Artists Drawing Artistic Inspiration From On-High

Creating beautiful and moving works of art has been a rich part of religious traditions for thousands of years. While some groups prohibit the creation of direct depictions of divinity, others encourage it. Many Christians have been moved to create inspiring pieces that capture their unique vision of biblical stories or their Savior himself. Learn more about how some people knew they were prepared for a life of art at a young age while others only discovered their talents later in life.

Ilana Yahav

This phenomenal artist works with sand to create works of art that are fleeting, yet evocative and touching. Many of her sandscape stories tell an uplifting or inspiring Christian message. She grew up in Israel and spent years running a puppetry studio before discovering her unique talents for turning basic grains of sand into beautiful moving paintings. Ilana's website says that she asks for inspiration before starting each work of art.

Yasuko and Graham Fleming

As a husband-and-wife team living in Japan, these two Christians have been called to create a ministry based on art. Yasuko is a professional dancer who first developed a relationship with God while studying in England. Her husband, Graham, prefers to communicate his faith through illustrations and paintings. Both decided to bring a deeper understanding of Christianity to Japan by forming the All Nations Japan ministry. Free classes and instruction help Japanese people across the country to learn new ways of expressing themselves. As they study, the ministry members also share their beliefs to inspire them for a deeper connection with the world around them, says Today's Christian Woman. (www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2009/february/creativegospel.html)

Freedom Rodriguez

The childhood of Freedom wasn't truly free. The talented illustrator grew up in a challenging and broken home that exposed him to violence and drugs from an early age. As darkness threatened to envelop him, he turned to both art and religion to stay on the right track. The OM ArtsLink reports that Rodriguez was encouraged by art teachers as well as Christian friends to turn away from the temptations that surrounded him at a crucial time in his life.

He [Freedom Rodriguez] is attempting to make the transition to full-time ministry through his art so he can bring his inspiring story to as many people as possible.

Lynn Kircher

Lynn also knew he was destined for a life of painting when he began introducing himself as an artist at the age of six. The Denver Catholic Register says that the painter was inspired by the early roots of Catholicism when priests used descriptive illustrations to share stories with illiterate church members. He aims to create pieces that bridge the gap between divinity and ordinary humanity. Lynn instructed new students in the arts as an instructor at the Colorado School of Art for more than 20 years, but now he primarily focuses on his inspirational works.

Janet Hyun

Janet Hyun has always dreamed of having a major impact on the world as an artist but did not foresee the discovery of God in her life in 2001. That chance meeting with a living God altered her outlook on life and changed the course of her artwork permanently. Ms. Hyun now expresses her heavenly relationship through her artistic creations and is in fact, having a major impact on the world with Christian art. Ms. Hyun says that she sees visions through God and translates them to us through canvas and oils.