What you are called to is your 'art.'
Friday, September 17, 2010 at 9:33AM Do you see yourself as an artist?
In a broader sense, an artist is someone who refuses the tired and mundane scripts being offered, in exchange for the chance to actually change people's lives. Really change people's lives.
The artist intends to reveal something through his art. There is a declaration behind it. [Otherwise, the art becomes merely self-indulgent]. The art is the access point to a deeper, somewhat veiled, reality. It provokes us, stirs us, and tells us rumors of another world. The resulting creative work is the artist's calling card, a trail of breadcrumbs that lead 'further up and further in' to this other world.
Not all artists paint or work with clay. It's not so much the tools of the artist that matter. For one artist, the medium they work in, is relationships. For others, it's the ability to bring clarity into confusion. For another, it's the art of piercing the darkness with beauty.
It's how the artist SEES that matters.
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Recommended reading:
Linchpin - Are You Indispensable, by Seth Godin. Not a 'spiritual' book, but surprisingly reflects biblical values of giving without expectation, creative freedom, and the idea that all are endowed with genius that can change lives.
Reader Comments (4)
Jim, I've read your book and it's pure grace to the soul. Ever think about writing a book for artist? I quoted from your post here on my own blog and we are having an interesting discussion. Thanks for challenging me to think more deeply about my own artistic expression and it's impact.
Hi Bren,
I'm really intrigued by your idea: writing a book for artists. What unique angle would you want to hear? How do you think I might contribute to the conversation? [Really interesting...I'll have to give this some thought.]
Well Jim, more of the same, expanding on the themes you've just brushed up against in this post for example. So much of what I've read from other christian artists (books) they make the assumption that you want to 'do your art' from within the church structure. That focus seems so, short sighted. I think that's why your post grabbed my attention and a number of my artist friends. Expressing that 'good heart' from/as the heart of an artist.
Thanks, Bren. I like your ideas here. As I said, the idea of the 'good and noble heart' for artists is intriguing -- as I'm also a professional keyboardist/pianist: http://solopiano.com/artist/JimRobbins/
Thanks again for the inspiration. I'll chew on this a bit.