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
One of my art teachers, back in the day, once pointed out what a presumptuous thing it was for visual artists, painters specifically, to refer to themselves at artists. Singers, writers, poets, actors, dancers, etc. all refer to themselves as singers, writers, poets, actors, and dancers. But only painters takeContinue Reading
The idea of art for art’s sake, that art should serve no other purpose outside of its own existence is a relatively new idea in terms of human history. The idea begins to crop up in various writings starting in the 1850s. This is also about the time that theContinue 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
Have you ever wondered what God is trying to tell you? Have you ever felt frustrated because you don’t believe God is speaking to you at all? It may be that you just don’t recognize His voice. God speaks to us through the gifts He has given us. Each oneContinue Reading
How to Draw Angels, part I How to Draw Angels, part II How to Draw Angels, part III How to Draw Angels, part IV The Symbolic Language of Angels. In previous posts I mentioned some of the attributes common to all angels as they are portrayed in religious art. BurneContinue Reading