Painting with God. (Should I sell my artwork?)

SlenderMan said:

AWould God be upset if I sold something that brought me closer to him, especially if I am making a living off of it?

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I would like to answer this part. No, I don't think God would be upset. I'm basing this off musicians who sing Christian songs and make this as their living. It would be good though if your artwork is something Christian which would make people feel closer/think of God.

No I don't think Yahweh would be upset about you selling it.

Did God provide you this gift?

Does God provide for us in supernatural ways, using our life, influences, people, and surroundings to benefit us and provide for us?

The answer is yes, so no, God would not be disappointed if you supported yourself from His blessing on you.

SlenderMan said:

A bit of a unique problem here...I am an abstract painter. Painting becomes an incredibly spiritual time for me. As I layer, and layer, and layer up the colors and texture I get to where I get lost in it. It's at these times that I can pray and feel a great intimacy with God. So, even though the final product is secular in nature, the experience of making it brings me closer to God. But I got to thinking about my future. This is something I want to do in life - to make a living off making art. I presented myself with a question:

Would God be upset if I sold something that brought me closer to him, especially if I am making a living off of it?

Or is it that the artwork itself doesn't have as significant of a meaning, and simply is as the viewer sees it, since what I took from the experience is now with me forever?

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God would not be upset if you sold your artwork for a reasonable price; we all have to make a living somehow.

He might be upset if you stopped painting, though.

(I paint as well.)

God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives, including the commercial. "Two will be working in a field, and one will be taken". "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it unto the Lord and not unto man; from whence comes your reward". "The workman is worthy of his wages."

I would place the art calling on the altar and ask God's desire regarding it. Might it be possible that He would like you to use it as a ministry?

Having dealt with many people in the arts, I can tell you that making a living is a difficult challenge. Some people are able to, while others spend more money than they make.

If you feel like it's a ministry, then treat it that way -- be willing to do what you need to do for God, and let go of whether income results or not. Many people get important exposure that way -- leading toward income or contacts. (And I'd guess you stopped by here for exposure too.)

Selling your product is not a crime or sin. But if it's a ministry, then keep your primary goal as ministry, or you will lose some soul in what you're presenting.

Following the logic trail, imagine if you were only selling commercial paintings, and your question was whether you could add a spiritual element to it. Of course you would say yes. So flip that -- should spiritual and commercial be integrated?

Our lives are an expression of all that we are.

There are great tools like Art.com, Absolute Arts, Etsy... that offer a lot to the visual artist for very little investment.

SlenderMan said:

A bit of a unique problem here...I am an abstract painter. Painting becomes an incredibly spiritual time for me. As I layer, and layer, and layer up the colors and texture I get to where I get lost in it. It's at these times that I can pray and feel a great intimacy with God. So, even though the final product is secular in nature, the experience of making it brings me closer to God. But I got to thinking about my future. This is something I want to do in life - to make a living off making art. I presented myself with a question:

Would God be upset if I sold something that brought me closer to him, especially if I am making a living off of it?

Or is it that the artwork itself doesn't have as significant of a meaning, and simply is as the viewer sees it, since what I took from the experience is now with me forever?

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Most emphatically....you need to seriously explore your Painting as a career choice and God would be pleased with you using your painting to enhance time with him for personal reverence, praise, worship, and prayer. God allows us virtually whatever Career we wish to pursue whether secular or distinctly Christian-based , so long as we find a way to somehow incorporate our Spiritual Walk and Disciplines within the Work Place and in the specific things we do to make a living ; when this comes to fruition, we get a real sense of our Work being 'A Calling' in addition to making a living by it. So ,God gives us tremendous latitude in what we want to pursue . As you progress in your Career, turn it completely over to God and ask him to bring many divine appointments using your Career as an Ambassadorial Instrument -- there is no greater joy when that is lived out. And all we need to do is to have zeal , expectation, and readiness for these divine appointments coming our way whether in our business or personal life.

Do any of your paintings have a distinctively Christian theme to them ?

Blessings as you go forward with this !

I agree with the brothers and sisters here, you've been given good words to help.

2 things...

1) is there a link to see some of your work?
2) do you record the journey? In other words, not just show the final artwork, but chronicle it, so the steps and revelation is captured as well as the painting.

Maybe as a written word, placed behind the (underneath/backside) of the art.

-eric

the-exchanged-life.blogspot.com/‎

ezeric said:

I agree with the brothers and sisters here, you've been given good words to help.

2 things...

1) is there a link to see some of your work?
2) do you record the journey? In other words, not just show the final artwork, but chronicle it, so the steps and revelation is captured as well as the painting.

Maybe as a written word, placed behind the (underneath/backside) of the art.

-eric

the-exchanged-life.blogspot.com/‎

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I too would love to see some of your work. If its against CF Rules to advertise your Work for profit in public , then please PM us who are interested. I may be interested in purchasing something .

I'd love to see some, too!!

And I don't think there's anything wrong with making a living off a gift God has graciously blessed you with. Just one thought I'd like you to keep in mind: God loves a generous and cheerful giver. If you ever feel led to give your work away, I hope you will, without giving thought to the money you won't get. Or if someone can only afford half the cost, I hope you'll think about taking a loss to bless another person. When it comes to our spiritual gifts and talents, I think God would love to see us using them to bless other people without asking for anything in return, whenever possible. That doesn't mean starving to death and never selling a painting at all... it just means keeping an ear open to the Spirit's promptings, and looking for occasions to be selfless and generous

SlenderMan said:

A bit of a unique problem here...I am an abstract painter. Painting becomes an incredibly spiritual time for me. As I layer, and layer, and layer up the colors and texture I get to where I get lost in it. It's at these times that I can pray and feel a great intimacy with God. So, even though the final product is secular in nature, the experience of making it brings me closer to God. But I got to thinking about my future. This is something I want to do in life - to make a living off making art. I presented myself with a question:

Would God be upset if I sold something that brought me closer to him, especially if I am making a living off of it?

Or is it that the artwork itself doesn't have as significant of a meaning, and simply is as the viewer sees it, since what I took from the experience is now with me forever?

Click to expand...

if you find a really good Bible verse to put on the paintings, of course you can make money! God wants himself to be based around everything you do.. and he wants people to know. I might be wrong.. but man, sure you could. Donate 30% to the Church or something.

What do you mean by secular? Got a link so we can view your work?

SlenderMan said:

A bit of a unique problem here...I am an abstract painter. Painting becomes an incredibly spiritual time for me. As I layer, and layer, and layer up the colors and texture I get to where I get lost in it. It's at these times that I can pray and feel a great intimacy with God. So, even though the final product is secular in nature, the experience of making it brings me closer to God. But I got to thinking about my future. This is something I want to do in life - to make a living off making art. I presented myself with a question:

Would God be upset if I sold something that brought me closer to him, especially if I am making a living off of it?

Or is it that the artwork itself doesn't have as significant of a meaning, and simply is as the viewer sees it, since what I took from the experience is now with me forever?

Click to expand...

That's why God gives good gifts to His children . Joseph's ability to interpret dreams got him a job with pharaoh. Use your gifts glorify God and make Him proud of you.

To edit your profile and paste a URL of your portfolio:

http://www.christianforums.com/profile/edit/

A minister/pastor receives his wages.... within the framework of the church covering...

However, when it comes to receiving pay from the general public for His gifting within us, I know what you are feeling SlenderMan. I am wrestling with that same issue. I have been recently offered an office to begin seeing the general public who need Christian dream interpretation assistance.

I pray that you and I will both receive a clear and concise answer that will be delivered in such a way that we will "never" doubt it. May God continue to guide and evolve your creative gift to progressively reveal the love of God to those who do not know Him.

I visited a church a few weeks back that had three artists painting during their (extended) praise and worship. Painting is their method of worship.

They have a small gallery in our Arts District, where they sell paintings. God gave you a gift for painting. There is no reason to think that He wouldn't want you to live off the money for the paintings. There may be times God urges you to give a painting away, or to NOT sell a painting to a specific person, and I would follow those urges. But God gives us gifts for us to use, to make the world a more Godly place.

I think He would bless you for it