Should I quit art school

[Sunflower Garden]

I'm getting a really expensive art education to prepare for an art college / art career right now. My family, since I got accepted, keep telling me this is amazing and surely part of God's plan. But now I feel afraid it's not. I love art, have always been an artist, but I'm scared that unless I make religious art that I'm not really glorifying God and instead am just following selfish ambitions. I feel like it's wrong to make art for fun, too. If I am pursuing a secular art education instead of ministry or theology, am I really living for God in total surrender?

Another thing unrelated to me is the people here. Because it's a secular school, there are some students here that promote sinful activity (lots of support for LGBT and yoga here which I know is wrong) and wear demonic symbols on their clothes. I'm not the only Christian here but there are very few.

Should I quit? I don't want to, but I'm scared if not doing the right thing for Christ.

 

[Mantishand]

I am an artist. Not to sound arrogant but I am a good artist. I went to art school and learned some awesome stuff. But making a living as an artist is almost impossible, for me at least. Struggling to make your art pay takes the joy out of it.

That being said, there are usually job opportunities in large cities. I had job offers right out of school in LA and such. But I am not a fan of large cities. I think if it is Gods will then you will do fine. I have no idea what he wants me to do with the talent he gave me. I am thinking religious art as well. I find the old masters paintings amazing and love that style.

 

[Duke of Stratford]

Speaking as someone who struggles with living totally for God, I don’t believe going to art school in and of itself is wrong. Not everyone is called to study ministry or theology; we all have different gifts. And art doesn’t necessarily have to be religious to glorify God—a person isn’t sinning by painting a picture of flowers instead of a Bible story, for instance.

I can’t say with certainty that art school is what God is calling you to do. But it does sound like you’re putting a lot of worry there that you don’t need to. It’s all about discernment, and discernment can be hard. There’s a difference between conviction and condemnation: sometimes God convicts you of a sin and encourages you to change. Other times, the enemy will make you feel terrible and hopeless, but there’s nothing constructive in it. One is from God and the other isn’t. It can be hard to tell the difference (I struggle with that myself), but it’s important to remember and pray about it.

One thing that might help is thinking about how you can serve God in that situation. If you notice a lot of sinful behavior in your campus, you could be a force for good values—a different example. Again, praying about it can help!

I’m by no means an expert on this kind of thing, but I hope it helps

 

[Darkhorse]

Almost all quality artwork glorifies God by reflecting His artistry. Whether it's a still life, a landscape, a portrait, or a nude, an accurate depiction of God's world glorifies Him. Even abstracts and highly random or symbolic works can reflect God's greatness.

Think of Van Gough's "Starry Night" and how it reflects the ecstasy and beauty of the night sky, as Van Gough saw it. Or Jackson Pollock's "Lucifer", with its complex, confusing randomness. A perfect portrayal of the Father of Lies.

You don't have to focus on "religious art" to glorify and serve God.

 

[Sunflower Garden]

Almost all quality artwork glorifies God by reflecting His artistry. Whether it's a still life, a landscape, a portrait, or a nude, an accurate depiction of God's world glorifies Him. Even abstracts and highly random or symbolic works can reflect God's greatness.

Think of Van Gough's "Starry Night" and how it reflects the ecstasy and beauty of the night sky, as Van Gough saw it. Or Jackson Pollock's "Lucifer", with its complex, confusing randomness. A perfect portrayal of the Father of Lies.

You don't have to focus on "religious art" to glorify and serve God.

wait, why would anyone want to paint a picture of the devil?? That doesn't sound like it glorifies God at all??

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I'm getting a really expensive art education to prepare for an art college / art career right now. My family, since I got accepted, keep telling me this is amazing and surely part of God's plan. But now I feel afraid it's not. I love art, have always been an artist, but I'm scared that unless I make religious art that I'm not really glorifying God and instead am just following selfish ambitions. I feel like it's wrong to make art for fun, too. If I am pursuing a secular art education instead of ministry or theology, am I really living for God in total surrender?

Another thing unrelated to me is the people here. Because it's a secular school, there are some students here that promote sinful activity (lots of support for LGBT and yoga here which I know is wrong) and wear demonic symbols on their clothes. I'm not the only Christian here but there are very few.

Should I quit? I don't want to, but I'm scared if not doing the right thing for Christ.

I had a 10,000 dollar art scholarship, but in light of my experience and in coming to know Christ, it meant nothing. While everyone has a different experience in life, I went to an art college in Ohio and while there were valuable things I learned there in the few months of my attendance, I found that such an experience took away my inspiration for drawing for a long time.

#1. My room mates were far from being nice, and they were really negative and unkind. My vision of artists generally was myself up until that point. I thought all artists were nice like me. To my dismay, this was simply not the case.

#2. Several of my school teachers were also not really nice, either. One school teacher had openly insulted a student in the class room for misunderstanding the art project and the whole class was laughing at him (accept me).

The few months I was there, I was paying for almost several years. The same level of education I got there, I could get for free on YouTube or for the price of a dinner at Udemy.com.

Online Courses - Anytime, Anywhere | Udemy

Anyways, after I left that college, I lived in the area with family for a while and worked at a restaurant. I received a tract called "This Was Your Life."

Chick.com: This Was Your Life

The version for women on this tract can be found here:

Chick.com: You Have a Date!

I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord in Savior back in 1992 via by the tract "This Was Your Life."
My life was forever changed. I had a joy, love, and peace that I had never known before.
I wanted everyone to know how I felt by accepting Jesus as my Savior and in seeking forgiveness with Him (Romans 10:13) and in believing in His death, burial, and resurrection for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

I was on fire for the Lord for the Lord in the beginning of my faith, but as time went on, I fell into the trap of chasing after riches and fame. It was not until many years later that I rededicated my life back to following Jesus that I began to truly study His Word and to make His Word a part of my life again. So my encouragement to you is to follow the Lord. Make the Lord the #1 in your life and read His Word every day and try to apply it. Pray to God every day. Praise God every day all the more. My encouragement is to stay away from college. It can lead to the party scene or men who are of this world to chase after you. Follow after the Lord and His good ways.

 

[Duke of Stratford]

wait, why would anyone want to paint a picture of the devil?? That doesn't sound like it glorifies God at all??

There’s this amazing book by C.S. Lewis called The Screwtape Letters. It’s a satirical book about a demon tempting a human into sin...written from the perspective of the demons. But it has a good message behind it about sin and temptation. Even if art depicts a bad subject, it can be done in a way that glorifies God. It can be used to teach lessons and demonstrate ideas in a different medium.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

@Sunflower Garden

I prayed for almost two decades for a soul mate. God answered by bringing me a Christian wife half way around the world. My point here is Matthew 6:33. Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." These things are in reference to our basic needs like: Food, clothes, shelter, a mate, Etc.

When I reflect back on my art school attendance in the few months I was there, I could see that God had a bigger plan for me than what the world was calling for me to do.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

There’s this amazing book by C.S. Lewis called The Screwtape Letters. It’s a satirical book about a demon tempting a human into sin...written from the perspective of the demons. But it has a good message behind it about sin and temptation. Even if art depicts a bad subject, it can be done in a way that glorifies God. It can be used to teach lessons and demonstrate ideas in a different medium.

I am of the persuasion that Christians are to avoid evil communications (1 Corinthians 15:33). C.S. Lewis had no problem writing about how witchcraft or sorcery was not wrong in a fictional setting. God clearly condemns witchcraft in the Bible. We also should not glorify the enemy. God's Word is different because it is His holy Word telling us about the enemy. But the Bible is not heavily focused on giving glory to the enemy but to God. The Bible tells us to think on that which is good and not that which is evil.

Philippians 4:8 says,
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things arelovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

 

[Sunflower Garden]

There’s this amazing book by C.S. Lewis called The Screwtape Letters. It’s a satirical book about a demon tempting a human into sin...written from the perspective of the demons. But it has a good message behind it about sin and temptation. Even if art depicts a bad subject, it can be done in a way that glorifies God. It can be used to teach lessons and demonstrate ideas in a different medium.

I know he's popular, but isn't there evidence he's a heretic?
C.S. Lewis’ Heretical Beliefs

 

[Sunflower Garden]

@Sunflower Garden
When I reflect back on my art school attendance in the few months I was there, I could see that God had a bigger plan for me than what the world was calling for me to do.

So, I shouldn't go to college at all? What will I do with my life then?

 

[Darkhorse]

wait, why would anyone want to paint a picture of the devil?? That doesn't sound like it glorifies God at all??

"Lucifer" is not a portrait; it's an abstract painting, so different people can see different things in it.

As Duke of Stratford said, a "bad" subject can glorify God, and that's especially true if it accurately depicts why the subject is "bad". When I look at this painting, I see chaos and randomness, intertwined with the beauty of colors, all wrapped up in a confusing mass of complexity.
That's how I see satan, in my many struggles with him.

See if you can find it on Google or in an art book...

 

[Duke of Stratford]

I know he's popular, but isn't there evidence he's a heretic?
C.S. Lewis’ Heretical Beliefs

I’m not saying everything C.S. Lewis ever said was correct. He was a man, and he was imperfect. But you can make the argument that anyone is a heretic. I’m sure there’s an internet post citing heresy in every theologian who ever lived.

I’m going to say this aware of the irony in it: Don’t trust random people on the internet for your theology. Trust God, trust Scripture, trust people you can know and talk to face-to-face. Any of us here can say anything, and I guarantee no person has it 100% right.

 

[d taylor]

No you should not quit art, as for your school that may be a different question. Most schools are junk, you would learn more by sweeping the floors of an art business and observe and ask question to working artist.
But of course i do not know what kind of art your are studying.

You want to glorify God tell people how to have eternal life.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

So, I shouldn't go to college at all? What will I do with my life then?

You can take cheap or free art courses, and start a Christian art ministry. Chick Publications is a tract comic book ministry. There are other kinds of art ministries out there. My point is that a traditional art college can in some cases have more cons than pros. If you are to attend art college, you have to consider that you may have to compromise your Christian morals at some point in working for an art company. This for me is unacceptable because the Lord comes first in my life.

There are other ways to make a decent income without jumping through so many hoops. Some baggage handlers can make 30 dollars an hour, and do art in their spare time. Yes, there are female baggage handlers. No experience. The average yearly pay for a Toyota car sales person is: $64,447. Again, no fancy education. They did not have to kill themselves to do that. Real estate agents can also make good money, too.

But the art industry? It's not impossible, but that is a tough one. I remember a fellow co-worker who told me that his son graduated from an animation college I was considering in attending, and he told me that he is now working at Best Buy. The school boasted in job placement, but apparently that did not work out for him all too well. One of my distant relatives (in whom I never met) is a famous animator (who does not talk much with family) but he did happen to find out a question I desired via another family member. He said it is hard to break into animation nowadays.

Please do not misunderstand me. Do not let me discourage you in following your art. Please continue to do your artwork, but my encouragement is for you to do it for the Lord and not for money. You can make a ministry out of it like with Chick Publications, but you have to know God's Word really well before doing that. Anyways, pray about it, and study God's Word. Follow the Lord, and He will direct your paths.

 

[Sunflower Garden]

You can take cheap or free art courses, and start a Christian art ministry. Chick Publications is a tract comic book ministry. There are other kinds of art ministries out there. My point is that a traditional art college can in some cases have more cons than pros. If you are to attend art college, you have to consider that you may have to compromise your Christian morals at some point in working for an art company. This for me is unacceptable because the Lord comes first in my life.

There are other ways to make a decent income without jumping through so many hoops. Some baggage handlers can make 30 dollars an hour, and do art in their spare time. Yes, there are female baggage handlers. No experience. The average yearly pay for a Toyota car sales person is: $64,447. Again, no fancy education. They did not have to kill themselves to do that. Real estate agents can also make good money, too.

But the art industry? It's not impossible, but that is a tough one. I remember a fellow co-worker who told me that his son graduated from an animation college I was considering in attending, and he told me that he is now working at Best Buy. The school boasted in job placement, but apparently that did not work out for him all too well. One of my distant relatives (in whom I never met) is a famous animator (who does not talk much with family) but he did happen to find out a question I desired via another family member. He said it is hard to break into animation nowadays.

Please do not misunderstand me. Do not let me discourage you in following your art. Please continue to do your artwork, but my encouragement is for you to do it for the Lord and not for money. You can make a ministry out of it like with Chick Publications, but you have to know God's Word really well before doing that. Anyways, pray about it, and study God's Word. Follow the Lord, and He will direct your paths.

I agree. I think I am considering secular art college less and less now. I know some Christian colleges offer art programs. I mostly do art for fun, but I'm considering incorporating faith into it too. Up until now, most of my artwork has been animal portraits. Maybe I can use animal characters to talk about faith.

 

[RaymondG]

I'm getting a really expensive art education to prepare for an art college / art career right now. My family, since I got accepted, keep telling me this is amazing and surely part of God's plan. But now I feel afraid it's not. I love art, have always been an artist, but I'm scared that unless I make religious art that I'm not really glorifying God and instead am just following selfish ambitions. I feel like it's wrong to make art for fun, too. If I am pursuing a secular art education instead of ministry or theology, am I really living for God in total surrender?

Another thing unrelated to me is the people here. Because it's a secular school, there are some students here that promote sinful activity (lots of support for LGBT and yoga here which I know is wrong) and wear demonic symbols on their clothes. I'm not the only Christian here but there are very few.

Should I quit? I don't want to, but I'm scared if not doing the right thing for Christ.

You may be setting yourself up for a lifetime of fear, doubt and stress.

Lets say you dont do art..... If you do not become a nun, or other full time religious workers, What jobs out there do you feel glorifies God in every aspect?

Just think about that fast food worker serving those unholy fries, or that cashier handling mammon all day long. How are they to feel, after reading your concerns, about what they do to feed their families.

I think you are thinking about it too much. Figure out the desires of your own heart, and it will be His good pleasure to give them to you.

In all thy painting, acknowledge God and He shall direct your path.

 

[timothyu]

God is an artist. Creation is His art.
On a secular level, art is an expression of self. So the resulting art will depend on and reflect whether that self is following the will of man or the will of God, two opposing principles. But then the same could be said for any aspect of a human's life.

 

[Sunflower Garden]

God is an artist. Creation is His art.
On a secular level, art is an expression of self. So the resulting art will depend on and reflect whether that self is following the will of man or the will of God, two opposing principles.

Besides sinful art that cant glorify God, how would you know, then, by subject matter alone if it isnt explicitly religious?

 

[timothyu]

Besides sinful art that cant glorify God, how would you know, then, by subject matter alone if it isnt explicitly religious?

By knowing what comprises the will of man compared to what comprises the will of God. Don't confuse religion with the will of God. Religion is a hybrid.