Movement-153

Movement Issue 153 summer 2016
Faith and Art
The secular is seen as lesser in value and not as worthy of our
There is a tendency amongst
Christians to separate life – our
work, our hobbies, our relationships
– into that of either secular or sacred.
in the home, doing their jobs well to the best of their ability and
attention or energy, whilst the sacred is set above everything demonstrating the love of God to those they are in contact with
else and elevated to a position of importance. This mind-set is on a day-to-day basis.
no less prominent in the Arts, with many Christians believing
My faith informs my art as much as it informs every other
that unless the subject matter is overtly Christian, the object
aspect of my life and it is important for me to actively remember
or work is of inherently less value or even in some cases
this as I create – to invite God in to what I am making and ask
potentially dangerous as it reflects ‘worldly’ values or beliefs.
Him to inspire me, encourage me, and lead me in the right
As both a Christian and a self-employed Fine Artist I find this
direction. I strive to use the gifts that I believe God has given
way of thinking extremely unhelpful. I don’t view my career as
me in order to create ‘Good Art’ that will fulfil the calling I
an artist as something fundamentally separate from my faith;
have been given, serve and love others well, and, first and
rather I see the two as intrinsically connected. I believe that
foremost bring glory to the original Creator. Francis Schaeffer
the gospel permeates every aspect of my life as a Christian,
put it best when he said, ‘A Christian should use these arts
and what I do in the studio is just as important to God as what
to the glory of God—not just as tracts, but as things of beauty
I do in a Church meeting on a Sunday; He is as much involved
to the praise of God’. Whether indirectly or otherwise, I hope
in my painting process as my Bible reading. I believe that it is
that to some degree my paintings invite people in to consider
hugely important to have Christians working out their faith in
both creation and its Creator more deeply. I want my paintings
all areas of life, be that in cafés or in parliament, in schools or
to communicate something of the truth of God, and the true
hope, joy, and freedom that can be found in Christ.
We have been made in God’s image, and thus we are inherently
creative beings (though this may be truer of some than others!)
Through the act of painting I am mirroring on a small scale
what God initiated at the very beginning of time. I paint as an
overflow of God’s creative Spirit within me, and in response to
the world around me which is full to the brim with inspiration.
Having studied and lived in Cornwall for the last five years my
art, and indeed my faith, have been inspired by the stunning
coastlines and vistas of this beautiful county with its unique
and enchanting light. I hope that my work demonstrates
something of the beauty of the world we live in, and the joy
that can be found therein.
As a Christian I also recognise God’s presence and hand at
work throughout all of life, and as such the work I produce
is born out of this conviction. Artists often create work that
is an expression of the deepest part of themselves – for me
this deepest part is my identity as a Christian and so in some
ways, regardless of the subject matter of my paintings or the
message I may want to communicate, the work is emerging
out of this renewed life and personhood that I have in Christ,
making it inherently Christian in what I believe to be the truest
sense of the word.
Ruth Naylor is a self-employed Fine Artist and, as of February 2016, a part-time Administration Assistant at SCM.
She studied Fine Art at Falmouth University in Cornwall and now lives and works in Birmingham. You can find her
work at ruthnaylor.co.uk
Page 20 Movement – Issue 153