“A work is finished when an artist realizes his intentions.” - Rembrandt
I have a friend named John who is an artist. He’s been painting for quite some time and is also accomplished in art restoration. We have coffee together and talk about life, faith, relationships, and a lot about art. We were talking the other day about the proverbial plight of the artist. Art is an interesting thing when you are the artist. It is work that extends from your soul and at some point, you put it out into the universe for all to see. And in many instances, judge its value. Determine its meaning. Like or dislike it. Understand it or not. Or maybe even pay for it. But in all cases, the door is open to comment and critique.
This is some of what the artist faces. Their time, work, craft, heart, and belief go into the art. Those who have picked up their brush and gone to the canvas are doing more than painting a picture, they are releasing their art into the world—for the world to inspect and evaluate on their terms. This is key to the work.
The release.
My son is in the performing arts. A few years ago, I took the opportunity to participate in a production of The Sound of Music with him and his fellow performers. I had a small part as Franz the Butler. This was new territory for me. I stressed over lines. Awed at the aptitude and professionalism of the other actors. Attended rehearsals and did my best. One of the most interesting times was during one of the final rehearsals. I was sitting backstage with some of my fellow thespians (well, they a lot more thespian than I), and I made the comment that “You guys never actually get to see the performance, do you?”. To which one of them replied, “Welcome to performing arts.” They never get to actually see the show. They just get out there and do it.
In our lives, we can get bogged down with the performance. What it looks like, or what the audience will think. We may be confident in our art/ourselves, but a bit uneasy as to its reception, and therefore we might keep it behind the curtain. But our art/ourselves is what matters, not the critique.
There is an art to this thing called faith. God is a creator. He has created us all to be artists. We are to pick up our brush and go to work. To pour ourselves into our art and release it to the world. Christian Dior said, “A woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.” We are to be a perfume in the world, not perfect handwriting. We are to provide a sweet aroma that uniquely stems from our created self, not a perfected performance that we think the world, and a lot of times the church, wants to see.
God has released the art of us into the world, as unfinished as we may be—and we are to do likewise. Our work—ourselves—are deserved of release. Whether we consider it finished or not. Whether we think our voice will be well received. Whether we think our church would approve. Whether we’re as studied as we think we should be. It’s about faith—in our Creator and who He’s created.
The artist can always stay in the studio. Perfecting the work. Adding more blues. Rethinking the steps. Fearing the audience's reaction. But there comes a time of commitment from the artist. The gallery show is scheduled. The curtain opens. The art is released.
Into something beyond.
There’s a great quote I recently read from C.S. Lewis that reads “I think all Christians would agree with me if I said that though Christianity seems at first to be all about morality, all about duties and rules and guilt and virtue, yet it leads you on, out of all that, into something beyond.”
Jesus didn’t stay in the studio and determine and debate his audience's receptivity. He didn’t concern himself with the words and positions of the church’s “art critics.” He didn't worry about abiding by cultural and political norms. He concerned himself with as Lewis’ “something beyond” and asks us to do the same. Releasing yourself releases art.