By: Jenny Fulton
What does it mean to be creative? Are these endeavors side hobbies, entertaining past times with which we immerse ourselves in stolen moments? Or are they something more?
In her book, Being Creative, Laura Bartnick gives the reader a foundation for creativity, provides Biblical support for its origins in God, and offers action steps to help the creative grow into a deeper understanding, appreciation, and application of their craft.
Chapter 1: First Means Priority
When I was single and teaching, I relegated writing to the sidelines. My job and life responsibilities needed to come first. If I had free time and energy, then I could write. Later, when I became a stay-at-home mom, it was easy to feel as though my home, children, and husband need to be my primary and only focus. However, Bartnick’s first chapter encourages me and other creatives to accept the gift of our creativity and to make it another priority.
Being Creative begins at the beginning with God’s creation of the world. God’s first act was to create. With this foundation, Laura walks the reader through Scripture to show how creativity is not only a priority to God but is also a fundamental part of who He is.
When God gives us a gift and desire to create, He is giving us an intimate, imitated aspect of Himself. Creativity, then, is not only something we do, but is an intrinsic part of who we are. It’s a part that, with its origins in God, can connect us to Him and provide Him another means by which to communicate and flow through us.
While we shouldn’t neglect our other responsibilities and priorities, it’s okay to accept God’s gift and make time for creative expression.
Chapter 2: Acknowledging the Creator
I’ve noticed that when I include God in my writing, the words and ideas flow much better than when I sit down to write from my own strength. Therefore, before I begin, I pray and ask for His help and direction. Writing out from my connection with God brings joy and a sense of fulfillment.
Laura’s book encouraged me to add another part to my pre-writing: thankfulness. It becomes not only a matter of asking Him to do more with my writing but thanking Him for what He’s already done.
Chapters 3-7: To Transform, Communicate, Mimic Truths, Focus on Details, Explore Semiotics
In the next several chapters, Bartnick describes several ways in which God works through the creative, how the creative’s tasks may reflect the image of God, and how the artist can grow in their craft.
With young kids, it’s discouraging to realize how little time I have for my creative tasks. And yet I’ve seen God take what I can do and transform it into something good and meaningful.
Laura encourages the creative to observe the transformations in and around them. Being creative is a transformative process that impacts the creator as much as it may impact the audience. For the Christian creative, we should seek, with every work, to bring praise to God.
Our Creator loves diversity. He gave each of us a unique personality with a unique voice and means by which we communicate. He works in and through each of us in different ways.
With these principles in mind, Bartnick urges creatives to be authentic in their creations and open in their modes of communicating through their chosen art. We can be ourselves when we create, can speak in ways that don’t involve words, can pour our heart out through our work. It isn’t easy to offer our true selves to others in this way, but so often, it is in doing so that we bring the most glory to God and may help others in their journey.
Chapter 6
In chapter 6, Laura notes that part of being authentic includes focusing on the details. If our art involves inspiration from a personal hardship, this is especially difficult to do. I don’t want to focus on the details of the bad; I want to skip ahead to the good. And yet, those details that connect to a deep emotional state are what enable the good to shine even brighter. The details bring a fulness and beauty to the work that would be sorely missing without them.
Another way for a creative to add depth to their work is through the use of symbols, allegory, analogy, an imagery. Since these tools can communicate any number of ideas and ideology, Bartnick encourages the Christian creative to make sure their use of them is from God and that it supports the truths He has already given.
Winding Down
As she begins to wind down her book, Bartnick encourages the reader to nurture the creativity of others, cautions that not all art is for all souls, and emphasizes the importance of finding the humor in the journey.
It is an incredibly vulnerable step to offer yourself and your work to the world, and few of us are able to do so without encouragement. Although some creatives spend much of their time working alone, we desperately need community. We need encouragement to keep going when it gets hard, affirmation that we’re not crazy for pursuing our artistic passions. I know that without my husband’s continual support, and the support of many others throughout the years, I wouldn’t be where I am in my writing and publishing journey.
Art is For All
Bartnick rightly notes that not all art is for all people. It is created in a specific time and place for a particular audience. It’s impossible to please everyone so it’s important that to recognize that you may not have been called to certain kinds of creativity. Similarly, we may not be a work’s intended audience, and that’s okay. While a work may be encouraging and uplifting to one person, it may prove highly detrimental to another.
One example of this that comes to mind is a discussion I recently had with a friend about Francine Rivers’ book, Redeeming Love. We’d both read it when we were teenagers, but while, because of a past experience, the book was greatly encouraging and meaningful to me, it had taken a massive blow to her innocence. This particular work of art hadn’t been meant for her. Therefore, as the audience, we need to use great discernment when choosing which artistic works to engage. As a creative, we need to recognize that our efforts won’t be beneficial or appreciated by everyone, and that’s okay.
With that caution in place, Laura encourages creatives to enjoy the ride, to find the humor in the rough patches, and rejoice with the Lord in all He is doing.
Closing
Bartnick closes her book by urging creatives to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and work from their whole self, utilizing their heart, mind, and physical senses to tell a story or communicate an idea or truth. While our creative journey may change its shape and direction throughout the years, we can trust that the God of Creation will continue to be with us, pouring out is love and creativity through us in whatever we set our hands to.
My life has taken many shapes. I’ve been a nomad, a missionary, teacher, wife, mother, and writer. In each state, my love for creativity has remained and found expression. Therefore, I can trust that while life circumstances may change again, the God who made me creative will continue to provide me with an outlet to express it. May my life and work glorify Him.
Recommendation
With the depth of material in this book, I only touched on a few of its pieces. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys artistic endeavors and for anyone intimately acquainted with someone who loves to create. Creativity is truly one of God’s many amazing gifts to us.
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