The Faithful Artist

Most of the work of an artist, says Cameron, transpires in the “liminal space” between calling and witness. And many Christian artists struggle to strike a balance between two poles of the venn diagram: work as calling and work as witness.  

Making sense of an artistic calling can be extremely difficult. After all, some Christians are skeptical. Painter, sculptor, musician, poet—these aren’t “real” jobs, at least according to some. The pressure to do traditional ministry work such as pastoring can be intense, and it can even be enough to cause an artist to wonder if their vocation is even legitimate. 

And then there’s the pressure to actually produce the final product, to actually do the work of an artist. This, according to Cameron, is where the battle is fought. 

Reflect:

• How did you discern your vocation as an artist? Have you ever faced opposition to this career path from those who questioned the legitimacy of the artistic vocation? How did you respond?  

• What practical challenges do artists face when it comes to pursuing art as a career?

As Cameron tells it, the work of a creative professional is always in this “liminal space”—struggling with questions of faith and serious art, spiritual vocation and the logistical practicalities involved in actually seeing a piece through to completion. 

The artistic journey is fraught with great risk and great reward. Every artist knows both the deep satisfaction of seeing a project completed and the bitter disappointment of a vision falling apart before coming to fruition. 

Reflect:

• As an artist, what does it feel like to inhabit the “liminal space” Cameron describes here?  

• What motivates you to take the risk involved in producing art?