Insights from Art

Creation
The first thing God added to the heavens and the earth was light. All visual art is based on light and its effects. So artists acknowledge His power and wisdom through the depiction of light, whether they acknowledge Him or not.

God created something that could be perceived and judged beautiful, both by Himself (”God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” ) and by us. Artists try to accomplish that last thing—sometimes the first as well.

God created from nothing. Artists don’t. Artists use the vehicles He created to express their thoughts: light, time, voice, movement, taste, odor, touch.

God evidently had a desire to create something that expressed His own thoughts and desires. Artists try to do that with varying degrees of success.

Communication
God tried, through creation and through language, to tell us of Himself and His vision for us. Artists try to communicate something of their own personalities and points-of-view in their work.

God explained life and how it was to be lived. Artists merely show their perceptions. It is a given in art that one man’s impression is as valid as another’s. Not so with God.

God’s communication was more than merely a feeling or impression. Artists can’t manage much more than that. For the audience to perceive what we intended is enough for us. Before God, the message must be lived as well as perceived.
God communicates to all of His creation. Artists communicate to others, but only to their fellow creatures.

--from Mike L., Wednesday's class, October 3