I was checking out the website of Chase Jarvis, a very successful, influential and all around awesome Seattle photographer and came across this blog on the 10 things that every Creative person should know. It was inspired by a blog on Steve Jobs, the late, highly successful leader of Apple. As I was reading this blog I though this would be a great list for artists. As an artist who is also Christian, I thought it would only be appropriate to add the Christian perspective. So here it goes: The 7 things every artist should know:
1. Remember your Creator
“In the beginning, God created…“ (Genesis 1:1)
God is Creative. Not only is God creative, He created us to be creative (Genesis 1:26). Some people say that the artwork reflects the artist, but the truth is that we merely reflect our creator. We are capable of making beautiful, powerful, profound works because we are given the gift to do so. This is something we need to keep in mind when we are doubting our abilities and trying to be just like another artist or creative person. True, some people have honed their skills more than others, but if we are creating knowing that we are spreading the gospel through our work, our attitude about our work, or just being a light in the creative world, we are doing God’s will. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)
2. Don’t worship created things
Worship with your art. Don’t worship your art. When we worship the creating thing you are not only breaking the first commandment, we are also ceasing to reflect the glory of God through our work. Worshiping what we create will only lead to desperation as a created thing can not be a true savior. It can only be a functional savior that makes us feel good about ourselves but ultimately is a lie.
3. Be different
One of the worst things we can do as creative people is mimic what everyone else is doing like some sort of chameleon. As if blending in will somehow make you stand out. Understanding where artistic styles came from and who is making what right now is intelligent, but innovation and creativity go hand in hand. I have on occasion created work to in the style of a mentor or an artist I greatly admired, but not with the idea that it would be recognized as some earth shattering work. No matter how well you can imitate something, it will not be better than the original. The best work you will ever create will be the the work that you have been inspired by the Holy Spirit to create.
4. When you don’t feel ready, God makes you ready.
“But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4 : 10-12)
It is true that being among the best makes us work harder and to the best of our abilities, but God not only makes us ready, he makes us successful in accomplishing things that He has called us to do.
5. Don’t forget what you learned in art school
Creatives don’t typically like rules. But in order to think “outside the box”, one must first climb in the box to see whats in there! If you notice the one hit wonders in art or music, you’ll notice that most of the time it was a happy accident, not innovation. These artist will typically fizz out of our memories and produce very little change. To break the rules you must first know the rules. Composition is Important. Design is Important. Innovation is Important.
6. Keep it simple
Over analyzing kills a project. What once may have been a brilliant, one line project statement, can become a confusing mess with too much information. The best design is simple. The best message is simple. Don’t make your art to preach, make it to create conversation.
7. Real artists Create
In today’s world, there is no reason for an artist to not be creative EVERYDAY! Speaking from a photographer’s standpoint, apps like Instagram make it easy to share images you’ve created easily from your phone. And most phones have fairly decent image quality now so there’s really no excuse. One successful example of this is Chase Jarvis’ “The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You.” which was done completely from an iPhone.
And to be frank, if you are not sharing the gifts that God has given you, you can not create change. “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or uner a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.” -Jesus (Luke 11:33)
J.
