Writing What’s True, Preaching According to Conviction, and Sean Tucker’s “Making the Art You Really Believe In”

I think Sean Tucker is right, and that much of what he says here has direct application to the craft of preaching, writing, and blogging.

Many preach, write, or publish on the web in an effort to become popular, rather than to uncover and offer what is true.

Popularity isn’t always the best measure of success, integrity, or profundity. Many artists, prophets, and innovators are widely misunderstood in their own time. Pursue truth. Point to it. Tell it. Relay it as you are able.

Brancusi’s Observation

Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957)

I met icon-makers during my youth in the country. I remember that an icon-maker before starting to paint, or a maker of wooden crosses before starting to carve, would fast for a few weeks in a row. They prayed continually that their icons and crosses would be beautiful.

Constantin Brancusi, Artist and Sculptor, quoted by Cameron J. Anderson, “Transcendence and Immanence: The Sculpture of Constantin Brancusi and Alberto Giacometti,” in God in the Modern Wing: Viewing Art with Eyes of Faith, edited by Cameron J. Anderson and G. Walter Hansen

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Brancusi observed something that should be true of all good Christian work: everything begins with prayer.

Flip Books

J’s been making flip books in art class and her teacher shared videos from Andymation as examples.

This is super cool.

I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to artifacts, things that we make and leave behind. I have a collection of notebooks that contain journal entries, sketches, photographs, collages, hand written notes, ticket stubs, and the like. I’m hanging on to J’s flip books, too, and other artwork the kids have made.

Blind Barty

The kids were given LCD drawing boards on Sunday. Molly was preaching from Mark 10:46-52. Joy handed me the tablet, and I did a quick sketch.

I handed it back expecting her to erase it. She wanted to take a picture of it.

So now, here it is for show.