Art is the product of creative expression.
It's something that plays with each of our five senses, communicating an idea, question, or statement, and sometimes something that can't be explained. God works through art in so many ways, such as outreach, praise and worship, personal devotions and even as a Sunday morning sermon! We wanted to give artists a chance to talk about how they see God working through their art and how He has blessed them through their talent.

But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

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Jim Olsen
Artist and Maintenance Technician for PPM Homes / Ithaca, New York
jimolsen14.xanga.com
Mixed Media

Art and faith are interconnected and inseparable for me as an artist. In my experience, the two seem to intersect in many ways.  God is a creator. This world that we are so fortunate to be a part of is His creation; His art. It is His expression of love. He is still in the process of making-he's continually making things new; reinventing, fixing. He turns our ugliness into something beautiful.

I create mixed media pieces using old, broken, ‘useless' things. In this way, I see myself imitating what God is continually doing; turning our brokenness into something new and restored. I take ordinary objects and bring out their beauty by contrasting them with other natural things, bright or bold colors, and pieces that have been weathered by the world. This is the first way I see faith and art inseparable, as it is reproducing what God does and continues to do.

Another way I see art and faith intersect is when I "get in the mood." There are times where images and ideas come into my mind, and all I can do to express them is to depict them on canvas.  God gives me ideas and inspires me with ways to visually draw parallels between ideas, stories, concepts, etc...and I'm able to express these things artistically. I respond by putting paint on wood or a canvas and express what I have received.

Art is also an opportunity to bring people's attention to issues or thoughts of things that Christ cared about deeply. When someone views a piece of artwork they can see, and possibly greater, understand or appreciate the concepts of peace, inequality, stewardship, or poverty, etc...simply by looking at something hanging on a wall in front of them.

When I create art I will often attempt to capture the beauty of God's creation. Creating art can be a way to express devotion to God.  In some cases by using my hands to create something, I am recording how God has been faithful. And on a very basic level, it is being a steward of using a gift and talent that God has bestowed upon me. When I create art there is simply no way I can escape my faith and relationship with Christ. He is my inspiration, He is with me as I create, and He gifted me to paint and assemble things to express all that I do. I would not be an artist without Christ.

(above image title: "at His feet" 2008)

"unrest" 2009

"artificial spine" 2008

"untitled" 2009

"internal growth" 2009

"Crucifix" 2007

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