This blog is going to be rather philosophical. I am reading a good book, Jason Harms’ THE AFFECTIONS OF THE HEART IN ART.  It has me thinking about when I enjoy my art the most.  Do I get the most pleasure when I learn a new skill that I’ve pursued? When I stumble on a creative success? When I’ve won an award?  Or when, as tonight, I receive a heart-felt thanks for an art gift that was done simply for the privilege of doing it and sharing it?  

I think it is the later, but ultimately that pleasure comes from something deeper--from knowing God to be “the end of all the pleasures He has made.” Art is one manifestation of His gift of pleasure. The more I know and understand Him, the greater my sense of pleasure in art or  in any other pleasure will be. 

I’m rethinking all the reasons I paint. I’m thinking I need to remove some unhealthy clutter in my art brain and stay focused on pleasing God and enjoying Him in my art. To do that, I must know and understand Him more. 

Do you associate reindeer with Christmas? I've been reminded that reindeer are more than Santa's sleigh carriers, but are image bearers of Truth---the truth that we live in a world redeemed by the Christ-child who came to earth on Christmas Day.  Even the animals were saved by grace, grace of being taken onto the ark with Noah.  So each time I paint an animal, I'm reminded of what George MacDonald said in Guild Court,". . . nothing in which the art is uppermost is worth the art expended upon it."

"A man cannot be wise enough to be a great artist without being wise enough to wish to be a philosopher.  A man cannot have the energy to produce good art without having the energy to wish to pass beyond it.  A small artist is content with art; a great artist is content with nothing except everything."