Working Outside Your Walls

Creating art is a wonderful thing. It can be exciting and fulfilling. But sharing your art with the world can be a scary thing. Rejection and ridicule are both possibilities. And this is your personal work. You put yourself into it, right? I sure hope so. If a piece of you isn't part of your artwork, chances are the artwork is not very engaging. Great art inspires. How does it do that? It does so by you interacting with truth. I want to see your life story, your experience, and your passion reflected in your art.

I was at a concert a few years ago. The singer gave a long, heart-felt introduction to a song, explaining about a miscarriage their family experienced and how difficult that was. He shared how Jesus worked in their marriage and in their lives through this trying time. Then he sang the song. The song was a series of Christian cliches. Even after being told what the song was about, I couldn't see any of his story in the song. His story moved me. His song did not. Did it contain truths? Yes. Was it good art? I would argue it was not.

Exposing yourself through your artwork is intimidating. As a result, many artists work alone, shut up in their homes. Even more, artists feel they have to answer to nobody. "I do what I want." If you proclaim the name of Christ and create artwork that seeks to glorify Him, I submit that "I do what I want" doesn't fly. We need to take responsibility for any work that we put into the public sphere.

How do we do that? I have three practical suggestions.

1. Collaborate

Collaboration is a challenge logistically, stylistically, and socially. It will push you because it will force you to be intentional and to have a stated goal. As someone who has operated a one-man design business for the past twenty years, I'm the first to admit that having a team working for you is the ideal situation. When you are bouncing ideas off one another and are critiquing one another, you can't help but raise your game. Collaboration will make you grow. Will it result in something of more quality and worth than if you had worked alone? Not necessarily. Again, collaboration is tough. It's a learning process. But everyone will grow through the experience. And when done well, the process will eliminate pride and glory seeking. In the end, the result can be amazing.

2. Seek Critique

Those new to art hate critique. Even seasoned pros can despise it. For the former, it's due to insecurity. For the latter, it's due to pride. And for those reasons, critique is a wonderful thing. To embrace critique is to push fear and pride out of your heart and out of your work. My wife is a collage artist. She regularly finds an artist friend to bring into her studio to get their opinion on pieces she's currently working on. There are two important points in that last sentence:

• Have your work critiqued while it's in progress and while it can still be changed. If it's already framed and behind glass, you've sabotaged the process as you've shown you're not willing to change the piece.

• Use a trusted and experienced friend. It helps if they understand who YOU are (again, you're putting yourself into your work, right?) But this is not a time to ask a relative. This person also needs to understand art—specifically the genre of art you're working in. Find an experienced artist who is willing to be frank with you in a caring way.

3. Explain

"My artwork means whatever you want it to mean." We've all heard this from artists. We've heard it from very established and famous artists. And there is a place for that approach. But it can also be a huge cop-out. If we're talking about art that is meant to deliver truth, then take responsibility for your work. Be willing and able to explain it.

This is especially important in the church setting. If you're bringing "truth" into my church, your artwork is not going to speak for itself. Any church worth being a part of is not going to let any random person enter the pulpit and preach to its congregation. So why should they let a group of artists display artwork in their lobby without a clear and stated explanation of the meaning of the art.

We artists like to say that the church is afraid of art and doesn't know what to do with it. I would submit that the church has every right to be hesitant to integrate artwork because we as artists are not presenting it in a clear way. The Apostle Peter tells us to be "prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." (1 Pet 3:15) In the same way, if there is a truth inside of you that you're presenting through your work, be able to explain and defend it.

Being an artist, you're likely a visual person. But that doesn't negate the need to use your words. Many people viewing your work will not be visual people. Clarity is necessary.

In summary, reach out to your fellow artists, reach out to your mentors, and reach out to your audience. See the pattern? Though you're putting yourself into your artwork, the end goal is all about others. It's about people. It's about relationships. It's about dialogue. In Colossians 3, Paul lists a number of important characteristics we should have. He ends the lists by saying "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." (Col 3:14) Put away the pride and put away the fear. Communicate clearly with your craft and with your voice, and in doing so you will move away from trying to impress your audience to truly caring for them.