We hope everyone is having a relaxing and restorative holiday season! This week we're recommending "Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking" by David Bayles and Ted Ortlund. Bayles and Ortlund are artists themselves, and know all too well the anxieties that come along with the profession. You can check out … Continue reading Book Review: “Art and Fear”
Hope for Artists in the Face of COVID – An Interview with Scott Pingel
This week we interviewed Scott Pingel, principal bassist of the San Francisco Symphony, about his career path and how he's handled the difficulty of the pandemic. Check out his video, transcript, and bio below! https://youtu.be/xCrSDCxKro8 TRANSCRIPT A: So first of all, thank you so much, Scott, for joining us today to be interviewed. My first … Continue reading Hope for Artists in the Face of COVID – An Interview with Scott Pingel
What Does a Positive Community Look Like for Artists?
Many artists feel isolated. Many live in a very competitive world that encourages being self-centered, simply as a necessity to survive. But an artist who is isolated—alone—is always in a dangerous place. What does positive community actually look like? Here are some possible answers that I’ve experienced firsthand: Charles and Hasmick's Dinner Parties I had … Continue reading What Does a Positive Community Look Like for Artists?
An Open Letter to the Worried Parents of a Christian Artist
Two weeks ago we posted an open letter from the artist to their worried parents and authority figures. This week, we offer a very similar letter, but with Biblical backing for the spiritual artist. There are many reasons to accept our artistic gifts as spiritual gifts from God, so we hope this helps you connect … Continue reading An Open Letter to the Worried Parents of a Christian Artist
What are Your Spiritual Gifts as an Artist?
One of the most important ways to discover more about our identity as artists is to look at the spiritual gifts we’ve been given. Let’s dig a little deeper and really start to explore the nature of these gifts. I believe that God gives spiritual gifts to each person and these gifts become a big … Continue reading What are Your Spiritual Gifts as an Artist?
Top 5 Quotes About Beauty – 19th Century Edition
One of art’s primary goals is to show beauty. But what is beauty, really, and why is it powerful? We’ve compiled 5 of our favorite quotes about beauty written by authors and poets who lived around the 19th century. Enjoy! 1. “Beauty is in the heart of the beholder." - H.G. Wells (author, 1866-1946) So … Continue reading Top 5 Quotes About Beauty – 19th Century Edition
How Do I Hear from God as an Artist?
As a Jesus-follower I believe that God has a good plan for my life. Did you catch that? God has a plan. But how do I know what that plan is? How do I know what God is calling me to do on a daily basis? This article shares what I have come to believe … Continue reading How Do I Hear from God as an Artist?
How Does God Respond to Failure?
My response to failure can too often be blame, guilt, and denial. You might reasonably wonder: does God blame me, too? Will He point fingers and try to guilt me into being better? Does He just look away and ignore my problems? Or does He respond in a different way? This article shares what I … Continue reading How Does God Respond to Failure?
How Do I Move from Fear to Stability?
Maybe you realize that your life is an upside-down pyramid. You feel more fear, anxiety, insecurity, and insecurity on a daily basis than peace, joy, and love. So how do you move from one side to the other? How does my life actually become a right-side-up pyramid? In order to fully answer those questions I've … Continue reading How Do I Move from Fear to Stability?
Are the Arts Important to God?
Arts programs are often the first ones to get cut when budgets are tight and artists are often not paid very well. Just by looking at the world, the arts don’t seem to be all that important. But are the arts important? And an even scarier question from my own spiritual journey: are the arts … Continue reading Are the Arts Important to God?
Artist Set Free 