It seems that a lot of Rory Noland’s message for artists is actually for all Christians. The topics of jealousy and envy, leadership, and spiritual discipline can apply to most believers. Even the topic of moodiness is not just for ‘those artsy types.’ Although managing emotions is especially important for artists, I found that this really focused on stereotypical artists who are in a state of chronic melancholy. I think that this image is not as true as most people, perhaps even Noland, might think. A lot of artists are as emotionally well-balanced as the average person.
I appreciate the point that Noland makes with the last chapter of the book about the role of spiritual disciplines in the lives of artists. Since every part of a person’s life is affected by their relationship with God, one’s ministry will be lacking if ‘quiet time’ with God is being neglected. In the same way, an artist’s art will suffer if they are neglecting their spiritual disciplines. What are the implications of this information for gifted non-Christian artists? Is “Christian” art actually better in some ways? How would Andy Warhol’s cutting-edge pop art be different or improved if he had been a Christian? This point could be used to say that Christians use God as a crutch for their creativity, while non-Christians are able to pull inspiration up by themselves. Nonetheless, I agree that my personal art probably contains much more depth when I am keeping up with my devotions.
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I agree that the majority of Noland’s writing could in actuality be written for all believers. I think Noland had to focus on the extreme stereotypical artist in order to make a point and in order to meet the needs of the intense, radical, artistic temperaments.
God has created each of us with a personality and some people’s personalities are more creative than others yet he still is the Creator of all. Does people’s inspiration stemmed from their god-given creativity? If so than God would be the alpha-artist.
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