That last post, about our meeting and marriage, garnered so many loving comments, I hardly know what to write next. Happily, the best notes each of us received were from each other. The thought even crossed my mind to share those, but who would blush most, you or us?
We’re in Oregon, half way though our art-making hiatus. You’d think that would be fun, and an epitome of the free life. Both are true enough. Yet there’s something daunting about a blank canvas or sheet of heavy rag paper ready for ink or paint of some design, who knows what? Or worse, something intimidating about a piece of art half made, but the ongoing touches/strokes/designs/colors not at all clear.
There are moments of exaltation when something seems to be working, but one can also feel like a failure several times in a day. The canvas, like life, doesn’t always make clear what it needs to succeed.
I go to the Scripture, hoping for guidance. There’s David in Psalms calling out for guidance. Do answers come? We can assume so . . . but then there he is again in the next psalm, calling out again.
Still, his confidence doesn’t altogether lag . . . not in life, not in God.
Art-making, you might think (or I might think) is one of the least necessary things in life. Yet it is so like life. I’m reminded of the famous chess match between Boris Spassky of Russia who said “Chess is like life,” and Bobby Fischer of America who said “Chess is life.”
So it is for some of us with art.
And we sense that God would see it that way too.
So we go on. Sometimes in free abandon, and sometimes working it out in fear and trembling, feeling very alone.
There’s a book, Art and Fear, which Anne and I have often referred back to for its depth of understanding and pithy aphorisms. I was asking her about one of the quotes the other day, trying to get it right. “Why?” she said, “You don’t have the problem.”
Ha, do I have her fooled!
Here it is:
“Fears about yourself prevent you from doing your best work…
while fears about your reception by others prevent you from doing your own work.”*
Did I not tell you art-making is like life? These fears inhibit on every side if we let them, and in every area. Art is life.
And living it is an art.
“Be bold and courageous.”** That’s another from Scripture, spoken by God himself to Joshua, now on his own after Moses’ passing. That’s the word I’ll take today, faced with all these blank or half-filled canvases.
And that’s what I’ll pass on to you. Which one of us, whatever the art form of our lives, hasn’t much to overcome?
Don’t quit. Seek guidance. Keep painting.
Whatever “painting” means to you.
____________________
* Art and Fear, Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking, David Bayles and Ted Orland
** Joshua 1:8 (long a favorite)
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
8:49 am
Great words.
I paint for joy. For me, art adds to life. My life would be less without it.
An odd realization that I’ve had that you probably worked through years and years ago: If a piece turns out good, it becomes a part of me. I am interested in neither selling it nor giving it away. If it turns out poorly (right now, the ratio is about 3 of 4), I have no issue at all with painting over that canvas.
Hyatt, you are obviously part psychologist…so what does that mean? And especially from a Christian perspective.
8:57 am
After yesterday’s blog and the elation in celebration of a wonderful couple’s marriage of 47 years, mirroring my own life of marriage to my God person of 37 years———— I open up my emails to see this even more extraordinary blog from you Hyatt –and God in you! I cried over this blog. The reason? well, because again, you hit the nail on the head about how hard it is for me to paint and the struggles within (which by the way, I did not think you had them too, Hyatt!——you fooled me too! Hahahaha!). But I know I had them, those exact ones! And it IS like life, JUST LIKE YOU SAID and we all have them! I cried to see it down on paper in black and white. Wow! Powerful! Then! to have you reference David and his continual crying out and then the clear demand by our Lord and Father that we be STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!! AMEN! You are exactly dead on with this and we thank the Lord for these powerful words and thoughts! God’s perception of our lives and what we are doing is the only one that matters! Loved this Hyatt. Wow! Thank you again!!! Blessings! Lisa
9:05 am
Excellent Hyatt!! Your blog is very encouraging!! Thank you for this especially.
Here is a most amazing quote from our brother Vincent van Gogh…
“Just slap on anything when you see a blank canvas staring at you like some imbecile. You don’t know how paralyzing that is, that stare of a blank canvas, which says to the painter: you can’t do a thing. That canvas has an idiotic stare that mesmerizes some painters so much that they turn to idiots themselves. Many painters are afraid in front of the blank canvas, but the blank canvas is afraid of the real, passionate painter who dares and who has broken the spell of “you can’t” once for all.
Life itself, too, is forever turning an infinitely vacant disheartening, dispiriting blank side towards man on which nothing appears, any more than it does on a blank canvas. But no matter how vacant and vain, how dead life may appear to be, the man of faith, of energy, of warmth, who knows something, will not be put off so easily. He wades in and does something and stays with it.” Vincent van Gogh
Constance Hubbard
9:09 am
Love it! Once again, you hit the proverbial nail on the head. Keep ’em coming….
9:36 am
You wrote directly to me, my exact fears of failing, while half finished paintings and struggling with my commission based work. Too old to switch ‘jobs’ and threatening myself to get back to unfinished canvases. I know your intent was not to write only to and for me still, you did. You through God. You are succeeding in doing your work. Thank you!
9:48 am
Thanks Hyatt,
Great encouragement. I don’t paint, as much as I admire the gift of those who can, but my canvas might be my neighbors and community. I love to talk to them and encourage them and hope to be used by the Lord in their lives either to strengthen them or draw them to the Savior.
Your words always inspire and encourage me. :-)
10:25 am
Hyatt, you are reading my mail once again. :) I’m working on a piece that I’ve been thinking about for a few weeks. I want to enter a painting in an art competition. Have actually started three paintings, even though it is all for the one painting I want to do. Just keep changing my mind on which way to take it and fearful that it won’t come out right, come out creative, or perfect, or something Leonardo would have done. If it was a photograph, then I could experiment fast and come out with a decision (or a few… ha, ha.) but with painting I can’t seem to do one that takes only a couple hours. Being innovative in thinking processes means reinventing the wheel every time to achieve something new. And. It. Takes. So. Much. Time. And makes it so important to get it right. And it means I’m very indecisive. And it means I procrastinate and avoid instead of jumping in and seeing where each take me. It would probably take less time to do the three I’ve got started instead of worrying about the outcome and doing other things to occupy my time because now I feel some anxiety about it all. And I really thought God was in this whole thing for me to enter.
So what you said in your blog drives home … “Fears about yourself prevent you from doing your best work…
while fears about your reception by others prevent you from doing your own work.”*
Courage, courage, courage … I gotta jump right in.
10:51 am
Carmen, Thanks for your vulnerability. If people only knew your reputation as Canada’s highest award-winner for creative photography, multiple times . . . though first trained as a painter . . . they would see how this challenge faces us all, regardless of our level.
10:55 am
I absolutely love the quote, Hyatt. There isn’t one person this topic won’t mess with, hopefully in a good way! C.S. Lewis often commented on the space between who we are and who we ought to be. Thankfully God loves us in the former state from one day to the next, always shaping us towards the latter. The fear component seems to be what holds us back, in the form of anxiety, worry, shame, etc. Therein is where trust enters. We don’t know exactly what God is up to, but we do know it’s good, always towards an ultimate end that will bring us joy. As He reminded Abraham, more than once, “I am your shield, and your very good reward.” So, paint on, and ponder as well … we’re the lucky ones to be a part of it.
11:18 am
Hello Hyatt! Excellent blog posts these days….Thanks so much for the honesty and encouragement! We all need to support and encourage one another in the gifts He has given us. Our Creator, the master painter, thru the Holy Spirit infuses His Love into our hearts and gives us Hope, courage, and Love that casts out Fear from our hearts so we can be Free to create for Him and His Glory! Prayer in ALL things is the solution to blocks, empty canvases, discouragement, and struggle. We fight out way throught these valleys with Our Saviour on our side to help us get to our ultimate goal…The Father’s House of Love, Peace, and unending Joy! His Love is the opposite of our Fears…continue the amazing work you continue to do for Him and His coming Kingdom! Many Lenten Blessings to you and Anne:):)
11:46 am
I am printing this one Hyatt and putting it in my Bible to refer to again and again. Need this reminder almost daily. Thanks!
1:32 pm
i love words! and your thoughts minister to me once again……Actually your blogs are like poetry to me……loaded with wisdom, God’s love, insight, and put a smile on my face, and sometimes bring a tear to my eyes & heart.. Thank you. The book you mention I am going to purchase for one of my daughters.
2:29 pm
Vernon and I were just talking about this this morning. What fear- or lack of a thing- keeps us from doing our best work (or even doing it at all?). Sometimes it’s taking the risk to do the opposite of what you feel, just to bring things into balance. I always think of love as being the opposite of fear. There is no fear in love, after all. And perfect love casts out fear. So as we let ourselves become more perfected in Love (wholeness), perhaps we can move forward confidently, and the Fear becomes the quieter voice?
But that idea often brings me around to another quote (probably my favorite one) by the painter Andrew Wyeth:
“One’s art goes as far and as deep as one’s love goes.”
6:59 pm
Dear Hyatt:
I first discovered you through the “Damascus Roads” program that featured your testimony. You inspired me then, and your blogs still do. I am at present working through the prayers and process of formulating a “five year plan” that will take me from my business in leather restoration (a great niche) to full time artist…and balancing it all with my calling as a musician in a world-traveling worship team (and the reality that Jesus could return before I hit “send”). Too many irons in the fire? Or is it simply the challenge of knowing which one to pick up at any given time? Your story helps me in the prioritizing.
God bless you,
Dan Grove
Daniel Grove Fine Art
Fresh View Leather
DanielGroveFineArt.com
8:57 pm
Thank you Hyatt, I think I will buy that book and keep that quote in the forefront of my mind this next week – while I work hard to let go of fears and be bold and courageous.
much love to you and Anne
12:06 am
Thank you, Hyatt, for these words. You were right I did enjoy this piece; spoke right into my heart as I deal with this in all areas, including art. “Be bold and courageous.” YES!
7:06 am
Hyatt, I still have the “white canvas” fear. Starting a painting on a white canvas always makes me face my fears. Then I face it with my brush stokes until it slowly subsides. Then the new fears of showing my artwork to others and open myself to comments good or bad. I understand completely.
9:38 am
Hyatt, I absolutely loved this, along with it speaking to my own heart. Years ago I picked up a book called “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway” by Susan Jeffers. The title alone has encouraged me through life’s challenges, including my own artistic expression. Thank you for writing about your own struggles, because we tend only see the successes and this makes us love/admire you all the more. ps: loved the quote
2:05 pm
Another great blog! I’ve always wanted to paint, or sculpt, or sing, or play a musical instrument, but apparently I didn’t sprout from those branches of the family tree. It makes it more challenging, I think, to figure out where God wants me to be and what He wants me to do. Randy says I ‘m creative in other ways, but I don’t see it. I just keep trusting in God, that I am where I am meant to be, doing what I’m meant to be doing. Keep on blogging!
7:56 pm
Thank you for the nuggets of inspiration and insight.
12:17 am
Removing my self worth from being able to produce creative pieces of functional art and merely doing that which i was created to do which will produce the best possible outcome for the world and me as I live inspired by the spirit.
I have come to see that all our greatest fear is; would be to have lived a life of no significance.
This crippling reality will both fuel and mute our minds voice.
Significance can be achieved by creating that which is individually inspired and prompted by God for each one of us to do. Validation by people might never arrive, this should not be the motivation nor the elimination of expressed creative paths.
Create according to your calling and build a life of significance.
5:32 am
Thanks, Hyatt. One of my dreams as Provost of Lutheran Southern Seminary is to kindle the artist’s imagination around here. Years of financial difficulty at the seminary have drained more than bank accounts. Also drained were the imaginations of some very strong people. We are working through the fear of change to re-emerge as a place of innovation and art.
12:33 pm
Dear Hyatt: Are we allowed a “two-fer”? I left a comment above, but in rereading, more slowly, your blog, I realized your quote from Joshua (God’s encouragement to Joshua) was in there, and it is my “scripture for the year”. The Lord commissioned him to do something completely new and quite intimidating, then repeatedly encouraged him that he would never ever be alone in the endeavor. Then, the command came out of Joshua’s own mouth…see how he “takes God’s word for it” (it happens several times throughout his saga), gets up and moves out, based on those mighty promises: “Be not afraid, Joshua…I’m right here…I’ll always be right here.” Man! So out of Joshua’s own mouth comes the command. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, aren’t they? I have been applying this to other areas of my life in this season, but not to my art. Thank you for making the connection. As I write, the Reformation Symphony is just getting started on the radio. Pretty good background music.