Have You Ever Looked at a Piece of Art That Felt Like It Healed Your Soul?

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone,

I just heard a short devotional that said that art is one of the gifts God gives us in order to help us heal, and I thought that was pretty fascinating.

I love art in all forms, but I think my favorites are probably sculpture, painting/drawing, and glasswork. Unfortunately, I don't have any talent in any of these areas, but I appreciate artists who do because I love looking at their work. I am always wanting to know what inspired them and what the creative process was like for them.

Lately I have been sorting through some things in life... and wish I had an opportunity to go and see more artwork (in real life, not just in books or online), because something about it is very calming to me. I'm not sure if I can even describe the feelings in words, and maybe that's part of the point--art, to me, is its own language, and even though I can't fully understand or communicate in that language, it speaks to me in a voice unlike anything else. Sometimes, it even makes me feel a little less lonely (which is why I'm posting this thread in the Singles forum .)

Now of course, I don't like every piece of artwork that I come across, but I do know that I'm much more content when I am regularly exposed to several kinds of art in my life.

How about the rest of you?

* I personally consider anything creative and/or something that you make to be considered artwork, whether it's painting, cooking, building something (miniature models, furniture, a garden), writing, dance, etc. to be a form of art. How about you? What are some unique things that you see as being art that others might not have considered, and what are your favorite forms of art?

* How does looking at art make you feel? And how does producing artwork yourself make you feel? (Calm, relaxed, happy, inquisitive, bored...?)

* Would you say that art is an instrument of God's healing? Why or why not?

I'm hoping to find that there are other art lovers out there... and I'm looking forward to hearing your answers.

 

[tourist]

Art can very much be and instrument of God just like a musical instrument is used in songs of praise.

 

[blue_ladybug]

I made this to remind me to leave these at the cross, so I can resolve issues with my mom and sister. I titled it "Therapy".

 

[seoulsearch]

I made this to remind me to leave these at the cross, so I can resolve issues with my mom and sister. I titled it "Therapy".

View attachment 181134

This reminds me of (I'm so sorry if I misspell your name) Joivedere's Red Bird thread, because I could relate very well to all of the predicaments that her little red friend found himself getting into.

And, I always love seeing Magenta's artwork around the forum as well.

Several posters have shared their works over the years, and I always enjoy seeing what other people create.

 

[blue_ladybug]

I made this for Joi after she announced that she had cancer again..


.

and this one for Blain and Steph:

This reminds me of (I'm so sorry if I misspell your name) Joivedere's Red Bird thread, because I could relate very well to all of the predicaments that her little red friend found himself getting into.

And, I always love seeing Magenta's artwork around the forum as well.

Several posters have shared their works over the years, and I always enjoy seeing what other people create.

 

[seoulsearch]

This reminds me of (I'm so sorry if I misspell your name) Joivedere's Red Bird thread, because I could relate very well to all of the predicaments that her little red friend found himself getting into.

This sounds like it would make the perfect catchphrase in a really great movie: "Say Hello to My Little Red Friend!!!"

 

[NoNameMcgee]

i believe God can use art to show His children something
or lift them up


maybe its a story that has a deep meaning that aligns with a biblical truth you hadnt yet fully grasped

or a song that picks you up when your down glorifying Him in the process while reminding you how loved you are


or maybe even just a photogragh (photography is art kinda right? )of a silly orange cat to make you chuckle

(lol blue)



a few times a song or story has pointed something out to me
only for me to rush to my bible or prayer and give thanks

 

[Magenta]

Hello, Kim. Art in one form or another has been a means for me to express myself in ways that oral communication may fail, and maybe has no other outlet. For instance, at a time in my life when I was suffering under crushing emotional pain, I discovered the healing balm of playing guitar, and allowed music to melodify and absorb the grief and sorrow that otherwise seemingly sought to destroy me.

The same thing is true at another time in my life when there was no way to verbally articulate my thoughts and feelings, which I was able put into rhyming verse. The pain, grief, and sorrow were as debilitating and profound as ever, but the artistic expression of it gave me a way to share what I was experiencing, and also move beyond it in a way I probably could not have otherwise. Even if others did not understand what exactly that was, they could relate on some level to what I was saying, as well as appreciate the artistry.

One of my greatest joys of recent artistic expression was making the graphic I did for you for Valentines Day. You have always been extraordinarily kind toward me, and contribute so much to so many on this site; I wanted to express my gratitude to you, and art allowed me to do that in a way that I could not have done otherwise. Plus, it was a lot of fun doing, and I was thrilled to be able to surprise you by giving something special and unique to you. The artistic expression of my appreciation added an element of whimsy that I thoroughly enjoyed exploring, and giving "voice" to, also!

That led into me making this one for the whole forum:

And then this one, as the unicorns gathered in preparation for the party:

 

[Lynx]

Art is for expressing what cannot be expressed (at all or as well) by words or expression. I have never seen any visual art that felt like it healed my soul... but "The Scream" made my soul cringe a bit.

My preferred art form is music. As with many art forms, music can be very expressive. There are some songs that make me cry every time I hear them. Some songs are great for encouragement. Some songs I hear and I think "Oh I just HAVE to sing that one at church" because it says something that really needs to be said.

I can also appreciate songs I don't exactly like. There are some songs (mostly secular) that are not in my music collection, but they express a valid emotion or observation and they express it very well. "7 Years" by Lukas Graham does a good job of expressing loneliness, what people think will cure loneliness, the things they will do to avoid it and how futile every effort is. Theory of a Deadman (I swear that's a real music group's name) put out a song called "Medicate" which stated very well the feeling of "Okay I have a life, but what do I DO with it? I'm so bored I have to take pills to not go crazy." While these songs will never be on my playlist and I'm not really thrilled when they come on the radio somebody is playing at work, I can sympathize with what is expressed in the songs and admire how well they expressed these things.

I have never looked at a piece of art and felt like it healed my soul, but many times I have heard a song that was exactly what I needed to hear. Sometimes a song can sing joy that you feel but can't put into words, sometimes it can cry with you when you're down... and occasionally I've had a song give me a swift kick in the butt when I was just feeling sorry for myself and needed a quick boot.

 

[toinena]

I have only felt that with music. Where I can feel the Holy Spirit working through it. I am not very visual...but I think God can use art to touch people's hearts.

 

[Dino246]

"Have You Ever Looked at a Piece of Art That Felt Like It Healed Your Soul?"

Paintings, sculpture, etc., no. God's art, yes.

However, I didn't get her name....

 

[Pipp]

I'd have to say I agree with music being the main form of art that really can speak to me / heal me in a sense.

We have this old swing in the yard and I love to sit out there and look up at the sky and the tall trees surrounding our home and every time the song "For the beauty of the earth" comes to mind. So I'll pop in my ear buds and play that song while looking at God's handiwork and it brings tears to my eyes.

 

[Tommy379]

I do enjoy visiting the several art museums in Virginia. Don't tell anyone, I have a reputation to uphold.

 

[Jennie-Mae]

Hey Everyone,

I just heard a short devotional that said that art is one of the gifts God gives us in order to help us heal, and I thought that was pretty fascinating.

I love art in all forms, but I think my favorites are probably sculpture, painting/drawing, and glasswork. Unfortunately, I don't have any talent in any of these areas, but I appreciate artists who do because I love looking at their work. I am always wanting to know what inspired them and what the creative process was like for them.

Lately I have been sorting through some things in life... and wish I had an opportunity to go and see more artwork (in real life, not just in books or online), because something about it is very calming to me. I'm not sure if I can even describe the feelings in words, and maybe that's part of the point--art, to me, is its own language, and even though I can't fully understand or communicate in that language, it speaks to me in a voice unlike anything else. Sometimes, it even makes me feel a little less lonely (which is why I'm posting this thread in the Singles forum .)

Now of course, I don't like every piece of artwork that I come across, but I do know that I'm much more content when I am regularly exposed to several kinds of art in my life.

How about the rest of you?

* I personally consider anything creative and/or something that you make to be considered artwork, whether it's painting, cooking, building something (miniature models, furniture, a garden), writing, dance, etc. to be a form of art. How about you? What are some unique things that you see as being art that others might not have considered, and what are your favorite forms of art?

* How does looking at art make you feel? And how does producing artwork yourself make you feel? (Calm, relaxed, happy, inquisitive, bored...?)

* Would you say that art is an instrument of God's healing? Why or why not?

I'm hoping to find that there are other art lovers out there... and I'm looking forward to hearing your answers.

Kim, this is a real interesting question, you know. I aint been giving this a lot of thought before, but while we're at it, I, sorta, think music is the art I prefer, but I cant carry a tune in a bucket, meaning I'm just listening to music, not making it.

Music is giving me so much. It takes me back home, it takes me to situations I cherish, and it reminds me of dear ones now in Heaven.

When I'm down, I'm always listening to a singer who was from a place not far from where I was born and raised. His voice really knows how to express the pain you can feel within yourself whenever you're feeling down and out. I'm playing those old songs over and over again, until the blue skies of home, the green grass, the trees and the garden is vividly appearing in my mind. Right then I'm feeling the joy you can only feel in your true home. Sometimes I'm crying, sometimes not...his songs are so full of emotions.

 

[toinena]

For me this is also a difficult question. Many in the orthodox tradition claim divine powers in images and icons. For me it goes against the commandments, and I am reluctant to worship or to see a divinity in images. (I hope this doesn't become a BDF-thread by these thoughts)

 

[Miri]

I’ve got this hung up at home by Van Gogh - not an
original, I wish!

It’s hung over the fire place.

When I first got it my aunt said “you could have got
something with nice flowers instead of half dead ones”. Lol

But it has flowers that are just opening, some fully open and
some on their way out. That is life isn’t it. It also reflects the
seasons we go through in life, even our very lives.

I love it, the old passes by but there is always something
new waiting to unfold. It’s true of God’s grace as well.

Its grown on my aunt over the years as well.

 

[Miri]

I like doing drawings on my iPad as well. I think art is a good way to express
yourself.

Like this one I did, I call it “Eagles Wings”
In a spacious place and free is where I want to be spiritually
and emotionally. Not hemmed in or trapped.

 

[Lynx]

Yay for the multi-quote button!

"Have You Ever Looked at a Piece of Art That Felt Like It Healed Your Soul?"

Paintings, sculpture, etc., no. God's art, yes.

However, I didn't get her name....

Old joke from a game called The Saboteur:
"Have you ever done any work with explosives?"
"Well I handled a bombshell once... but it turned out she was married."

I do enjoy visiting the several art museums in Virginia. Don't tell anyone, I have a reputation to uphold.

Reminds me of an author named Lawrence Sanders and his "McNally" book series. In that series is a minor character who is a cop. He tries to put on a good ole boy image, but he is a closet balletomane. When he came back from vacation somebody asked him what he had done on his time off.
"Just lounged around the house."
"Yeah, right! You went to New York City and visited the Bolshoi every night."
"SHHH! Not so loud! You know what kind of crap I would catch if the Joe Six-Packs down at the station heard that?"

For me this is also a difficult question. Many in the orthodox tradition claim divine powers in images and icons. For me it goes against the commandments, and I am reluctant to worship or to see a divinity in images. (I hope this doesn't become a BDF-thread by these thoughts)

This is actually something that needs to be mentioned. Some people can find so much meaning in a painting or a song that they begin to worship the creation instead of the creator. It happens all the time. Remember the bronze serpent in the Bible? They turned that into something to worship. Some look for a deep meaning in whale migration patterns and the instinctive actions of wolves.

People can turn just about anything into something they worship. We need to believe there is a higher purpose, and sometimes we can convince ourselves we see it in things that don't really have a higher purpose. Art objects in the Catholic Church are good examples of this, particularly paintings.

 

[Lynx]

Something I meant to mention: As art is for expressing something, you really need to have something to express before you try to make some art. A song should have a message, something in your heart that needs to be expressed. A painting should have a reason to exist beyond making the artist a few dollars. Any art should have part of the artist's heart in it, something inside the artist that needs to come out through the art he is making.

By the same token, when a singer makes a song just to fill up the album or a sculptor churns out yet another piece just to take up a space on a shelf and make some cash, it is GLARINGLY obvious! Most of the groups I discarded from my music collection were chunked because they sounded as though they were just going through the motions of making another song for another album to make another wad of cash.

What makes me sad is when a singer that I liked in the early albums becomes so professional that he loses the heart in his music. I have many singers and groups in my collection that I only have the first few albums, because their later ones were soulless.

 

[AuntieAnt]

After God fashioned all of creation, He looked it over and it was good. Evidently, God is moved in His Spirit by all the beautiful things He creates. He creates all things for His own pleasure. And we’re in His image, so it’s understandable why we’re inspired by the beauty of nature, art, color, light, and all that God created.

I love looking at art, creating art, and visiting art & science museums. But mostly I’m delighted and inspired by nature; birds, cats, flowers, grass, rivers, stones, trees, the wind. I always remember how I once yearned for God to heal my soul while I was lying under a tree watching the sunlight dancing in the branches. (Which, of course He did.)

There’s a Japanese word for that thrilling sight, but no English equivalent. ❤