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.
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.
I think I should check out a couple of these books! One that I’ve found enjoyable and challenging to read is “Me, Myself and Bob” by Phil Vischer, the founder of Veggie Tales. He learned some spiritual and practical things the hard way. I recommend it to any Christian, but especially to Christian artists.
here’s my list(s) of recommendations (and then some):
1. the most important to me as a new christian (who was already an artist) were:
schaeffer’s art and the bible
rookmaaker’s modern art and the death of culture
chaplin and brand – art and soul: signposts for christians in the arts
2. however, critically, i think the most important books for thinking through art would be:
brueggemann’s prophetic imagination
the liberated imagination: thinking critically about the arts by leland ryken
hyde’s the gift
3. lastly, the 3 books i would probably recommend as “the best of both worlds” would be:
chaplin and brand – art and soul: signposts for christians in the arts
daniel siedell – god in the gallery
it was good: making art to the glory of G-d by ned bustard
as a christmas bonus, here’s a [partial] list culled from my library:
rookmaaker – art needs no justification
detweiler – a matrix of meanings
arts’n'faith authors in general: doyeweerd, luttikhuizen, zuidervaart, and edward veith jr.
eugene peterson – subversive spirituality
friesens -artists, citizens, philosophers: seeking the peace of the city
betty spackman – a profound weakness: christians and kitsch
dyrness – a visual faith: art, theology and worship in dialogue
gene edward veith – state of the arts: from bezalel to mapplethorpe greg wolfe – intruding upon the timeless: meditations on art, faith and mystery
paul avis – god and the creative imagination: metaphor, symbol & myth in religion and theology
harold best – unceasing worship: biblical perspectives on worship and the arts macgregor and langmuir – seeing salvation: images of christ in art by ryken (editor) – the dictionary of biblical imagery: an encyclopedic exploration of the images, symbols, motifs, metaphors, figures of speech and literary patterns of the bible
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Mate!! Where have you BEEN my whole life?!! I definitely need to get these books! Thanks man. Awesome stuff
Thanks, Lori!
I’ll check it out.
Tony-
You should read “Imagine That” by Manuel Luz. My artist small group just finished studying this book…AMAZING! I think everyone that comes to your site would LOVE it!
Manuel is an extraordinary pianist and worship leader, but, his book is written to every kind of artist! Just excellent insights – really made our group think!
God Bless!