Meet an Artist :: Carla Hananiah
What do you think is the most important influence in your art?
My artwork is a direct response to what feeds my soul. The level of need I feel to create is directly linked to how healthy I feel in my soul. With this is mind, my relationship with God is the determining influence in my artwork.
How important is the subject matter to your artwork?
Subject matter is a starting point for the journey. Personally I work best when I have a structured subject matter in mind for a body of work. At present my studio research is the exploration of spirituality and the sublime within landscape. From there, I go on a journey – it could start as landscapes inspired from poetry (such as Psalms) and lead to landscapes based on my imagination created in response to my spiritual journey.
What do you see as the role of artists in society?
Art in society is often regarded as a luxury rather than a necessity. However, art (whether it be visual, music or performance-based) is essential to the human condition. We need beauty in our world, it’s what keeps us from being jaded by everyday routine.
And how about the role of the artist in the Christian community?
Art should be a form of worship, advocacy of justice and an agent for change. As an artist I desire to reflect and glorify God in my work. Each person is responsible to respond to God in worship with their gifting – mine is painting, so when I paint I glorify God. Before I begin each painting I have developed a habit of quietly speaking out a one line prayer over each support I’m about to start a painting on – it keeps me purposeful.
How does the gospel inform your vocation as an Artist?
Most importantly, art as a vocation could be seen as a self-indulgent profession – my understanding of the gospel and my relationship with God challenges me to create artwork with purpose behind it. This purpose could be to challenge, bring aid to a cause etc. Recently I created an artwork for “The Face of Compassion” to raise awareness and funds towards aiding children suffering due to the global food crisis. Contributing to causes you believe in with your gifting is very fufilling.
In regards to actual studio practice, at present I read a Psalm for inspiration before beginning a new painting. Often a verse or an impression I get from a piece of scripture will be the title of my work.
CHECK OUT CARLA’S WORK >>> www.carlahananiah.com
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