Why I Don’t Relate to 99% percent of Artists
I didn’t evolve from experiencing your art…
That’s not to shame anybody or to throw shade at any artist. I’m simply making a sobering observation. I don’t expect most of you to understand, nor relate to me either. Until we ethically evolve, we will not have many things in common. (Acts 2:42–44; 1 Cor 4:7–16)
Most artists speak of “finding their voice,” “being creative,” or “expressing their truth.” While I respect the craft whether we’re talking about fine or performance arts, I often feel like an outcast in the Arts community. There are many reasons for that: 1) protecting my integrity while approaching the music and entertainment industry, 2) my philosophy surrounding art is drastically different than most artists, and 3) some of the most transformative and innovative experiences I’ve had were away from the arts.
I won’t expound on those three things in this blog because it would be too long, and I know most wouldn’t care. I will talk about more of my philosophy and why I can’t relate to many artists. My journey isn’t about self-expression. It’s about self-discovery in alignment to who God is. I don’t create to show you who I am; I create because I wish to be one with my Creator. There is a fundamental distinction here that many miss: the Creator is not necessarily an “artist” in the human sense, bound by trends, ego, or the medium. Instead, the Creator is the greatest Artist who has ever existed — because God’s creativity goes beyond the confines of Art.
As a result, I don’t feel comfortable labeling myself an artist. Not because I’m not talented in the artistic sense, I can sing, write, dance, play, teach, code, among many other things. Even if I try to say I’m an artist, I would immediately be judged by other artists based on their criteria of what art is. Among consumers and creators alike, “Artists R The Problem.” My thing is this: A human artist manipulates existing materials, but the Divine speaks things into being. When I sit down to work, I am not trying to compete with God’s brilliance or anyone else for that matter; I submit to God, trusting that His brilliance comes with love, power, and mercy. That’s what enables me to enjoy artists of all kinds without needing to critique. But my desire goes beyond just enjoying art. What is art if it’s not Divine? What is Divine Art, if it doesn’t inspire awe and worship?
My journey isn’t about self-expression. It’s about self-discovery in alignment to who God is.
Because my Creator God is perfect, I find myself driven by relentless perfectionism. This isn’t the anxious perfectionism of seeking human approval or finding myself worthy of God, but a spiritual standard in receiving all the blessings from the Kingdom of Heaven. (1 Cor 6:9–11; 2 Cor 6:9–11) My creations strive to be a reflection of the One who made me. If I am made in His image, then the work of my hands should carry a hint of that original excellence. I am constantly asking: Does this mirror the order and beauty of the Heavens? (Ecc 3:11–18)
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Ultimately, my desire is to have my work be a signpost. I desire whatever I create to draw attention away from me and toward their own Creator. (Jn 3:30–35) I strive to give the best possible reflection of who God is through my medium. If a viewer walks away thinking I am talented but misses the majesty of the Divine, I have failed. The art is merely the glass; the light passing through it is what matters. This is one of the main reasons why I shy away from the camera; I find the beauty of the LORD to be way greater than the beauty of man.
I have come to realize that I know nothing apart from my Creator. In a culture that idolizes “self-expression”, I am often the outlier. I am more than willing to forego self-expression if it means I might limit my discovery of the Creator’s innovation. My “self” is a small, finite thing; His innovation is infinite. Why would I choose my own narrow perspective over the expansive wisdom of the Architect of the universe? (Is 55:6–11; 1 Cor 4:3–5)
Furthermore, I am willing to forego “Art” entirely if it is not attuned to the laws of nature or the supernatural. There is a sacred geometry to existence, a rhythm to the soul that must be respected. Art that fights against the natural or supernatural order — or worse, mocks it — feels hollow to me. I cannot find beauty in chaos that refuses to seek a higher purpose.
This leads to a difficult boundary: I cannot enjoy or participate in any culture that celebrates what is objectively wrong or evil. While many artists believe art should be “transgressive” or “boundary-pushing” for the sake of shock, I believe art should be a guardian of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. When the prevailing culture is against these values, that’s when the spirit of rebellion is justified. But if any work celebrates the degradation of the human soul, alive or deceased, it isn’t groundbreaking but heartbreaking.
By rooting my creativity in the Divine rather than the ego, I find a freedom and a creativity that 99% of artists may never understand. I am not burdened by the need to be “original,” “the next big thing,”or to be an “artist” because I am connected to the Original Source. This blog is not a scream into the void, it’s a public acknowledgment of one answering The Call. With that being said, I look forward to the next decade of making a clear distinction between artists, and artists who have the heart of God. God Bless you all. I love you.
As Always,
James
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things <but loss> for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered <the loss of all things>, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And <be found in him>, not having <mine own righteousness>, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 <That I may know him>, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, <being made conformable unto his death>; 11 If by any means <I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead>. Php 3:8–11 KJV <emphasis added>
