Christian values in an attempt to offer a “clean alternative.” This means that art with Christian values is often more derivative and a step behind what others are doing. There are notable exceptions in Music and Literature, but I don’t know enough about Christian visual art: Soul Junk, an experimental music band whose lyrics are taken from the Bible and writers such as Tim Winton in Australia and the well-known Graham Greene.
Thirdly, I think that often Christian artists engage only superficially in their subject matter, not struggling with the difficulties of faith and doubt etc. rather portraying a rosy, life-is-perfect-once-you-are-saved ideal. I think that often Christian art is not personal enough. Christians struggle with the same issues as secular society, often moreso because we are aware of sin while secular society sometimes acts as if sin does not exist. I would like to see Christian art that deals with the difficulty of forgiveness, the difficulty of relying on God for all needs, Christian struggles with lust and greed. If art that engages with these themes exists, I would love to hear about it. Sorry this comment is so long. God bless.
a further question: turner does realize that “contemporary art” is different than “modern art”, right? it is very much a genre or style or [conceptual] approach to artmaking i.e. it is a context.
Dear Allen and everyone else who is saying what I am now writing about:
I agree in principle what you are saying but I have issue with who ever is lumping all Christian artists in the same package. There are some who are and some who are not, just as there are non-Christian who are and who are not. As Christians who make your above statements and use the wording “Christian artists” you are lumping every artist who is a Christian into the same box. That is not fair. Please stop this stero-typing this only continues the perpetuation of judging all into one box. Re-wording would be more correct: “Many or some Christian artists”.
Because we use the words “Christian artists” does not mean we are referring to “some or many” but it implies “all”. I tried to communicate this in an earlier comment but I seem to have not made it clear enough. It breaks my heart,I’m not angry only sad, that some are putting Christian artists or even artists into one box. Praying for us all.
Techne: I put things into words very poorly but yeah, distinction in the article to “christian” as a noun or adjective would be nice. I read this starting out as a critique on christian artists who do christian art. I don’t think that all christian artists get caught up in the message that they overlook quality. However I do think it’s rather sad that the majority of Christian art you see in the mainstream (all art: video, visual, writing) is rather cheesy and they do hide behind “God showed me this vision” so i can be a lil lazy w/ it. Furthermore it is like that b/c that’s what people buy. A church i went to in boston had a visual arts small group and ministry. They would have shows and for the most part it was awesome work and not like what you would see walking into a christian book store.
I never completed college but went 2 years to a christian college and 1 year at a secular private arts college. I think my problem is I enjoy doing a lot of different things but i’ve never felt extremely strong in 1 area. I’m easily confused and then when I do concentrate on something I feel as though I need more training but then I’m not sure about it so I start the cycle again of being unsure, finding something to focus on, then either getting bored or unsure again. It doesn’t have to be a gallery, but i’ve always imagined I would show in one even if it’s a coffee shop. I’m just confused.
Gimel–yes! we should develop our skill b/c God deserves nothing less.
Victoria – i apologize if you took my “christian artists” as lumping all together. The title of the article was “contemporary christian art” and i automatically think of cheesy jesus paintings and other media. I guess i am stereotyping? I don’t think so, i just have my own vocab as everyone. I never say “christian artists” and think of all artists who are christian…just artists who are christian who paint cheesy art.
whereas i see “contemporary christian art” and think of tim rollins + k.o.s., tim hawkinson, sandra bowden, makoto fujimara, jim janknegt…
the last thing i think of is “cheesy jesus paintings” (or maybe i just block them out)
it’s all relative
Here is a something my sixteen year old told me when I was feeling a down about my art work… she said “How can art be mediocre when it is creative expression , it is the way you express yourself .”
- JM
Now who could be a judge of that?
I was so inspired by her words I now look at my work differently. I am more expressive in what I do and no longer grade my work but own it.
that’s assuming, of course, that art = self-expression…or that self-expression = art
I feel like Solomon writing the book of Ecclesiates every time I delve into this topic. Meaningless, meaningless, this too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Do what you love the best than you can and do it to the glory of God. Some will hang in the Louvre, some on the refrigerator door. Some will touch the masses, some will touch one heart and some will accomplish nothing but to get something that’s in your soul out. It’s all worthwhile. So many people refuse to create because someone has told them they are not good enough to be an artist. So many people are deprived of the therapeutic aspects of creativity because someone else told them they were not good enough. Bottom line Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. JUST MAKE ART!
Hi Dave-
I see that you and a few others are on the same page concerning this topic because of a piont you’ve made here:
“Do what you love the BEST than you can…”.
There are artists (Christian and non-) who do what they love, but their execusion is not their BEST.
I keep thinking back to an art assignment I turned in during my college days. My instructor told me the idea was great, my talent was seen, but he could see how I rushed the finished product. “Poor Craftmanship” was the term that still rings in my head. I failed to execute my best work.
absolutely — and our best honours God…
Hi guys.
I hate to leave a rushed comment but,..
I see the phrase ‘get the message out there’ a lot? Are you discussing art or evangelistic comic books? Using art to put a message across is highly problematic.
Theres obviously nothing wrong with comic book artworks but there seems to be confusion (T Snipes said something about ‘junk on a pedestal’) regarding your use of the word ‘art’. You seem to be using it as some sort of qualitative description of craft of a certain level. Contemporary fine art is considered in terms of other fine art, and of modern thought. The resentment I hear is missing the fact that comic books are not usually made with the intention to engage the contemporary art world. So they don’t.
I’m sounding like an idiot here, but hopefully you can forgive that and fill me in on whatever i’ve misunderstood.
Thanks,
Josh
Manchester, UK.
hey josh,
re: I see the phrase ‘get the message out there’ a lot?…Using art to put a message across is highly problematic.
art is invariably about putting a message across i.e. communicating something. the difference is, i think, more a matter of complexity, or as calvin seerveld puts it — allusiveness. you can do it flatly or with nuance; stridently or with ambiguity; demanding or inviting. one’s audience(s) must be part of the equation (after all, it always has been).
There’s obviously nothing wrong with comic book artworks but there seems to be confusion…regarding your use of the word ‘art’. You seem to be using it as some sort of qualitative description of craft of a certain level. Contemporary fine art is considered in terms of other fine art, and of modern thought. The resentment I hear is missing the fact that comic books are not usually made with the intention to engage the contemporary art world. So they don’t.
certainly, the focus for this group is comics, though comics certainly are a reference for numerous contemporary artists, from warhol and lichtenstein through to pettibon and murikami. and there are comics that are intended to engage the contemporary art world, or other genres or knowledge fields. i mean, the genre or literary form of graphic novels has exploded in the last 20 years, let alone the 100 years that artists have been exploring the realm of the book as a form and container i.e. artists books. then again, i don’t think that is happening [very much] in this group — most of the participants are pretty clear about the arena they’re engaging with, re: both sub-culture and subject matter.
Cool,thanks techne.
Thanks for clarifying that this is comic focused. I think the issue that I had looking at some comments was that people were making generalisations about fine art from a comic book perspective, if that exists. Which would be like me trying to discuss comics to an enthusiast when I do not follow the comic culture.
I would love to see this debate move on to focus on some actual examples of ‘contemporary christian art’.
josh: i think that yes, people are making comments about contemporary art from a comics perspective. the problem is that they’re often not even engaging the realm of contemporary comics, let alone contemporary art. it is a tension i feel often — i would like to address the larger issues of art (the figure does appear in my work, and i am influenced by comics in [some of] my work) as they do, in fact, apply to the work of producing comics. but i am also interested in comics as an art form (i was going to do my master’s on post-modern narratives: the contemporary graphic novel). even if illustration as a [practical] art form was the focus that would be fine. however, sometimes contributors do slide around a lot without noting which particular issue, idea or art form they’re discussing, as in this case: comic art, contemporary art, the idea of art, its purpose, the calling of the artist, and the use(s) of art in ministry. if you’re interested in discussing ‘contemporary christian art’, i would think you could post something here; but if not, there are other places (e.g. creative edge, my blog).
Just to clarify:
In the original post, “contemporary” Christian art being 2nd rate referers to art of this current era that happens to be created by a Christian artist in any genre. That includes the painter to the comics illustrator.
Also, although this blog has quite a few comics artists as readers it’s focus is not limited to comics. It is inclusive of the full spectrum of visual artists.
Thanks!
Tony-
tony (and josh):
regardless of whether we’re discussing comic art or other contemporary art forms, i still think turner is wrong. though i also think that there is a difference in quality between art made by christians in the context of the church sub-culture (a la spackman’s a profound weakness: christians and kitsch) than the art made by christians in the larger culture (regardless of the genre/ medium). of course, it also depends on how aware you are of the work being done by christians in the larger cultural sphere…
I would be interested to see your blog techne, can you post the address?
Thanks.
and Tsnipes, I’m sorry I did forget about the original prompt – the Steve Turner book. But in another example of youthful hot headed ignorance, I’d probably say that ‘talent’, ’skill’ and ‘inspiration’ were outdated terms as a basis to discuss art even back when Hans Rookmaaker was using them.
my blog is http://etechne.blogspot.com – please feel free to make comments
I think that this can really be summed up in what Tony and another commenter said with regards to doing your BEST. I believe that the Lord has shown me without a doubt that when somebody goes all out, it will work. Your best will change over time, but you can always tell the difference between somebody who went all out with a perceived lower natural talent and somebody who had high natural talent but cut corners.
It’s like the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. The hare could have smoked the tortoise had he applied himself and been less arrogant. Doing your best is all that God is asking of you, nothing more, nothing less. And besides, don’t you think that He has something to do with what your best winds up being? People that do their best tend to wind up maxing out on their practice and on their execution during “game-time” in my opinion.
I typically do not like “post-modern art” (I think we are still in the “post-modern” art era). I believe that art is a highly expressive form of communication. Key word “communication”. I feel that a lot of post-modern art doesn’t communicate well. That said, it’s my opinion. I am careful to judge it as a complete waste of time because I am not God and I don’t know everything there is to know about anything.
Interesting discussion. I really liked what Gimel had to say…so much so, that I copied it for future reference.
I know a lot of amazing Christian artists…Chris Hopkins, Tim Soliday, Frank Ordaz, Ron Dicianni, Michael Dudash, Mick McGinty, Kim Ragsdale, Karen Cain Smith…the key here is that I KNOW them, BECAUSE I attend at least one art conference a year. I’ve learned soooo much through attending these conferences. Though I have my own style of art, I’m always open to learning new things and stirring up the gifts God has given me. I also take at least one art class a year through the local college and sometimes attend local workshops.
All this with little money output, because I barter…either trading my art for all or part of the tuition or working as a gofer or whatever is needed. I love working for my tuition, because it often means I get extra time with the presenters so I learn even more!
Sooooo the statement that Christian art isn’t as good as other art means only one thing to me…the person making the statement needs to get out more.
Heh. Really….there is some awesome Christian art and some awesome Christian artists making an impact in our world…get out there and see it. Get online and check out some of these guys or find some of the links here: http://sandycathcartmaster.blogspot.com
This coming May I will get to meet Thomas Blackshear, and I’m very excited about it. He’s one of my favorite artists…Christian or otherwise…and he happens to be an amazing Christian. You could meet him too, by attending the conference and learning from him firsthand and hearing his story. Christian artist stories are usually quite inspiring.
My dream is to save money and take a class with Dan Gerhartz. I sooooo love his style. So, I’m actually saving money and working toward doing that very thing…getting some other artists to chip in with me.
Now…on the other side…
Sometimes I see artists and musicians and writers who have amazing potential but who are afraid to take classes because they are afraid that it will “mess up” what they are getting from God.
This fear isn’t entirely without merit. Classes can “mess up” the inspiration if we aren’t careful.
For instance, I love throwing paint at the canvas…almost literally…that’s how I make my “Walk on the Wild Side” paintings. “Real” artists seldom understand those paintings and they’ll take away some of my joy, IF I let them. The key is not to let them. Listen to what others have to say, then take their comments to the Lord and listen most to what God lays on your heart after all is said and done.
We are not in competition with each other.
We need to be true to the calling Creator (God) has given us.
For me…that means I seldom think about any kind of message at all…I simply paint what I want to paint and let the rest happen. The result is that viewers often tell me they see “Love” and “Life” in my paintings. Awesome!
So, what has God called you to? Don’t know? What is in your hand? Go for it…but don’t be afraid to meet other artists and learn from others as well…such things can widen your sphere of influence if you sift the learning through prayer.
Just my thoughts.
Great thoughts, Sandy!
I think what speaks volumes in what you shared is that you are actively sharpening your skills with all the workshops you attend.
Tony-
Its hard to imagine that doing Christian cartoons is on the same level as building the Temple of Solomon. Yes, I do beleive that God requires us to do things with excellence. Yet the same level of artistic and architectural excellence required of building the Temple would probably not apply to spreading the gospel through cartoons.
I can’t see God having a problem with someone who creates stick figure cartoon tracts, mass-produces them, and distributes them globally. I do think there is a difference between, on the one hand, spreading the gospel via amateurish art and on the other hand creating a painting of the Second Coming displaying all the glory involved there. One is done to spread the Word, and the other is done more specifically for the Glory of God. As strange as it sounds, I don’t see the two things being on and the same when it comes to art. Maybe in other areas the glory of God and spreading the word would go hand-in-hand, but just simply put, art does allow for stick figures.
Christians have come to the point where they cringe unnecessarily with embarassment at second-rate Christian productions. Frankly, there is a lot more heart, emotion, and gripping story in B-grade Christian movies than the secular garbage. It is a trick of Satan operating somewhere in all this that causes many Christians to cringe with embarrasment at Christian offerings. Perhaps these cringing Chrsitians need to get their priorities straight. After all, I don’t see any secular, atheist sexual-deviant types cringing at the talentless garbage on TV.
Thanks for chiming in, Ribu John!
I don’t think it’s a matter of Cartoon tracts being compared to a Full Paintings, etc.
Both require training and skill to effectively execute and deliver the end result.
I think what some are saying here is when corners are cut and either the cartoonist or the painter does not put forth their full potential.
Many times that full potential falls short because individual practice and training are neglected.
ribu:
Yet the same level of artistic and architectural excellence required of building the Temple would probably not apply to spreading the gospel through cartoons.
i would disagree. regardless of what we do, we’re supposed to do it all for his glory, which, i think, requires our best. which requires constant growth and exploration, whether cartoons,”fine art” or architecture. excellence is always measured by the standards of the particular field, right? so it doesn’t matter which medium we swim in — there will still be standards and works by which we are compared and judged.
I can’t see God having a problem with someone who creates stick figure cartoon tracts, mass-produces them, and distributes them globally.
certainly there will be some people to whom such a thing ’speaks’…then again, why would we settle for stick-figure tracts when we could partner with people whose skills and artistic abilities are given by God and who could assist with making the tract even better. i mean, jack chick is not the standard for gospel tracts (which begs the question: how useful are tracts nowadays anyway?).
I do think there is a difference between, on the one hand, spreading the gospel via amateurish art and on the other hand creating a painting of the Second Coming displaying all the glory involved there. One is done to spread the Word, and the other is done more specifically for the Glory of God.
aren’t they both done for both reasons? shouldn’t they both be done to spread the Word and for his glory? i’m not sure those are separate things. shouldn’t everything be done “unto his glory”? in any case, if communicating the Truth in the right way at the right time is at all important, it does, in fact, matter how we present the gospel. for everything there is a season and all that…
As strange as it sounds, I don’t see the two things being on and the same when it comes to art. Maybe in other areas the glory of God and spreading the word would go hand-in-hand, but just simply put, art does allow for stick figures.
when? how? why or why not? are stick figures ‘milk’ then? then it behooves us to encourage them to go to the ‘meat’ of art. of course, i would argue that art (at least, in the way that i define it – which is as much about purpose and function as anything else) does not allow for stick figures if those stick figures are a result of one’s inability to exercise artistic skills. i can accept more simplistic figures if it is clear that other elements (style, idiom, content, context) make that a necessary and considered choice (e.g. haring, penck, paladino, cave men…).
Christians have come to the point where they cringe unnecessarily with embarassment at second-rate Christian productions. Frankly, there is a lot more heart, emotion, and gripping story in B-grade Christian movies than the secular garbage. It is a trick of Satan operating somewhere in all this that causes many Christians to cringe with embarrasment at Christian offerings. Perhaps these cringing Chrsitians need to get their priorities straight. After all, I don’t see any secular, atheist sexual-deviant types cringing at the talentless garbage on TV.
i dunno – personally, i cringe at second-rate christian productions being celebrated and offered to the [christian] public as first-rate examples. as if mediocrity or “good enough” should be acceptable. and i think that it is a gross oversimplification to state that there is more “heart etc.” (whatever that is, and however you would judge such a thing) in B-grade christian movies…as if non-christians are less engaged or passionate about the stories they have to tell. and as if “heart” justifies mediocrity, melodrama and cliche. yes, there are reprehensible movies made by non-christians, but there are also “christian” movies that do a pretty poor job or presenting the gospel in any relevant way (which is equally heinous, i think). an encounter with christ should propel the story and action, not end it. i mean, there are some significant christian contributors to that “secular garbage” (e.g. denzel washington) – you can find an interesting discussion about it at artsandfaith: http://ArtsAndFaith.com/index.php?showtopic=4426&st=40.
further, i think that the vast majority of tv watchers are not “secular, atheist sexual-deviant types”. most talentless TV ends up being cancelled (and then again, a lot of good stuff does too). besides, studies have shown that TV viewing habits differ very little between “christians” and non-christians so there’s little point in arguing that. it’s a straw man, really. the fact remains that whoever tells the best story (in the best, or most appropriate, way) wins. and we have the best story. we should tell it in a way that enables it to be received.
pax.
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