now I know how it's done

Inspiring people

I have had the privilege over this last year to make the acquaintances of a few artists that inspire me toward greater excellence in my own work. Each of the three Dallas artists that I will highlight in this post are people of faith who know all too well the no-man's-land of being a Christian visual artist (being too artsy for the church and too churchy for the arts community). And yet they persist and continue to create thought provoking work that is of the highest artistic merit. As an act of faithfulness they create and utilize the tools God has granted to them. May their tribe increase and may the church do well and support these artists who are laboring among us.

James Michael Starr

As a poignant demonstration of recreation and redemption, James Michael Starr takes throw away objects and refashions them into hauntingly beautiful sculptures and 2 dimensional images. Below are his works "Dad" and "Going to Heaven".




You can see more of James Michael Starr's work at http://www.jamesmichaelstarr.com/

Billy Keen

Billy Keen is a prolific artist who employs painting, sculpture and woodworking in his large and impressive works. Themes of creation, redemption, renewal, spiritual rebirth, and the mysteries of being human are all close to Keen's heart. Below are "Lone Rider" and "Cactus Wren".

You can find out more about Billy Keen at http://www.billykeenart.com/

Kimberly Alexander

Kim's art is directly influenced by her full-time "day job" as a teacher of international high school students. Her work is filled with both the heart breaking as well as the inspirational stories of these immigrant teens. Her large scale works are carefully planned out and meticulously executed. Below are "Self portrait as a teacher" and "Two Bullets".

It is artists like these that encourage me to keep painting and to tell the stories God has given me to tell.

One of those times

Ever had one of those moments when you are in a conversation with someone and you don't know their name, but somehow you think you are supposed to know their name? They know your name but you don't know theirs. And then you reach that point in the conversation when the window of opportunity closes to ask their name. It would have been ok at the beginning of the conversation - one of those "tell me your name again" statements. But then you wait too long - and the moment passes.

Too slow and now you're stuck.

If you had only been quicker - more free - more honest from the very beginning - you wouldn't be having this dilemma. But you weren't quick, you were slow and you didn't speak up with the question you really needed to ask. You let the moment slip away. You chose the safer path - to not speak up - to not risk awkwardness. Now you have missed the opportunity. Your timing was all wrong.

Now it's just easier to stay quiet. Don't ask the question. Hope it never comes up. When you stay quiet long enough, continued silence becomes the most preferable ongoing solution. To speak up now - to ask the question now - after so much silence - just seems weird.

That's kind of how I feel about this blog. I've got lots to say that I should have said already. Now it just seems weird.

It's easier to just let another day pass.