A Thread From Heaven

Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Thee.”– St. Augustine.

   Creating should always be an expression from the heart. Sometimes we create because we have to, time only allows for a fast flash in the pan meal because everyone needs to eat. The next time we create intentionally, waiting a couple days on the cottage cheese to be at the right stage before we drain it and layer it into the perfect marinara sauce with noodles, home ground beef and fresh sausage layers to make lasagna. Sometimes the gourmet lasagna might fail. Sometimes the successful lasagna becomes the perfect memory of a family meal paired with delicious sides and happy conversation.

   We create because we are made in Gods image. We are not forming idols or images to worship, we are noticing colours and textures and our own individual taste and sight and putting it into form out of gratitude to God for the miracle of life.

   If a friend likes to work at restoring his old car and carefully listens to how the motor works and is careful that the paint doesn’t scratch, it is because he has been given an interest in that area of life. I like to think he is  praising His Creator by enjoying that small slice of our walk on Earth. I love it that he enjoys an evening drive in his old vehicle with his wife. His passion gives his conversations about cars a fire that is fun to listen to even if i don’t understand the lingo. He shares his talent and it makes connections and good memories.

   If he was unreasonably selfish with his passion it would sour friendships. If he was fearful of pride or vainglory, scared that his passion would turn to idolatry, he would be judgemental of others who enjoyed their antique treasures. If he compared his talent in the area of restorations to others and simply didn’t try because he wouldn’t have the money or the time to do restorations as well, he might be critical also.

   When a man finds his interest and delves in to learn more and educates himself to become better, the joy he inspires in others ripples on in ever widening circles. The funny quirks about each of us become our own sort of art and while we do have to constantly refine and change, one area of learning and passion can influence even our boring chores in many ways.

   Nothing is a failure when it comes to creating out of a wish to make something beautiful. Even if our actual painting fails, we learn so much from each brushstroke that our journey just improves. Maybe the bathroom tile project ends up leaking but now we know how to start out for our next project and where to take caution. The failed projects set the groundwork for the successes.

   When we as Christians fear art because it might become idolatry, i think we’re focusing on the wrong type of art or not thinking about what the artist is trying to convey. I do believe all art needs at its heart the act or feeling of seeking Someone bigger. I think all paintings should convey a path of light and seek to inspire in heavenly ways. I believe i can do this Seeking of Heights in my simple tasks of housekeeping and child nurture. I am here to explore the beauties God has created.

   All art is an imitation and may that imitation be of something worthy and full of light. Like the beginning of Shepherd of the Hills says, “In the hills of life there are two trails. One lies along the higher sunlit fields where those who journey see afar, and the light lingers even when the sun is down; and one leads to the lower ground, where those who travel, as they go, look always over their shoulders with eyes of dread, and gloomy shadows gather long before the day is done.”

   We humans are made with a drive to make things beautiful. We are created with distinct and unique interests. As we pursue our interests, we practice skills and form talent. That talent can get twisted if we are not seeking the higher sunlit fields. To create art without acknowledging God ignores our most basic desire which is to know Him. It feels like true worship when I can connect the beauty of this physical world in an act of gratitude and  i experience it more fully by creating something that says, “I was present in this moment and noticed the miracle of life.”

   When i first started painting everyday, i was thrilled in a new way by colours and textures. As I drive or walk I am always exploring the world around.  “What colour is that frosted green plant? Could i mix it with sap green and a touch of cobalt? Look at that ragged tree branch.” I squint to notice colour values and imagine how to trace shape of houses or people or any interesting outlines. Misty hills and water reflections make my fingers itch to try an imitation of it. Landscapes get studied and paths of light and changing shadows are marvels every day. The golden hour of the morning and evening become precious. There is a certain mystery to art that requires faith to step out and try it.

   I look at others’ creations in a new way. Everyone has such a different way of viewing and expressing themselves. I love children’s drawings and paintings because they are simply creating what they love. A friend and i laughed together when we painted plein aire and her granddaughter painted a horse or something that was nowhere in sight. She was there to paint her heart and that’s what she did.

   My children already steer me away from art galleries if they know time is short because i like to stop and enjoy the paintings that tell a good story. When we have time to amble along, they are happy to walk through art galleries with me. Most recently on a hot summer day we strolled through Prince Albert’s downtown and went into a hot corner shop that smelled like a hundred years of dust and frosty condensation mold mixed with art supplies. We looked at paintings and visited in depth with the artist who was acting as clerk that day. He has printed a book of his paintings that he made throughout his career as prison guard there in PA. His guard work happens to to be in the same prison where my husband visits through a ministry program once a month and my children and i were happy to see and hear stories from behind the scenes of each of his paintings. I remember one of two ravens playing chicken fight on the barbed wire on top of the gate, or the painting of the prisoners clearing snowy walks in the compounds. He talked about how happy the prisoners have been to get copies of his book and send it to their families so they see the everyday life bits that show some of the happier parts of that life. There is also a small bit of the violent bloody side featured but shadows just make the light look brighter. The same artist painted a wolf’s face with yellow gold eyes that followed us around the gallery and he commented on how he hadn’t tried to do that, it just happened. The mystery was alive and he could witness and marvel and he wasn’t taking credit for it, just enjoying it.

   Joy is a huge component of creativity. A sense of obligation or requirement to create commissioned art can make it difficult to infuse joy into the painting. I usually have to play first awhile at the subject matter, i doodle, paint it abstract and paint it in block shapes or paint it quirky before i decide how to finish it. Currently, i am asked to paint this huge sawblade on two sides and it’s going to take me awhile to infuse joy into it.

   If i aproach creativity with a sense of comparison or expectation of shame, it promptly shows up in my work. I can see it and feel it. To bump myself out of that feeling, i sometimes take a bigger wider brush and splash around with broad decisive strokes to decide the composition of the painting. This helps me feel freer to put my own feelings into the artwork.

   I also feel like every artist should sign their artwork. Children should be taught to sign their pages. This helps keep truth and honesty in creativity. It also helps me accept it in three years from now and i see my mistakes and i just shrug them off. Or else i choose to be glad about what i’ve learned since then because my eyes now view those certain shapes as errors.

   Styles change and our creativity adapts but one thing that should never change is that our faith should be connected to our creations. Pagans keep their belief in their artwork and actions. Atheists also do. We as Christians need to create and show and base our creations on our faith in Jesus. I’m not saying every printing needs a cross or a religious symbolism, i’m just saying every painting needs to come from a place of joy or restoration of joy.

   It feels like the issue with christians viewing art as idolatry is because of the ten commandments where God says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me and shalt not worship any graven image.” Idolatry of people’s creations was present in the Israelites time but there were also beautiful pieces of artwork present in the temple God asked His people to build. Idolatry comes from something internal and not from the things that are made. Caution is a good thing, but caution that leads to fear and inhibits joy does not seem to be God-given. God’s commands bring light and for me, many of my paintings begin with a Bible verse or a song or a poem and a spark is lit within me. I yearn to express and show and i sit in prayer and my hands fly as i play and afterwards, i feel little criticism of what i created but a happiness and settled feeling, It feels like a prayer that connects. A thread of Heaven wraps itself around me and tugs me one step closer.

   In honesty, i have attempted to paint perfection at times. I have struggled in vain to be a master painter. I have failed in creating any masterpieces. When i am happy just painting little memory tokens or expressions of joy, then i find a rest after my painting is complete. I am just an everyday sincere person seeking to praise the Creator.

  “Every good and perfect gift is from Above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

   “There will be no shadows in Heaven,” a song says. The light of day won’t change and shift, the heartaches and sorrows will be absent. My failures will be forgotten. The good things of this life keep me going right now, the sunlit fields across the horizon pull me Home. I linger in the light and pull my loved ones closer so we share the same far off vision. When the author or director steps on the stage after a play, the story is usually over.  But on our last day, when the Painter, Author, Creator, and Father of all our stories steps on the stage, our story is just beginning. I don’t know if we’ll create things in that Heavenly story but if we do, imagine the sights we’ll be be able to imitate and the joy that will be ours.

  author’s postscript: We discussed art and images and photography at our home the other day. These were some of our conclusions, or maybe they were just mine but it felt mutual. I’d like to hear your views on art or what creations that aren’t useful mean to your basic survival. Is art useful to your survival, are antique cars fun for you, does the sound of that that old tractor (from your great grandpa) pulling a plow make you happy? . Let me know…