By Bonnie Brooks
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January 4, 2022
I have been very busy since I am now a full-time artist. I have learned more in the past 5 months than I did in all my college life. Today I thought I would reflect on my artist statement. I am a realist artist because I believe in painting what I can see, what God has so perfectly created. I do not want my art to shock people but comfort them. I want people to look at my work and see the peace that God has created. As part of my beliefs, I have applied the scripture reference Psalms 9:1 “I will praise the Lord with all of my heart; I will tell of His wonderful works.” I am not the creator He is. I paint His creations with His inspiration guiding every stroke. They say that art is in the eyes of the beholder, but it is also an experience. Our emotions are attached to past experiences. An example of this is, the fashion industry continues to recapture lost eras of design, being successful, because people had experienced it. The auto industry recaptured the VW Bug and people loved it because they experienced it. The experience of God’s peace and comfort in the art industry needs to come back. Art executed through faith, so rare today, was once a form of worship. Artwork was thought of as sacred in the church, but most art these days are considered secular, or worse, anti-Christian. Have you ever walked into a church filled with paintings, stain glass, tapestry and sculpture and found your senses overwhelmed along with your soul being moved in inexpressible ways? No one can capture the image of God, nor should we, but a Christian artist can inspire deep reverences and worship through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration. Michelangelo, being one of the first to do so, made such an impact on art and history to this day. Inspired art brings an awareness of God through the canvas painted. Many artists today try to get noticed by creating art that shocks people. The world is filled with so much turmoil and controversy, I feel art should capture the beauty that was created by God, without violence or sensationalism. It is a reflection of tranquility through the artist eyes and hands from God. I see my paintings as inspired by God. Sometimes I just marvel at what reaches my hand and flows through my brush. I know that I could not paint what I am looking at, but He did. I pray that when I paint, God’s glory will be presented, as He gives me the ability to work through Him. Viewing art should not cause nightmares or confuse the mind, but bring peace and comfort to an already troubled and busy world. My desire is that when you look at art you see beauty that is inspiring, uplifting and is a gift from God.