How to beat the greatest challenge Christian visual artists face today by Sara J

If you are a Christian visual artist today, passionate about using your art to express your faith, you are in a minority. I have run into many talented artists who are Christian. They create for the sheer joy of working in the medium of their choice. Like a lot of secular artists, they engage in ideas, concepts and the free expression of color and design challenges, without ever delving into their deeper spiritual self.

It is not surprising that exploring art in any depth, through the prism of our Christian faith is rather rare. The culture, which is decidedly hostile, does more than discourage such pursuits. It applauds New Age spirituality while sneering at any expression of biblical faith through works of art. As a result, the caliber of work that is produced as Christian art is sugary and trite. Serious artists shy away from being even remotely identified with such 'Christian art'.

That is precisely the greatest challenge that Christian artists face today. We have allowed the contempt of the art world to steer us clear from the center stage. We have submissively packed up our tools and now quietly practice our skills backstage. Undoubtedly the work created there is beautiful, but it is also meaningless.

So how do we overcome? Col 3;23 gives us a starting point. Whatsoever we do, we work at it with all our HEART, working as unto the Lord, not for man. Recalibrating our expectations for applause and affirmation, is the first step to take. Jesus is the one we work for. Our applause must come from Him. He knows when we are being shallow and when we truly respond from our hearts.

Expect opposition and brace yourself for it. Decide ahead of time that it will only make you more determined to pursue an authentic expression of art. Anything less dishonors the one you call 'Lord'.

If you purpose to seek God for a fresh expression in your art, something magical happens. He allows you to take a tantalizing peek into areas of creativity that you could never have envisioned before. The new vistas that He will reveal are stoutly hidden from view until you take that secret step – a step that only He knows, and one that only He can reward.

If you are a Christian artist, and you have never stepped boldly into this new area, I encourage you to do so now. Realize that your artwork was meant to be an organic expression of the redemptive work of Christ in your life.
The sappy Christian art of today can be a thing of the past.

The more we create, the better we’ll understand how best to tell the marvelous story of Jesus in our lives. The more skilled we become as Christian artists, the greater the likelihood of our presence and influence in the art world.
Skill only grows out of persistent, diligent practice. As aged wine, it may take a lifetime of dedicated labor to produce the sweet fruit of powerful, meaningful art.

If you can become comfortable with never receiving accolades from the contemporary art world, you will free yourself from the most powerful shackles which restrain you from creating as you were meant to. Jesus, as your only audience, is your best defense against losing yourself once more backstage, where you were never meant to be.

Author Resource:-> Sara J has created and exhibited art for over 25 years. She is passionate about encouraging Christian artists to fulfill their artistic calling. Her website http://www.christian-artist-resource.com has been created to inspire other Christian artists to explore art in a way that may appear contrary to prevailing wisdom, but is intensely satisfying and productive. To find out more about your artistic calling read http://www.christian-artist-resource.com/masters-commission.html

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