Visual Arts Article – “Struggles of a Christian Artist: How to Nurture Your Artistic Soul”
“Struggles of a Christian Artist: How to nurture your artistic soul” by Gary Nauman is a great article from Intervarsity Student Soul that talks about different ways to exercise and embrace the purpose of your artistic ability:
If you are an artist and a Christian, the odds are pretty high that you will be asked to make a poster for your church. (Okay, pass the tagboard and tempera powder!) When this happens to me, I find myself wishing that there were more ways for the church to use my artistic skills to bring God glory. Nonetheless, there are ways to find encouragement, inspiration and expression for your artist’s heart.
I am a Christian and an artist, and I care deeply about the contributions that we artists can make to the body of Christ. As Christians, our purpose — our “chief end” — is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. From our experiences as artists, we know that God has made us creative people who like to communicate and express ourselves visually. How can we bring glory to God through our artistic skills? And where do we find encouragement as Christian artists…
Take time to reflect
- So where can you find encouragement and growth as a Christian artist?
- Do your art — and pursue what God has called you to pursue.
- Find a community that is committed to making art.
- Consider where you are in history and who God has made you to be. What does it mean to be a Christian and an artist in these times?
- In what ways are empathy, play, story, and the search for meaning part of your artistic make-up?
- What are you uniquely qualified to communicate?
Read the full article at Intervarsity.com.
