What Are Your Greatest Needs as an Artist?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rich Frazer on September 28, 2009 at 10:25am

Value - Believers value art outside the church, but not sure the church values artistic expression like it should. When the church values creative expressions, it will do something about it. How to get the church leaders to value it? Let them experience it.
Vision - for seeing the Body of Christ express itself - to itself and to the world.
Validation - We artists and creative people thrive in an atmosphere of acceptance, validation, and celebration of our craft(s). Validation in any form (public expression, leadership acknowledgement, compensation, personal appreciation) stimulates creative juices that fuel artist to do the next thing.
Venue - providing opportunity for artists to demonstrate their God-inspired craft.

That's my "V" contribution for the day. Tomorrow it may come in "Ps".

Thank you for what you do, Joey. You are an eye in the Body of Christ. A Keen Eye.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Jeanseau on September 28, 2009 at 10:29am

Time. I feel like I have a whole series of paintings backing up in my heart and brain and I just need time. Open time. To wander, write, come back and paint, then doodle, and stare and then come back and paint.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Jeanseau on September 28, 2009 at 10:33am

Yeah that is my other thought,Value--My paintings at this point just stack up in my studio. Not sure they are valued as spiritual enough, we are so stuck on the sermon as the place of teaching. Most christians don't need more teaching.
I've even thought of reaching out to the mexican catholic community with them as they still believe in the stillness and rememberance that altars bring. I would love for people to have a place to respond to my paintings and be challenged to draw deeper into God through them.

Rich Frazer said:

Value - Believers value art outside the church, but not sure the church values artistic expression like it should. When the church values creative expressions, it will do something about it. How to get the church leaders to value it? Let them experience it.
Vision - for seeing the Body of Christ express itself - to itself and to the world.
Validation - We artists and creative people thrive in an atmosphere of acceptance, validation, and celebration of our craft(s). Validation in any form (public expression, leadership acknowledgement, compensation, personal appreciation) stimulates creative juices that fuel artist to do the next thing.
Venue - providing opportunity for artists to demonstrate their God-inspired craft.

That's my "V" contribution for the day. Tomorrow it may come in "Ps".

Thank you for what you do, Joey. You are an eye in the Body of Christ. A Keen Eye.

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Permalink Reply by Durand on September 28, 2009 at 10:39am

Opportunities to see our art shared and enjoyed by others. I'm a songwriter who's song his music to an empty couch in the living room more times than they've been downloaded or played in concert halls. But I'm not so bothered by the quantity of listeners. It's the chances missed I could have involved others in what I do and feel connected for a few moments, offering what comes from the heart.

We artists whine a lot that people don't understand us. But we're not always the best at creating space to connect so we can be understood. It'll take some grace to get people more skilled at organizing than creating to develop environments that allow artist and audience to connect.

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Permalink Reply by Angie DiNardi on September 28, 2009 at 10:41am

Yes, I feel the same exact way!! I have so many paintings in my mind, but so little time, and when I do have time, I'm overwhelmed and don't know where to start.

Julie Jeanseau said:

Time. I feel like I have a whole series of paintings backing up in my heart and brain and I just need time. Open time. To wander, write, come back and paint, then doodle, and stare and then come back and paint.

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Green on September 28, 2009 at 12:01pm

One thing that would make a tremendous difference for me is a place to share the talents, gift and passion that God has instilled in me. I am waiting, praying and pressing in for a breakthrough.

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Permalink Reply by Scott A. Shuford on September 28, 2009 at 1:01pm

Just posting so I can see the discussion progress. :) I'm very interested to hear this as well.

At Your Service,

Scott A. Shuford, Principal
FrontGate Media
Extra Mile Merch
My Broken Palace

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl Null on September 28, 2009 at 1:06pm

This site is a great start! I do not feel as alone knowing that all of you feel the same way. I need focus. It is so easy to get distracted and assume that cleaning the house is more important than this work. Worship through art needs to move to the top and not the bottom of my daily list.

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Permalink Reply by Sharon Smith on September 28, 2009 at 3:35pm

My answer to that one... To be BOLD and have a heart like Paul in Philippians 1. Completely having hope (Phil 1:6) "that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the end day in Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:15-18) Preaching Christ, regardless of motive, Paul rejoiced for Christ was being proclaimed. We've been given a beautiful gift to create and express; proclaim the love, mercy, grace, and blessings that The Lord has bestowed upon us.

I completely relate with all your comments... Pray and ask the Lord to grant you the BOLDNESS to go out and share the gospel through your gift. Even if only one person view's your piece through music or canvas, the story behind it is where the Lord may tug at their heart and cause the change. We are but mere vessels, we are but a vapor...It is the Lord who will work in us and through us. Don't let the enemy rob you of your JOY and talent. Serve others by sharing your beautiful gift. God said "ask and you shall receive (as long as it is lined up with His will) your gift is from Him! (Romans8:31)"If God be for us , who is against us?" Make the time because YOU matter!

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Hartung on September 28, 2009 at 4:43pm

I need to understand and fully grasp that creating is a priority. When I do that, I will pray about it, schedule it in, and not let other things nudge it out of the way. And Ooh, how I would love, to have the time and the freedom to dive fully in to see what God has waiting there. He is the author and the finisher!!!

Enjoying this conversation!

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Hartung on September 28, 2009 at 4:51pm

Loved your comment "Most Christians don't need more teaching." I was just listening to (a teaching ha) that talked about... we can get in a ditch by jumping from one teaching to the next and not applying it to our lives. Not changing in any way- or taking any corresponding action. I am going to dig deeper and purpose to apply the Word I have learned to my life.

Julie Jeanseau said:

Yeah that is my other thought,Value--My paintings at this point just stack up in my studio. Not sure they are valued as spiritual enough, we are so stuck on the sermon as the place of teaching. Most christians don't need more teaching.
I've even thought of reaching out to the mexican catholic community with them as they still believe in the stillness and rememberance that altars bring. I would love for people to have a place to respond to my paintings and be challenged to draw deeper into God through them.

Rich Frazer said:

Value - Believers value art outside the church, but not sure the church values artistic expression like it should. When the church values creative expressions, it will do something about it. How to get the church leaders to value it? Let them experience it.
Vision - for seeing the Body of Christ express itself - to itself and to the world.
Validation - We artists and creative people thrive in an atmosphere of acceptance, validation, and celebration of our craft(s). Validation in any form (public expression, leadership acknowledgement, compensation, personal appreciation) stimulates creative juices that fuel artist to do the next thing.
Venue - providing opportunity for artists to demonstrate their God-inspired craft.

That's my "V" contribution for the day. Tomorrow it may come in "Ps".

Thank you for what you do, Joey. You are an eye in the Body of Christ. A Keen Eye.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Weyhrich on September 28, 2009 at 5:09pm

Financial support. (obvious answer but needs discussion.) The financial support for Christian visual fine artists to continue doing what we are called to do without compromising their mission is the hurdle that I am constantly witnessing. In the fine visual arts people seems to enjoy our gifts, yet rarely, if ever, do they return it with purchases or donations. I do realize that supporting contemporary fine artists difficult, but the good financial years were equally difficult for most individual contemporary christian artists. Neither the church knew what to do with these non-traditional arts for unless they were "performed" in front of the church service or created traditional worship liturgical items, they have few places to exist. Both as an artist and curator, we arts missionaries spend every cent we can afford, yet do not have any income. The choice is often give up and go back to the paying job, or compromise our art to an acceptable marketable art in mass production. There should be a place in between that can support the fine arts as a mission and truly treat them as missionaries. -that is my take, not whining just stating the facts. thanks for asking!

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