The Starving Artist

There was once a girl who loved to paint and draw. Her dream was to capture the beauty of God's world on canvas. But the more she worked at it, the less she was satisfied. Something important was missing in her work and she couldn't put her finger on it.

"You're being too critical of yourself," her best friend said. "You are a fine artist. Your landscapes are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen."

"Thank you," the young artist replied. "But they're not quite right. The colors are right, the perspective is correct -- everything is as it should be, but there's still something wrong. Something very essential is lacking. I wish I knew what it was."

"Listen," her friend said. "I have a friend -- an art critic. Maybe I can get him to visit you and look at your work. Maybe he can tell you what's wrong."

The young artist agreed that was a good idea. A week later, a istinguished - looking gentleman sporting a white goatee appeared at her door. It was the critic. The artist took the critic into her studio and showed him her work.

"These are very nice," the critic remarked, after seeing a half dozen of her landscapes.

"Thank you," said the artist, "but something important is missing and had hoped an expert like you could tell me what it was."

The critic studied the artist for a moment. Then he asked, "What exactly are you trying to capture through your work?"

"I'm trying to capture God's world," she answered. "I work at it, but it's not quite right."

"I see," said the critic as he stroked the small goatee on the end of his chin. "I think I know what the problem is."

"Please, tell me," the artist said, her excitement mounting.

"Well... I think you are trying to capture God's world without knowing God."

The artist was perplexed. "I don't understand."

The critic smiled. "God is missing in your pictures. His essence is missing. If you want to capture God's world on canvas, then you must be well-acquainted with the Creator. Right now, you are a starving artist because of your lack of knowledge of Him."

"I went to Sunday School when I was a kid," the artist protested. "And I
certainly believe in God, otherwise, why would I be trying to paint what He created?"

"Belief is not enough. Look at the artist Thomas Kinkaid. There is a special something in his work a person knows is there, but cannot really explain. Kinkaid knows God. I think he paints God into everything he does. It's very apparent there is something special there -- something that his imitators cannot duplicate. It's God."

The artist thought about that for a moment. Then she stared out the window with a far-away look in her eyes. "I have wanted to know God for a very long time," she said, "but I didn't know how to go about it. Whether it improves my artwork is not really all that important. I would just like to know Him."

"To know God," the critic said, "you must know His Son."

"Do you know Him?" the artist asked, turning back to the critic.

"Indeed, I do," the critic said, smiling broadly. "And soon you will, too. Sit down for a few moments and let me tell you about Jesus Christ."

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God,
and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2)

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Ed Price spent 35 years in print and broadcast journalism. He is author of 15 books. After becoming an ordained minister he settled with his wife on a farm in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, to study God's word and to write. Ed and Patty are the parents of three girls, have one grandchild, and cater to the every whim of two spoiled cats.
© 2008 Ed Price - All rights reserved. Visit his website, The Loving Heart.

This column is used with permission.