I don't paint Lions

One of the biggest disconnects in my art journey is simply not relating to the true design behind my art. Art is always communicating to us, but the problem for me has been in the hearing or more particularly the seeing...grasping the true vision behind the work.

And that is essential to the journey...because the artist has to become one with their mode of expression. The artist has to understand their art, and it is only deeper down...well into the journey...that the nature of the relationship begins to unfold. We are being informed by our art...the view in the mirror of the work is becoming clearer as the artist embraces their design. And that clarity of vision fuels the desire to make great art.

For many years I never saw the connection between my art and my faith. For me that kind of expression was Leonardo da Vinci, the last supper, angelic visitations, or depictions of the Lord as a lion and such like. But I don't paint lions...not in my heart to paint lions, I do urbanscapes...buildings and cars, what does that have to do with my spiritual life? You get my point. And so the disconnect continued...and I kept wondering why the desire to paint was just not there.

Well, somehow I ended up in a group on facebook that understand the connection between art and faith. And so I posted one of my urbanscapes, and something strange happened...they actually started to interpret my art through a spiritual lens. I shrugged it off...I couldn't see it...but an artist always wants to know how their art is speaking to others...and that kind of feedback began to work on me. And then not too long after that...I saw it...I was dumbfounded and elated. It was like a veil being taken away and I actually saw the true design in my art.

So my faith is integral to the expression of my art...how could it not be? The beliefs and values that an artist holds dear to them...that are core to their being...must be expressed in their art. You cannot hide it...art draws out the desire...and displays it for the world to see. To be authentic you have to understand what it is to be true to yourself and realise that authenticity is connected to the visible expression of that desire.

Like all creative gifts, we cannot hold back in the expression, we cannot isolate the expression, we cannot avoid the full embrace of that expression...the gift demands that the soul be fully engaged in the creative process. The exhibition has to feature the whole artist...not a part. And there we connect...not just with the art...but with those who see the exhibition of that art. The artist is wired for authentic display, and their gift will not relent until they truly give of their all.