World Vision recognizes the power of visual art as a way to communicate, which knows no boundaries across cultures, languages, and worldviews.  It can communicate the need to respond to child sponsorship, real-life issues of extreme poverty and social injustice, the global sex trade, or the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Visual art can inspire – and yes, even cast a vision of hope.

That’s why The Art of Helping Others has joined World Vision’s artist affiliate program, to invite visual artists, photographers and others in the visual arts to join this creative collective – to participate in group thematic exhibits and other events that advocate child sponsorship and ultimately, practice the art of helping others.  It will be a brilliant way for artists to show and sell their work, and help those that lack the ability or opportunity to help themselves in communities worldwide.

Perhaps you are or know of a visual artist or photographer that would be interested in learning more about what we plan to do and would want to get involved.  If so, invite them to connect with me at douglas@theartofhelpingothers.com for more information.

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Earlier this month, The Art of Helping Others website was voted #46 of the top 100 sites

Nonetheless, we thought we’d share links to some of our more conversational topics for your perusal and comments.

Painting by Faith not Sight

Silence is the Real Crime Against Humanity

Defining Your Art

All Art is an Apprenticeship

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Why so inquisitive?  Well – it intrigues me to know what it is that other artists do, how you might define your own art, and even your approach to the creative process.

I really want to encourage you to share your thoughts on this.

My guess is when we look back through the posted comments; they’ll reveal a descriptive array of thinking that resembles an ornate fabric of creative diversity woven together, which reflects what inspires us to do what we do.

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The Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy said, “A man who professes the teaching of Christ is like a man carrying a lantern before him on a long, or not so long, pole; the light is in front of him, always lighting up fresh ground and always encouraging him to walk further.”

No matter what, who or whom you believe in – or perhaps, don’t believe in, belief at any level takes some degree of faith.  I think Tolstoy’s quote beautifully captures that journey of exercising some sliver of faith in ourselves with his imagery of the lantern lighting up fresh ground, as we place one foot after the next moving forward on the path we travel.

While this reflects each of our own personal journeys, it also reminds me of the process the artist walks through to create, which requires an exercise in faith to put brush to canvas, pen to paper, voice to a melody.  There are plenty of persons around who will tell you what you can’t do or cannot accomplish; but few who will say what you can do.  I say – walk on.

Support the charitable work of The Art of Helping Others.  Order postage stamps or other goodies at our Merchandise store online, purchase our new book, or order an art print.  Up to 25% of the net proceeds benefit charitable humanitarian and advocacy organizations that positively impact communities worldwide.

“To be known of” implies that we choose what others see of us and how we’re perceived, which works well in marketing and public relations spin, but not when it comes to living out the gospel.  On the other hand, “to be known” is far more costly and we run the real risk of being exposed for who we really are.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Why in the world would I ever want to go there.”  Let me tell you why.  Because as artists or everyday people, there’s an undeniable beauty revealed when our superficial facades of strength are relinquished and the myth that Christians have it all together is exposed for the lie it is.

Owning our brokenness and weakness produces not only a power not of our own doing but a remarkable beauty, which gives hope to the hopeless, makes the gospel attractive to a sometimes unattractive and ugly world, and the good news – good news.  Whether through our art or our lives, let’s choose to be known.

Support the charitable work of The Art of Helping Others.  Order a T-shirt or other goodies at our Merchandise Store online, purchase our new book, or order an art print.  Up to 25% of the net proceeds benefit charitable humanitarian and advocacy organizations that positively impact communities worldwide.

But I like to think that art is a kind of confession for artists, some blatant, others more or less oblique, but all digging deep below the surface of life, probing beyond the ordinary and mundane, unearthing insight and meaning in its stories.

If we choose (and we do have a choice), the art we create and share can have the audacity, the dramatic suddenness to move people, to be a bit impolite perhaps and so disquieting that it challenges fixed perceptions and perspectives.

And while our work is like preparing for a good accident to happen, I like to believe our art is meant to reveal and give life a shape, whatever that may look like, and we as artists are in a sense, God’s little pickpockets.

Support the charitable work of The Art of Helping Others.  Visit our Artist Gallery Page to order art prints or contact the artists directly if interested in original art.

For The Art of Helping Others T-shirts and more, visit our Merchandise Store at TheArtofHelpingOthers.com, where up to 25% of the proceeds are given to charity.  Thanks for practicing the art of helping others.