An Artist of the Heart

I feel like an artist without any art.

I have always said I’m a worshipper, but never joined the worship teams…

I have seen many artists identify themselves by their craft, their talent, "I’m a dancer, I’m a singer, I’m an artist…" This has made me stand at a distance, where I read all the books, identify with the lessons, but never join the team. For if art is based on skill, I’m not sure if mine is simply undeveloped, and somehow I don’t believe that  in developing that I am becoming an artist (in terms of skill still). I believe I already am an artist, and in developing there is the joy of manifesting the idea, the thought, the heart… But the level of skill and amount of followers, or talent is not the goal. Or as my pastor says about something else, "its not the end, just a means to the end." I am Chandré, I see beauty, I dream of creating and adding, but what I do is not who I am, but flows out of who I am.

Art is a way of seeing, not only the fruit thereof.

Maybe it is both, and for now I am still only seeing?

Today, I listened to a talk by one of my favourite Singers, Sara Groves… (find it on Sound Cloud – a talk at Woodland Hills Church). She mentioned that artists are contemplative, and when Sandy Hooks occurred, in a christian community they had a moment of silence, but then went on with life, but as an artist, for her she felt there is more, she felt it, she felt the fibre of society change, and how can we do more, or respond to this? She then gathered her artists friends, and they planned an event at Arthouse North. What came out of that was really touching and really honouring,  as she said even though it wasn’t the intention it ended up being a memorial to what happened. As I listened, to her speaking, I could relate, this is how I think too… But would I have showed up… with what talent? And yet, I am an artist, I see beauty, I long to respond, I want to pause…

I once told my friend regarding a certain love interest “I’m an artist of the heart, once I see the beauty of someone it is hard to unsee it…”

I think that phrase qualifies me to join the broader art community. My style…?

An artist of the heart ;)