Welcome everyone

[llis]

I'm looking forward to seeing great inspirational art! Enjoy.

[Eugene Veszely]

Do we have guidelines for what goes in here??

I want to see Inspirational works too :)

[llis]

Larry Seiler should be able to post some guidelines soon. Until then, feel free to post your art works that are of inspirational nature.

We want to be able to provide a place for anyone creating art with religious/inspirational themes to post art and do want to discuss our feelings behind our work. This forum is not, however, a place to discuss the differences between all the religions in the world. Matters of that nature should be discussed in private, off the WC boards. This is a place to share our art created by those of all faiths. :)

Inspirational art is a very big market. Feel free to discuss marketing issues as they directly relate to inspirational art as well as any other aspect of creating art in this category.

Also feel free to discuss the inspirational art of other artists...what makes them inspirational, what themes they are using, how effective they are.... so on.

[gnu]

wohoo. I'm really excited to be here..
:D
:clap: :clap:

[heh]

hum hum
new car smell

[CarlyHardy]

WetCanvas! Thanks for providing this new forum for inspirational art! I'm excited to be able to post and get feedback from others who paint subjects considered inspirational. I hope this will be a forum filled with some great art as well as good discussion.

carly :clap:

[LarrySeiler]

looking forward to this forum....and welcome everyone. Llis really said it well, and I might add, we do have a debate forum already. Not that what separates one religion from another ought to be openly discussed there either, but the point is we would want to see this forum maintain a positive, not a negative direction.

Artists create for many reasons...for some it might be simply recognizing their potential for material gain given skills and talents they find self evident, for some an interest for introspection, self-discovery.

Many find a strong compulsion to seek meaning and purpose perhaps first about the world about us, then our place in it. We will see and discover many interesting things about each other here in the future I'm sure. Our backgrounds are no doubt as varied and interesting as our art itself.

Its entirely possible were circumstances to have been different in my past, I might yet have chosen to create art though my drive may well have been fueled by another thinking or desire. For myself, it is my faith...a sense of being created and that it is wholly reasonable for me to create.

From where I sit...in a world where business assesses every way an employee spends their time, and whether or not it is useful to them...my dignity comes not from proven contribution but simply by "being"...

that is, I am a human "being" not a human doing. Though my being propels me to accomplish works, whether or not my life proves value in a businesse's way of evaluation will have little affect or consequences to me. That I believe I am created, and that I am loved...comes a particular inherent dignity. We will discover here in this forum other ideas and worldviews which shall show us interesting perspectives I'm sure as to what provides dignity, purpose and meaning for others and we shall see that I'm convinced in the form of art and ideas about that art from our contributing members.

Being connected or grounded within yourself with a particular set of ideas is cause for many to find a prolific inclination to produce works. It very often fuels desires to grow and become better and better.

Some of us, actually...many of us as visual communicators are so filled with feelings about something that our art is our only effective means of getting that thing out....so, with that...I am looking forward to seeing and learning something about the human spirit, the soul that celebrates thru art.

I will be posting official guidelines soon...but until then, we are here to encourage one another, to learn and be inspired by that which inspires others.

Larry

[Papierstars]

:clap: Sounds wonderful! I have this forum locked in my favorites now. Well be anxious to see what results.

~River

[sassybird]

I would like to thank Scott for giving us this forum. It is a real blessing. I look forward to seeing all the art that will be submitted, and I hope that people of all beliefs will feel free to post in here.

I have my own take on different religions after studing Comparative Religion on my own for most of my life. One scripture that comes to mind is when it is said that God will appear to all men in a guise they will recognize and understand.

[Deborah Secor]

I, too, am delighted to find this forum. I look forward to seeing what inspires different artists and how we each express it.

Deborah

[chatfieldstudios]

Looking forward to seeing the artwork posted here and discovering what inspires each individual. I feel blessed to be able to express myself at all through my art at this stage of my life, so at this point it is all inspirational :) But I also am trying to discover how my artwork can more truly reflect my beliefs and faith in my Creator. Thanks to Scott for providing this forum and thanks to those of you who will be moderating...

[Seraph]

Hey everyone! I too think this forum was a great idea. Im really looking forward to seeing what shows up here since Ive always been curious as to what exactly defines "inspirational art".

Inspirational doesnt necessarily mean religious, does it? Or at least not strictly Christian? Just curious. I thought I read somewhere that we were going to be starting a spiritual art forum, and I guess this is where that idea ended up. I was just asking becuase Im not exactly Christian (more a funky brand of Jewish than anything) so I just wanted to make sure it was okay for me to post stuff here, too :D

Thanks for the great new addition!

~Seraph

[LarrySeiler]

Inspirational doesnt necessarily mean religious, does it? Or at least not strictly Christian? Just curious.
~Seraph

no...but it will play a part for many.

Artists create art for many reasons....some seeking, some responding to what's inside them. Most realizing we don't exist or create out of a vacuum.

There will be many ideologies that propel the creation of work, and this forum will give venue for such to be shared. The forum will not be a place for negativity or correction/disagreement over beliefs....but supportive and encouraging. There are other venues, other sites and newsgroups for those that enjoy locking horns and wrangling about words, but this is a community and we ascribe to that which builds community.

take care

Larry

[Rosic]

I look forward to becoming involved with this forum. I can't wait to see all the ways artists' are inspired and the results that come from that inspiration. Thanks for giving us this forum.
Bernie

[sassybird]

I was just asking becuase Im not exactly Christian (more a funky brand of Jewish than anything) so I just wanted to make sure it was okay for me to post stuff here, too :D

Thanks for the great new addition!

~Seraph

You are more than welcome to share your work in here. As Larry said there are many ideologies, and this forum will give us a chance to share and see what others of different faiths portray the inspirational art they create. This will be a loving, receptive and supportive forum for all:) I have seen inspirational art from many religions that have touched me deeply.

[Seraph]

Thanks Larry and Sassybird! Hope you guys didnt think Im looking to start religious debates; Im actually trying to do just the opposite! Ive noticed that the people here tend to be really open minded and willing to listen to others points of view, I just wanted to make sure I wouldnt be crashing your party or anything.

Like I said, a lot of my art is religious in nature, although it might not necessarily look that way at first glance. Im all about the obscure symbolism! Anyways, thanks for being so understanding and all. You guys are the best!! :D

~Seraph

[Helen Zapata]

WOW! It's OPEN!!!

Yippeee!!! I'm so happy to see the Forum is up! Just now I thought I'd wander around on the Forums page for awhile, and I found you! YAY!

I have lots of catching up to do. Good job everyone! :clap:

Helen

[artbyjune]

I think it will be inspirational just to see others art and read their notes on works (methods; reasons for the image, etc). It will help broaden our horizons, maybe learn a little about other faiths and so forth.

I like the idea of support and encouragement as I subscribe to the view that we create better (more enjoyably) in an atmosphere of encouragement, trust and security.

June