The vocation of the painter, indeed the vocation of any artist, is first and foremost, to create beauty. Even evil, when depicted in their work, must depicted beautifully. Art that is ugly and shallow, with no Truth behind it, shows us a world without God. The role of the artistContinue Reading
Do we hesitate to take on our role as missionaries because we doubt our abilities? One of my favorite movies is “A Man for All Seasons,” starring Paul Scofield as Thomas More. In one key scene More defends his reluctance to accept the post as Chancellor of England by citingContinue Reading
What makes “Christian Art” Christian? Is there some value or quality that baptizes a work of art making it Christian? There is, but it may not be what you think. It isn’t about the subject matter, the genre, the style, the materials or the process. It isn’t even about the themeContinue Reading
Should a Christian artist paint themes from pagan mythology, other religions, or even fantasy motifs? Many artists who are deeply grounded in their Christian faith, especially those just starting out in their career, have questions about what is and is not appropriate subject matter. In a previous post I addressedContinue Reading
When is an artist like a prophet? When he reminds people of their relationship with God. We tend to think of a prophet as someone who predicts the future, but that is not at all the ancient understanding of the word. The word “prophet” comes from the Greek word “prophetes”Continue Reading
Why is the term Christian Art shunned even by Christian artists? I see this frequently, usually among well established artists who don’t want to be labeled by a specific genre. Fair enough, but I think there is more to it than that. The term Christian Art is avoided even byContinue Reading
Nudity has long been a staple of fine art, but many people feel it is inappropriate for an artist who is also a faithful Christian to portray nudity in their work. Is it? The answer, as is so often the case in matters of faith and morals, is – itContinue Reading
So you’ve taken stock of your gifts, talents, and interests, and made a list. You like to play the violin (electric), you like to dance, you like to make and dress up in costumes, you like to write music, and you think it might be fun to make videos. WhatContinue Reading
Matthew Alderman is a graduate of the Notre Dame Architectueal School and a man of many gifts, architect, artist, and designer of liturgical furnishings. He is a regular contributor to “The shrine of the Holy Whapping” (yes, really!) and “The New Liturgical Movement” (for which he designed their new logo.)Continue Reading
David Clayton is the head of the art department at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, NH. He is responsible for implementing the “Way of Beauty” program that not only trains artists to serve the Church but also educates non-artists in the transcendental nature of beauty. David wasContinue Reading