References and Learning from Others
There are two things that Christians are made fully aware of, the first is that: There’s nothing new under the sun:
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 (KJV) The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
Christian artists can never run out of ideas because The Book they study daily is full of historical events. Take the story of Moses for example. God preserved him and sent him into Egypt, and then later used him to deliver the Israelites. Moses is a type, foreshadowing what Christ later would do when God sent his beloved Son into the world to save mankind. This is one event that gets repeated a lot in movies and stories in our modern days. Transformers and Superman are two examples that come to mind. Just one historical event can generate many movies and stories out of it (see this post: https://www.codeberean.com/weblog/?p=139).
Want to create a character concept based on a Script? You have the Bible, full of Scripts. Want to get into the habit of researching actual places, cultures and people for your concepts? Again, the Bible is full of it (look up biblical archaeology for example). Need ideas for a character? Samson, Moses, Elijah, Jezebel, anti-Christ, Ahab etc… Creating fantasy characters and environments? Hell, Heaven, Spirit, Soul, Angels and Demons… it’s all there in the Bible. The subject of the old Masters was either Biblical or based on it, take the Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci for example.
When it comes to art’s techniques and methods, there’s really nothing new under the sun as well. When ZBrush and digital Sculpting first came unto the scene, people were exploring and studying it. Now, these techniques and methods are out there. Which brings us to my second point.
Acts 8:26-31 (KJV) And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The second thing that Christians are made fully aware of is: We are to learn from and be taught by others. It’s how babies learn and grow, and the same goes for us Artists as well. A lot of painters and sculpters of old learned and copied from each others. Spurgeon once said, “He who is his own guide is guided by a fool.” This is a good principle to live by.
When you look at creation, there is much to learn, and many have. When you look into the lives of other artists, there’s also much to learn, and many have. Whether it’s techniques, methods or ideas, it’s all there for those who will see themselves as “student.”
