The Joy of Connecting with Community through Creativity

Recently, a fellow blogger commented that she felt that reading my blog is like sitting down with a friend over a cup of coffee. Personally, I receive that as pretty high praise, especially from a blogger who I respect and whose content I find engaging.

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Genesis 2:18 (New Living Translation)

Ever since God first observed that man needed a companion, people flourished and thrived in community. You and I are not meant to be alone. Human connection is invaluable.

The writer of Hebrews recognized the importance of people gathering together–as a church body, in this context.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)

The recent COVID-19 pandemic hit at the heart of our ability to gather together in all sorts of community. The pandemic disrupted age-old family traditions. It isolated people—even causing some to fear being around others.

For many of us, social media has helped create community and provided the opportunity to connect with friends—old and new. Social media, for better or worse, affords us to share and connect in new and different ways.

Through my newfound interest in drawing, I uncovered fresh ways to connect and engage with others through visual art. Mind you, the primary reason I started drawing was to help me process different aspects of my life—particularly those things that I see and hear in my daily ministry.

I shared some drawings—a couple of portraits of homeless friends that we’d lost to life on the streets–as well as a simple sketch illustrating the demands of people on my time and my day. Posting these pictures publicly exposed me to other people’s conjecture and opinion. Not exactly a comfortable place for any of us, if I’m being honest. As an artist—regardless of your chosen medium or craft—sharing your work with others opens up an extreme degree of vulnerability that we aren’t always ready for because we can’t know what people think or how they will respond.

Which brings me to the bigger question—does it really matter what people think of your artwork?

I think as an artist you first create something that speaks to you. You can’t compose art worried about what others think. You simply must be bold and courageous and go wherever your muse takes you.

However, it is rewarding when people engage and connect with your work.

At its best, visual art stirs emotions, conveys messages, and fosters thoughts and discussions. When people connected with a couple of recent posts featuring my artwork, it felt wonderful. My dopamine levels increased and joy filled my soul. It did me good to see people connect and engage with my work. Sharing it was scary. But, I am glad that I stepped forward and shared my art.

Visual art provides people the opportunity to connect with their inner emotions and grow in their appreciation of beauty and creativity. Connecting with a piece of art can uplift spirits, inspire joy, provoke introspection, and challenge our perspectives.

Art is a type of communication that transcends language barriers.

I don’t have to speak the same language as the person viewing my art for them to engage and connect with my work. Truthfully, going beyond these natural barriers inhibiting understanding is incredibly rewarding, powerful, and meaningful.

Through visual art, we can convey complex ideas, tell stories, and express feelings that otherwise may be impossible to put into words. I am overwhelmed with joy when anything I create sparks conversations among a diverse group of people with different perspectives.

Engaging with visual art can also be a deeply personal and introspective experience for some people. The art itself doesn’t have to be complex–as in the example depicted below. Some of the simplest, most primitive art acts as a catalyst for self-reflection and fosters personal growth.

When others connect with your work, it can spark inspiration and fuel creative thinking in their own lives. In other words, they are compelled to do something or open their minds to a newfound point of view.

Ultimately, when people engage with visual art, it promotes connection, empathy, and understanding among individuals and communities. It enriches our lives, stimulates our minds, and encourages us to see the world from new and diverse perspective.

And to me—that’s pretty cool.

I pray that you are blessed richly and abundantly today–just as Jesus intended for you to be. May the Lord watch over you and fill your life with joy.

Blessings,

Rainer Bantau

The Devotional Guy™

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The Devotional Guy™ Rainer Bantau © 2023