In art the form
and technique are important and useful, but it is the inspiration that I
desire. That requires my participation
in the looking at a piece of art; that is what brings life to that which
is. If a painting is simply a
replication of what is there, it may interest me for the moment but will not
require me to participate or give it meaning.
It is only reproducing what the artist saw and interacted with; giving
meaning to him or her. Rather than look
at the painting I would do better to go and look at the thing myself, and have
it come alive to me. A work of art
should inspire something more than is simply there for it to bring forth life.
When I look at the
picture, Master Bedroom by Andrew Wythe, of the dog curled up on the bed,
asleep in the middle of the day, I am not looking at and concerned that the
technique and detail is perfect, which it is.
I am inspired to
rest and to be at peace. When I look at the
picture of the sea captain by Joni, while the technique and detail of the man
dressed in rain gear, lighting his pipe, eyes looking straight ahead is
perfect, I am inspired to keep my eyes on the horizon because a storm is
brewing. When I look at my picture by
Hook of Jesus as a young carpenter, shaving a piece of wood, while the
technique and detail is perfect, I am inspired to simply focus on the piece of
work that is right in front of me at the moment, and be faithful in doing just
that.
God created forms
to reveal himself to us, but those forms will someday not be. Jesus taught in parables and spoke words of
wonder and mystery. He wanted people to
think above and beyond what was, because what was would someday not be. Forms and technique may work as the invisible
catalyst, but they must lead to inspiration, to think and see above and beyond
what is actually there. Creative inspiration
is God breathing life into what is void and meaningless, causing us to look
above and beyond what is actually there.
