One of my own drawings in church, which relates closely to this article about John Hendrix.
It’s funny how things work out. From a purely random set of circumstances known as wondering what to do with the kids when my day off and their holiday coincided, to the youngest wanting a museum and the oldest wanting an art gallery (my two greatest loves….what father could ask for more?). I discovered John Hendrix.
In the art gallery was a shop. In the shop, a book that caught my eye. Too expensive to buy, but just right to flick through and enjoy the pictures.
Then I spotted a type not unlike my own sketchbook….the book was about famous modern artists sketchbooks. Every other sketchbook was too arty, but not this one.
It was John Hendrix’s
Then I noticed that one or two of these illustrations had bible bits on them, so I read a bit of his bio.
Turns out, like me when I am not preaching or leading the service, or when I am sitting in theology class, he draws. Quite how he gets so much detail into a few minute sermon beats me. You don’t know where the service is going until after the message, which leaves you precious time to interpret it, which is why my pictures tend to sprawl along with evolving themes that interlock with one another. He paints them when he gets home. I think he either filters information to spot the core, or else picks up the thread really early and goes from there.
I wonder if he has the same problem as me and can’t concentrate…drawing stills the mind enough to actually listen.
John says this about his drawing in church:
Drawing in my sketchbook is the very best part of my work. I love it because it is linear improvisation. Much like jazz, it is unpredictable, exciting and unfiltered. Often with very good and very bad results. I attend church every Sunday, and I draw during the sermon. All of these pages were done in a pew (though I don’t bring my watercolors with me- that waits till I get home). Simultaneous drawing and listening transforms familiar language into something new- a feedback loop of symbols, theology and wonder.
What is great though is his website is very new! So I had gone to the museum last year I would never have properly found how much he draws in church.
A kindred spirit? Well he’s a heck of a lot better than me.
And younger.
Rats. But then when I show people what I draw in church they love it to. Recently I’ve also had people say that what I am producing is helping them with their faith n stuff. Never thought that would happen.
My favourite article I have read of his so far relates to order of creatives.
He lists them as
Manifesting content
Framing content
Authoring content
He makes the point that whilst the one below is a more highly developed artistic spirit, my words not his to describe his emphasis that its not a better skills set…though that has its place.
You should read what he says, but I interpret each to be: manifesting content being told the exact thing someone wants drawing…paint a picture of my dog, or house, or a caricature; framing content is more creative, you have to interpret and solve the problems posed by a wider concept provided by someone else such as illustrating a story; authoring content requires you to create the very idea and inspiration behind the art. This is the highest calling.
Of course, the you need to be able to do the earliest to succeed at the later developments. And I think I have learnt my trade. Never thought about it that way.
Also there is something of a bread and butter concept to this. At the moment I have people wanting a set of paintings for a wall, a caricature, illustration of a picture someone else has had from God. These will provide me with money or gifts that I can use in other areas of ministry, for example I need to pay for the new computer after the old one gave up the ghost a couple of days ago. I don’t profit directly from them, so don’t worry mr tax man.
But although for years I have been doing the first two orders of creativity, I’ve never really done the third. Illustrating in church is perhaps towards the third order, but not really. Drawing pictures of things in front of me is the same.
What has happened to me is this third order, and it’s only come about as part of the theology reflection. I’ve been creating my own content. And it’s been very exciting. Over the years, even since a kid, I’ve asked people around me what should I draw? Now I see where a good way to go is. And even though this picture will be finished only as a drawing before the paper is due, I intend to take it to its logical conclusion as a watercolour.
I think it’s because of starting with just a very simple idea, and looking through my sketchbook as if it were a diary, and seeing one of the key themes, a door. Then seeing where that door leads, then reflecting on that image and illustrating the next, till there was a sufficient batch of work to combine it into one, which meant having to solve how those images might fit together. And it’s this final image which seems to be striking the firmest chords with people.
So thanks John
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Just for reference, I added a bit of digital watercolour to a photo of the pencil work so far.
