As a young boy, I was ahead of other children in my artistic abilities. I paid a special attention to detail, and I understdood more advanced artistic methods and techniques such as foreshorting, implimenting more or less detail where attention is needed, and various types of shading. I thought I was going to become an artist. Unfortunately, some time in my teens I stopped drawing altogether, and I don't know why. I seldom draw, and I haven't developed my skills much since I allowed my art sets to collect dust. I'm beginning to wonder if my lack of motivation or underdevloped talent had to do with my artistic worldview. I always thought that I needed a reason to draw (ussually to put my ideas on paper for a future reference). Maybe I never drew simply because I enjoyed drawing, and that became my downfall, althought I'm sure that the situation is more complicated than that. Whatver the reason why I stopped drawing is my own problem, but the issue of an artistic worldview extends to everone.
I never stopped loving and appreciating art. so I began picking up art magazines at the book store, hoping to find inspiration for my writing, and maybe even to draw. However, I quickly realized that today's art is devoid of truth, goodness and beauty. Meaningless abstractions are a popular medium, and evil is a common theme, going unchallenged by larger than life heroes that used to be the crown jewel of Western art. Marble sculptures of strong, heroic men used to give glamore to the Greco-Roman culture of old, but now it seem that people like pentagrams, blood, and formless masses that could be open to anybody's enterpretation. Perhaps people prefer fractured images because they feel broken inside.
As a Christian, I thought that I could find redeeming forms of art at a Christian college, so I visited the website of the prestigeous Biola university. But all I found were models made from trash and sculpted into absurd forms. In otherwords, the college's art did not portray its philosophy. Hence I would like to take a quote from a man who is himself an artist, and a better one than I am. His name is Cole Matson, and he has been educated in Theatre Arts by a leading secular university. He is eagerly anticipating the opening of a new Christian College, which is named after C.S. Lewis. Here's what he had to say about the present artistic worldview and how it influences us:
"I feel this focus is very much in line with the Foundation’s mission. In order to counter the prevailing artistic worldview of modern and postmodern art, in which all value is subjective and the purpose of art is the self-expression of the artist, we must provide students with an alternate way to view art, and their role in the world as artists. This means discussion of the role of the artist, especially the Christian artist, and an emphasis on the traditional artistic values of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. This means asking the arts students to think about what they want to stand for, and what they want to communicate through their art."
As a great artist once said, "people should paint not to express themselves, but to show how beautiful other things are." I forgot the name of that artist, but his words echo the philosophy that the world is beautiful, meaningful, and contains people who have the potential to do good. So I implore all of you artists not to create art in vain, but for the good of mankind please use your art to portray Truth, Goodness, and Beauty to the glory of God who is the truth, who is good, and who's name is Beautiful.
I'd love to respond to this...as a Christian and as a lover of what you call "meaningless abstractions", but I think we're in the wrong forum. I'll ask admin to move this.
Robin
My Pet and Childrens Portrait Website
My FB Page
I don't think this has any place on this form.
Please remove it..
Thanks...
Blatant proselytizing. Should be removed from the forums.
If you wish to drown, do not torture yourself with shallow water. (Bulgarian Proverb)
http://www.danadabagia.com
i totally agree. why hasn't this been removed from the forum?
So basically you're telling artists to conform to one believe what art should be, ha?
You need to be removed from forum ASAP, please!
YVS
http://tinyurl.com/yvsokolovArt
I was speaking to artists who share similar beliefs, particularly Christians., but I also mean to reach out to others as well. However, nobody by any means has to conform to my belief. This is a free country, after all.
I cannot believe what I am seeing here
This is just not the place ... and not really tactful.
http://antonin-paintingthemoment.blogspot.com/
Heartfire, I am also a Christian, yet I don't see all the ugly you seem to see all around you in the art world. I see beauty, I see things that make me think, I see pieces that make me laugh and pieces that almost make me cry. I see one person communicating to me and anyone who sees their work.
You mock abstract art. I really love it! I only have the ability to draw or paint what I see, and am terribly impressed with people who can envision...and paint...so imaginatively! I challenge you to look at art that you don't like with fresh eyes, trying to figure out what the artist was expressing. You might not like all of it, or most of it and that's cool, I don't like everything either. But to dismiss it all, to me, means you haven't even tried, and boy are you missing out.
You advocate painting what you consider Beauty. Why? Art is communication. Are we all to pretend that this world is just Beauty? If we pretend that, how can we fight evil? To pretend it's not there?
I believe, for instance, that war is wrong and contrary to God's desire for all of us to live peaceful, loving lives. Of course, you don't need to be a Christian or believe in any God to believe that war is wrong, that it harms people...for the most part, it's rulers fighting over land and a waste of young men's lives. I want everyone to think war is wrong and do everything in their power to keep peace. Artists throughout the ages have effectively conveyed the horrors of war. But obviously...not enough. I WANT communication through painting of more than just "Beauty". Art can be a powerful tool.
Anyway, while we wait for the Admin to move or remove this post, that's what I wanted to say. And to my friends here, to remind you all that not all Christians...probably not most...agree with Heartfire's views.
I am in partial agreement with you, Robin. The world is not all beauty, and evil is a reality that can be portrayed properly in art. I just dissent from the predominant viewpoint that almost anything can be called art and that the purpose of it is to express ourselves. Like you, I also believe that art is a powerful way to communicate to others, and that is why I think that we should be careful of what we communicate.
Those who portray Truth, Goodness and Beauty also are expressing themselves , too, aren't they?
And nobody ought to set themselves up as a judge of what others should and should communicate. Nobody forces you or anyone else to view art you don't like. There's art out there that I hate. But it's a slippery slope to start saying "this art is ok, this art is not." I think that's more dangerous to society than any art I personally find offensive.
"I am in partial agreement with you, Robin. The world is not all beauty, and evil is a reality that can be portrayed properly in art. I just dissent from the predominant viewpoint that almost anything can be called art and that the purpose of it is to express ourselves. Like you, I also believe that art is a powerful way to communicate to others, and that is why I think that we should be careful of what we communicate."
What you are proposing is censorship and that's anathema to anyone creating art.
You can dissent all you like but don't expect many converts to your philosophy. I could go on and on but I really don't want to waste more time on this gibberish.
All I have to say is "Go easy". Both sides.
This thread was moved to a more appropriate forum for this type of conversation, as philosophy and belief can be discussed here openly. However, in doing so, please know that when you post your beliefs, there will be dissenting opinions.
That is okay, all I ask is that no one is attacked or bullied because of their beliefs or postings.
Karyn Meyer-Berthel
thank you for allowing the discussion to go forward, Karyn.
Now, I also agree that when we start saying what kind of art cannot be produced, that's tyranny. That's what the Soviet Union did when they only allowed "Socialist Realism." I think that we shoud allow all kinds of art to be produced. I would just like to see more art that glorifies God, which of course is my own personal opinion.
First, let me express my dismay that our liberal associates refuse consider your narrow definition of art while still endorsing censorship. It is a sign of a closed mind that you will not consider that which you challenges your view. This is an open forum and unless you have violated one of the sites rules you should be heard.
I recall Robert Persigs “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” where Professor Pheadrus is challenged by the department secretary to “teach quality” for a change! After the anger of his students, having been asked to define “quality” subsides, they discover they don’t know what quality is, but they understand when they encounter it. I am without a definition of art, and I don’t need one, but I do recognize some of my responses to what I can accept (in my limited view) as art. And one of the criteria is that I respond to fine art at a deeper level than just an intellectual basis when I hear it, read it, see it or share it in other forms. As a teacher I can only speak effectively about composition, color, technology and all the other things that are not art.
It is not my intention as a painter to bring truth, beauty and light to you though my work. It cannot be - to do so would reduce my actions to propaganda.
Sometimes, when I see and understand clearly, I do discover something wonderful about the world or myself or painting that might fit your hopes, but if you can share in that it is not because I set out with that intention. I paint for my enlightenment alone.
Finally, we do not create our work “in vain” but perhaps out of the “vanity” that someone else will discover something with us.
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