Reflections on Faith and Art - Madeleine L'Engle

Obedience is an unpopular word nowadays, but the artist must be obedient to the work, whether it is a symphony, a painting, or a story for a small child. I believe that each work of art, whether it is a work of great genius, or something very small, comes to the artist and says, "Here I am. Enflesh me. Give birth to me."

Excerpt from Walking on Water by Madeleine L'Engle

Brown Jug with Oranges
Oil Painting

Art for God's Sake

"The making of art is an end in and of itself; it is an act of worship in and of itself; it is an act of humility and joy at once; and, in the life of the believer, it is accomplished as a gift back to the Creator who made us—art for God's sake instead of art for art's sake, as it were." Bret Lott, novelist quoted from Christianity Today, March 2010.

NT Wright on Art and Mission

We have lived for too long with the arts as the pretty bit around the edge, with the reality as the non-artistic thing in the middle. But the world is charged with the grandeur of God! Why should we not celebrate and rejoice in that?

Genuine art takes seriously the fact that the world is full of the glory of God, and that it will be full "as the waters cover the sea," and at present (Rom. 8) it is groaning in travail. ...Genuine art responds to that triple awareness...and holds them together as the Psalms do, and asks why and what and where are we. You can do that in music and you can do that in painting, and our generation needs us to do that not simply to decorate the gospel but to announce the gospel.

Still life painting of a red Christmas ball. 6" x 6"

Still life oil painting of brown and orange jug with some granny smith apples and red grapes from George Ceffalio's July 2011 class at the DuPage Art League. 8" x 10" on canvas.

Chiaroscuro...

"Chiaroscuro reflects hope and illuminates truth for the viewer; the light opens the way before us." Dr. Christine Kepner, Professor, Wheaton College

Chiaroscuro uses a single source of light to shine into the darkness of a still life bringing certain objects into the light or into focus. It is by the light that we see or know what those objects are and how they relate to one another. Those objects also reflect the light back to the source as well as onto the other objects. It actually seems to be a very sacred action…

John 1:4,5
"In him [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Small still life oil painting of a glass jar and some tangerines. 5" x 7" on a panel.

Importance of Art for Christians

"We need the sensitivity of the artist to bring to light what has gone unnoticed in our humdrum everyday experience, so that we notice things for the first time.

There are three reasons why I believe art is important for us as Christians and why many of us should be engaged in it ourselves, while others appreciate it and encourage Christian artists. The first has to do with the essence of our humanity and our relationship to God as humans; second is the ability of art to reveal truth and to transform; third is the way beauty causes people to long for the good, for justice, and ultimately for God."

From: God’s Design: The Arts as a Way of Being Human, Learning Truth, and Doing Justice by Rosie Perera

Francis Schaeffer on Creativity

“Being in the image of the Creator, we are called upon to have creativity.”

Francis Schaeffer
Art and the Bible

Dr. Francis Schaeffer  was an American Evangelical theologian, author and pastor. He established the L'Abri community in Switzerland.

“Beauty is a testimony to the presence of God."

“Flowers are a good place to see the kingdom of God,” Willard said. “Beauty is a testimony to the presence of God. It is good made present to senses.”

Dallas Willard - Seeking the Kingdom of God from Trinity blog, 10/27/2010

"God's masterpiece"

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Ephesians 2:10
New Living Translation (©2007)