Navigating tension in the art world
About the cover: I painted this illustration as part of my “Drawing Through Genesis” series. It depicts the rainbow God placed in the sky after the flood: a promise to never again flood the earth; a war bow pointed toward heaven itself, foreshadowing Christ’s sacrifice! Can you spot the hidden archer?
I’ve been drawing, writing, and crafting for as long as I can remember. Aside from my Christian faith, this is my defining feature. However, faith and art initially seemed incompatible.
My church was not opposed to my interest in art but they did not have space for visual creative expression, and couldn’t provide me with direction as I sought to pursue art seriously.
Many creative Christians live in this tension. Their Christian world has nothing to say about art, and the art world has nothing good to say about Christian faith! For many, it seems necessary to choose one or the other.
The way before me was obscure. It seemed like my fate was to enter the art world and struggle against the tides of secularism alone.
In Mark 6:50–51, when Jesus’ disciples were struggling in the chaotic waters, Jesus “spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased.”
Happily, I did not plunge into the secular art world right away. Instead, after high school, my mom found a Christian option, the YWAM School of Cartooning and Animation for Missions.
While attending the school in Thailand in 2012, God “entered my boat.” My school leader, Dave, taught us, “Your artistic skills are a gift from God, meant to be invested back into his kingdom, to God’s glory.”
In that moment, the disconnect I felt between my faith and art disappeared. By offering my art to God, my “mere hobby” was transformed into something important, dignified, and eternal. I didn’t know where this boat was headed, but I knew that God was in it with me.
This has given me peace and assurance even when the winds of the world whisper tempting lies like, “You’ll only be successful once your art makes a lot of money,” or “You aren’t a real artist because you would like to be paid for your art.” (Yes, these winds are contrary!)
Jesus walking on water from the Roma children’s Bible.
God gave me a wonderful gift in my YWAM community, who push me toward creative excellence and faithful obedience. The church has also grown in their understanding of creative folks like me, and I have benefitted from the support and care of my church family so much.
When I gave my art to God; he made a way for me to serve him that I never could have imagined.
Learn more by visiting createseeds.org or see Kyla’s art page at kylart.ca.
