Books We’ve Read That You Should, Too:

Here are a few great reading resources that I believe will impact your purpose. Get one for yourself or for another artist or designer:

FINDING DIVINE INSPIRATION by J. Scott McElroy

Who Should Read It:
Artists, designers and other creative people that really want to learn how to hear from the Holy Spirit concerning their talent…seriously!

What I REALLY Liked About It:
Many of you have been asking about how an artist hears from God. This book covers that in a practical way. It demonstrates with examples from artists like Thomas Blackshear and Ron DiCianni how they welcome the Spirit of God before they dive into the next creative project.

What Can You GAIN From It:
Developing a “Listening Lifestyle”- taking personal “Retreat Time” with God. Not only daily quiet time, but scheduling occasional “Retreat Hours” or even “Retreat Days”!

See my full review and the author’s video interview>>

ART FOR GOD’S SAKE by J. Philip Graham Ryken

Who Should Read It:
Artists who have felt misunderstood or even rejected by the church.

What I REALLY Liked About It:
It’s a quick read, but solid. The author took a big issue and consolidated it into only sixty-four pages. Great for those of us on the go.

What Can You GAIN From It:
The author sums up four pillars of what one could consider the Christian theology of the arts:
The artist’s call and gift come from God; God loves all kinds of art; God maintains high standards for goodness, truth and beauty; and art is for the glory of God.

IMAGINE: A Vision for Christians in the Arts by Steve Turner

Who Should Read It:
Artists who have contemplated the following: “Should a Christian artist create work that is not obviously biblically based? Is there room to do other work without feeling guilt?”

What I REALLY Liked About It:
Turner defends his point that many Christian artists use their redemptive experience as the sole driver in their artistic expression, forsaking basics like training, exploring creative culture and other things that actually lead to hindering God’s impact on the secular culture.

What Can You GAIN From It:
An unexpected method of how to really impact the secular culture through the use of our gifts and talents.

See related article.

THE ARTIST’S WAY by Julia Cameron

Who Should Read It:
If you feel that your own habits and lack of discipline have caused you to repeatedly hinder your artistic growth, then this book can help. Although it’s not a “Christian” book, it is good for the Christian artist who has allowed his God-given talent to be hindered.

What I REALLY Liked About It:
Practical exercises. Initially I thought that some of Cameron’s exercises were silly and felt like self-help fluff, but I quickly learned that the book is full of hands on exercises that confront you and force you to either change your habits or choose to continue to live in them.

What Can You GAIN From It:
Need to shut up talking about changing your habits and actually draw, paint or create more? This book is filled with hands on methods that help you do it.

BY DESIGN- Visual Journal & Sketchbook by Tony Snipes

Who Should Read It:
Artists and designers that need a tool to use during their quiet time with God.

What I REALLY Liked About It:
It’s multi-purpose use: Visual Journal, Sketchbook and Devotional created with the Visual Artist, Painter, Designer and Illustrator in mind. The book contains over 90 open sketch pages along with multiple scriptures that speak directly to the Visual Artist. The purpose of this book is to be a practical tool to help artists seek God’s purpose and plan for their talent.

What Can You GAIN From It:
-Get Scriptural Answers to Your Questions About Your Creative Purpose.
-Stop Wasting Time and Do Something Creative Each Day.
-Record the Journey as it Happens.

ANGELS AMONG US: The Illustrated Truth About Angels by Tony Snipes

Who Should Read It:
Designers and Artists who are motivated by the rough “behind the scenes” type work of fellow artists.

What I REALLY Liked About It:
This book informs as it entertains: Does EVERYONE have a guardian angel? How many angels are actually named in the bible? Do angels REALLY walk the earth? This book uniquely approaches answering these questions and many others.

What Can You GAIN From It:
Answers to questions like “Does EVERYONE have a guardian angel? How many angels are actually named in the bible? Do angels REALLY walk the earth?” Answers to these questions along with insight from the mind of the artist.