Professional

It's always amazing to me to talk to professional artists. Yes, there are a few artists who make a living by sellng a few paintings for massive amounts of money or selling myraids of CDs. However, I'm recently discovering that most professional artists are out there, on the streets, working over it for 8 (or more) hours per day.

Perhaps Seattle is unique in this: I don't feel like there are a lot of cities in this country where busker is a respectable job, nor something you could even consider making a living doing. However, I know several people who do so. About 2 years ago I met a man who was selling his novel on the street. It did not appeal to me personally (I found the concept not that interesting), so I did not buy it. However, I found out today that he makes at least enough money to pay his rent, which is substantian considering the neighborhood in which he lives.

It seems to me that all of these people had to one day make a decision: they had to quit their job and become a professional artist. I once asked Busker King Emery Carl what he did when he didn't get enough tips. He responded, "Some days, you just don't eat." In the description of one of his youtube videos, Emery Carl says, "sometimes you don't go to work because it's fun or easy, sometimes you just have to get it done."

Perhaps I'm just not committed enough. Sure, I've been doing some promotion work. I've been keeping this blog, and there is another store about to start carrying my book soon. But I've yet to be actually out there, performing on the street. I've just recently started networking. Being an artist is about being an entrepeneur.

All this being said, I alsoneed to constantly remind myself of the goal: the goal is not to be a professional artist. It is not to make money nor to be famous. The goal is to bring glory to God, the very purpose for which I was created. If I'm poet laureate of the world and richer than Warren Buffet but it's all for me, I'm a failure. If I'm glorifying God with the gifts that he gave me but I live on the street, I'm a success. Wretched man that I am: I've got a long way to go.

It's always amazing to me to talk to professional artists. Yes, there are a few artists who make a living by sellng a few paintings for massive amounts of money or selling myraids of CDs. However, I'm recently discovering that most professional artists are out there, on the streets, working over it for 8 (or more) hours per day.

Perhaps Seattle is unique in this: I don't feel like there are a lot of cities in this country where busker is a respectable job, nor something you could even consider making a living doing. However, I know several people who do so. About 2 years ago I met a man who was selling his novel on the street. It did not appeal to me personally (I found the concept not that interesting), so I did not buy it. However, I found out today that he makes at least enough money to pay his rent, which is substantian considering the neighborhood in which he lives.

It seems to me that all of these people had to one day make a decision: they had to quit their job and become a professional artist. I once asked Busker King Emery Carl what he did when he didn't get enough tips. He responded, "Some days, you just don't eat." In the description of one of his youtube videos, Emery Carl says, "sometimes you don't go to work because it's fun or easy, sometimes you just have to get it done."

Perhaps I'm just not committed enough. Sure, I've been doing some promotion work. I've been keeping this blog, and there is another store about to start carrying my book soon. But I've yet to be actually out there, performing on the street. I've just recently started networking. Being an artist is about being an entrepeneur.

All this being said, I alsoneed to constantly remind myself of the goal: the goal is not to be a professional artist. It is not to make money nor to be famous. The goal is to bring glory to God, the very purpose for which I was created. If I'm poet laureate of the world and richer than Warren Buffet but it's all for me, I'm a failure. If I'm glorifying God with the gifts that he gave me but I live on the street, I'm a success. Wretched man that I am: I've got a long way to go.

Professional

The Nature of Art

Last night at church, Pastor Tim was talking about (among a lot of other things...it was a great sermon) using our gifts to praise God and reach people for him. The purpse for which he gave us said gifts is the bring about his glory. After church I had a conversation with a friend about the sermon, and it turns out that we took away many of the same things from it. Both being antisocial artists, we both had some realizations about the way we're using our gifts.

But I think this is absolutely a case in which each answer leads to more questions: what does it look like to use writing and painting to God's glory? Where should I be using these gifts? Is this really what God wants me doing, or should I be using other gifts right now instead (and more correctly stated, where is the balance)? The list goes on.

Tomorrow I plan to busk. Thursday I'm performing at a show something I wrote.  A store is about to start carrying my book (probably/hopefully). But what else? I don't know.

A few years ago I read an article in CCM (certainly not a magazine I read regularly) in which the vocalist from Switchfoot said, "A Christian artist does more than paint crosses." I was later told that this was actually a quote from Frank Schaeffer. Whatever the source, it raises some interesting questions: I mean, what DOES a Christian artist do? The obvious, general, overarching answer is simple: create art to glorify God. However, it's difficult to determine what this looks like on an artist to artist basis.

What I mean is this: what makes the art of Thomas Kinkade better than that of Damon Conklin? I have nothing against Thomas Kinkade. I've never met him, so I can't speak of him as a person. Regardless, I certainly don't like his position as patron saint of Christian bookstores. As for Damon, I go to church with him and know that he sees incarnation in his art. Not only that, but my neighbor mentioned to me on Saturday that when he went to Supergenius to get his tattoo and saw Damon's art, he saw incarnation. It's visible to others.

I think that's one of the biggest parts: Christianity is not exclusively between you and God, but also about community. If people only see you and not God, you're doing something wrong.

Last night at church, Pastor Tim was talking about (among a lot of other things...it was a great sermon) using our gifts to praise God and reach people for him. The purpse for which he gave us said gifts is the bring about his glory. After church I had a conversation with a friend about the sermon, and it turns out that we took away many of the same things from it. Both being antisocial artists, we both had some realizations about the way we're using our gifts.

But I think this is absolutely a case in which each answer leads to more questions: what does it look like to use writing and painting to God's glory? Where should I be using these gifts? Is this really what God wants me doing, or should I be using other gifts right now instead (and more correctly stated, where is the balance)? The list goes on.

Tomorrow I plan to busk. Thursday I'm performing at a show something I wrote.  A store is about to start carrying my book (probably/hopefully). But what else? I don't know.

A few years ago I read an article in CCM (certainly not a magazine I read regularly) in which the vocalist from Switchfoot said, "A Christian artist does more than paint crosses." I was later told that this was actually a quote from Frank Schaeffer. Whatever the source, it raises some interesting questions: I mean, what DOES a Christian artist do? The obvious, general, overarching answer is simple: create art to glorify God. However, it's difficult to determine what this looks like on an artist to artist basis.

What I mean is this: what makes the art of Thomas Kinkade better than that of Damon Conklin? I have nothing against Thomas Kinkade. I've never met him, so I can't speak of him as a person. Regardless, I certainly don't like his position as patron saint of Christian bookstores. As for Damon, I go to church with him and know that he sees incarnation in his art. Not only that, but my neighbor mentioned to me on Saturday that when he went to Supergenius to get his tattoo and saw Damon's art, he saw incarnation. It's visible to others.

I think that's one of the biggest parts: Christianity is not exclusively between you and God, but also about community. If people only see you and not God, you're doing something wrong.

The Nature of Art

Amuse the Muse, Avoid the Noid

I feel quite awkward writing this post. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, I've had and continue to have many ideas, but nothing has appeared here. That really doesn't matter, as I have of yet given this link to exactly zero people. But also I feel awkward because I feel like this is a strange post: if someone else told me this same story, I'd not believe them. At the same time, I swear it's true. 

How do you tell someone that she is your muse? I mean, I know how to tell someone that. I've said it many times. But I've only ever said it to girls whom I liked.

However, this time is different. I don't even know this girl. I mean, I've talked to her several times, but always only for 15-30 seconds at a time. She always laughs, and I feel mused. But that's it. 

I'm not saying I'm actually going to tell her. I'm just thinking about it. Not thinking about telling her, but thinking about what this whole concept would look like. 

Oh, and as for the Noid, I've been eating frozen pizza because it's cheaper. The noid is not interested in that. 

I feel quite awkward writing this post. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, I've had and continue to have many ideas, but nothing has appeared here. That really doesn't matter, as I have of yet given this link to exactly zero people. But also I feel awkward because I feel like this is a strange post: if someone else told me this same story, I'd not believe them. At the same time, I swear it's true. 

How do you tell someone that she is your muse? I mean, I know how to tell someone that. I've said it many times. But I've only ever said it to girls whom I liked.

However, this time is different. I don't even know this girl. I mean, I've talked to her several times, but always only for 15-30 seconds at a time. She always laughs, and I feel mused. But that's it. 

I'm not saying I'm actually going to tell her. I'm just thinking about it. Not thinking about telling her, but thinking about what this whole concept would look like. 

Oh, and as for the Noid, I've been eating frozen pizza because it's cheaper. The noid is not interested in that. 

Amuse the Muse, Avoid the Noid