Visual Faith

The term, "Christian art" has always bugged me. What comes to mind when I hear that term is the stuff in many Christian bookstores or images of Jesus hanging on the cross, or Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. To me, that is "religious art," and there is great meaning and beauty in that style of art.

But not all Christians create that style of art. Nor do they need to.

Sometimes the art I create is rather "dark" coming from an unknown place in my soul where sorrow and guilt meet Jesus unexpectedly. Through that interaction, expression happens, bringing to life a pencil-sketched visual image of my human reaction as I process what took place in my soul. And it often doesn't look very "Christian" and I'm pretty sure it would not be appropriate to hang on the wall in a Christian bookstore.

Other times, an image or visual phrase births in my mind directly from God Himself. In those moments, it would be disobedient to not express that through some artistic medium. Again, this may not have any significance to anyone but me. Often, it's a prompt from God to trust Him, trust myself through Him, stay on the path, have courage, slow down and be still - listen to His still small voice. It's our way to communicate. I listen to what He places in my heart then I respond by bringing it to life through clay sculpture, a painting, or a drawing. Once I see the visual response to His words, I'm moved even deeper into what He's saying to me. I can't deny hearing it because now I see it. Seeing is believing, right?

My relationship with Jesus is only magnified when I respond to Him through creating art. As a good friend used to say, "God becomes Hi Definition, full Technicolor and THX surround sound!" He was right.

I'm a Christian. And I am an artist. My artistic genres vary. Sometimes it's dark and mysterious from the hallows of my broken heart. Sometimes it's an over flow of His loving grace and acceptance. Sometimes it's a word or phrase He shares to encourage me or to correct me. Sometimes it's a project so grand I know I can not do it without relying on Him one hundred percent. It's always different. It's always intimate. It's aways special. And to me it's faith portrayed through art...that is true Christian art.

May you meet with God as you "sit before the canvas" and express what He's placed inside you. Don't worry about what others will think of your art, they never have to see it, unless you offer it to them. Just express what is in your heart and allow God to bring to you, your "visual faith."

Grace & peace ~ deAnn