Encouraging artistic ability?

[steve-in-kville]

I work with a variety of people which leads to some interesting discussions and opinions. A few days ago my O/O amish co-worker and I got talking about people that are good at drawing and painting and the like. He told me of a cousin of his that has the uncanny ability to draw caricatures of people, how he's really quite talented, but he has to keep it a low profile as the church may frown upon it.

To that end, he tells me his sister paints landscape pictures on milk cans... and somehow that's okay. He did tell me that his church is starting to loosen up on some things and it all comes down to who the bishop is at the time.

This thread isn't about the amish. Its about what stand your church may take on people who have been blessed with artistic talents. Was gonna make this a poll but decided to keep it open-ended. This includes drawing, painting (and various other mediums) pottery and crafts.

1- Does your church have any written statements on making art?

2- Would they allow members to do commission work?

3- Would they allow members to enter contests and/or participate in art shows?

(please exclude the written arts like writing, poetry and song writing... we'll save that one for another time!)

[Sudsy]

I work with a variety of people which leads to some interesting discussions and opinions. A few days ago my O/O amish co-worker and I got talking about people that are good at drawing and painting and the like. He told me of a cousin of his that has the uncanny ability to draw caricatures of people, how he's really quite talented, but he has to keep it a low profile as the church may frown upon it.

To that end, he tells me his sister paints landscape pictures on milk cans... and somehow that's okay. He did tell me that his church is starting to loosen up on some things and it all comes down to who the bishop is at the time.

This thread isn't about the amish. Its about what stand your church may take on people who have been blessed with artistic talents. Was gonna make this a poll but decided to keep it open-ended. This includes drawing, painting (and various other mediums) pottery and crafts.

1- Does your church have any written statements on making art? --------- No

2- Would they allow members to do commission work? ‐-‐--‐----- Yes

3- Would they allow members to enter contests and/or participate in art shows? ‐‐--------- Yes

(please exclude the written arts like writing, poetry and song writing... we'll save that one for another time!)

[steve-in-kville]

I made a mistake not making this thread a poll....

[Signtist]

1. I don't think so.
2. Yes.
3. Yes

[steve-in-kville]

There is a certain distrust of artists and writers in the plain community. (Even this thread has "art" being about nudes.) It is much safer to express a creative talent as a furniture maker.

Care to expound on that? Not sure I ever felt that vibe.

[violet]

what about quilting, crocheting, knitting, watercolor painting, quilling, sewing, cross stich, embroidery?

I also see flower gardening as a positive form of artistic expression.

leather working, wood carving?

This type of artistic expression I would think is a good think, no?

[steve-in-kville]

[
Personally I believe that all of our talents should gladly serve Our Lord. How that is achieved is often directed by our spiritual mentors who guide us in order to keep us from deceiving ourselves. Self-deception is a weakness from which we all suffer at different points in our lives.
As always, YMMV.

[ABC 123]

There is a certain distrust of artists and writers in the plain community. (Even this thread has "art" being about nudes.) It is much safer to express a creative talent as a furniture maker.

Care to expound on that? Not sure I ever felt that vibe.

If you write or draw for certain CA publications, they edit it down to very tight, generic pieces that lose all sense of individual style of the author.

Same with drawings for same publishers. All the artwork reflects very narrow specifications.

[steve-in-kville]

There is a certain distrust of artists and writers in the plain community. (Even this thread has "art" being about nudes.) It is much safer to express a creative talent as a furniture maker.

Care to expound on that? Not sure I ever felt that vibe.

If you write or draw for certain CA publications, they edit it down to very tight, generic pieces that lose all sense of individual style of the author.

Same with drawings for same publishers. All the artwork reflects very narrow specifications.

So... its like a pride thing or something??

[ABC 123]

Care to expound on that? Not sure I ever felt that vibe.

If you write or draw for certain CA publications, they edit it down to very tight, generic pieces that lose all sense of individual style of the author.

Same with drawings for same publishers. All the artwork reflects very narrow specifications.

So... its like a pride thing or something??

There is no room to be "good" at those skills in some circles because of the effort to standardize all pieces for everyone.