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Editor’s Note: Jake Weidmann is an artist and Master Penman. The youngest in history to ever attain the title and only one of twelve in the world in existence today, Jake received his Master Penman certificate through the International Association, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH) in July of 2011. Jake is dedicated to maintaining the increasingly lost art of penmanship in an age of digital communication, preserving a link to the historied artisans of the past while bringing that beauty into the present and future. Michael Sull, IAMPETH Director, says, “Jake’s unique. His skill is amongst the highest of any living penman I know of today.” We had the opportunity to speak with Jake on the intersections of his faith and his deep commitment to art.

Conversations Journal: How do you see your calling as an artist integrating with your calling as a disciple of Jesus?

Jake Weidmann: First and most prevalent, my work as an artist is the opportunity to mimic God the Creator. And as a creator of art, my eyes are opened up to the strategic, intimate, and astounding ways that God has brought His creation into being. Creating art is the most intimate way that I know God.

One of the easiest ways I correlate the creative process with my faith is to parallel it with the Holy Trinity. First comes conception. Like God the Father, who conceived all that he created before he created it, this is where am brought into intimacy with God as His thoughts manifest in my own. Second comes the Incarnation. This is where intention meets implementation, where theory meets practice; where it all comes together and the art is manifested as a created thing, no longer imagined. The thoughts ever on my mind during this process are revelations from God that are not only for me but universal for us all. I know that if I break out of my subjective shell as an artist and reach out into the world with a greater message, then that is where my art will truly thrive. This is where I sacrifice my time and talent daily onto the altar of my art easel and offer back to the Lord what originally came from Him.

The last portion of this process hardly contains me at all, but is the response of the viewer. No art piece is finished until it is responded to. I believe this idea is confirmed throughout Genesis chapter one as the triune God looked back at what He created and echoed, “It is good.”

 

CJ:      How would you articulate the theological underpinnings of your work?

JW:     Christian theology is woven throughout my artwork and there are some pieces that are explicitly evangelical in nature, but most are not. Some of my work is reminiscent of ancient iconography: art that does not say, “This is God,” but is merely a prototype that points to God through symbolic representation. While the majority of my work lacks the explicit gospel message, I strive always to represent Truth through beauty. Since all truth is God’s truth, therein lies the fingerprint of God.

 

CJ:      In what ways has your life as an artist contributed to your growth in Christlikeness?

JW:     In many ways—I feel blessed to the point of near spoiling. Being an artist allows me to dwell in the romance of God’s creation story. On a daily basis, I get to play with God and mimic Him. I get to abide in the things that delight Him, that He deems as good, and also the things that break His heart.

The stereotypical mentality of an artist is one that is well known and often mocked, as they are highly emotional, driven by the whimsy of their thoughts and moods of the moment.  As an artist in service to the Lord, I feel these oblique things are set right.  I have made myself a weathervane, which is moved by the very Spirit of God; a place of such great delight and deep knowing

 

CJ:      Do you have a vision for the transformational effect of your art on those who view it?

JW:     The greatest goal that I have as an artist is that people would be transformed by my art. This is to say that I have not only done my job well, but more importantly, that I have allowed the Holy Spirit to do his work. It is not hard to see how creating art would be transformative for myself, but the humbling aspect is when others are transformed by it. I acknowledge fully that this is not the effect of the work itself, but rather the Spirit using my work to do what only He can: transform souls. If it is by my work that the eyes of hearts draw heavenwards, by the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit, then those are the pieces I wish to bear my signature.

 

CJ:      I’m sure you receive many affirmations of your work. Could you share a couple of the most meaningful responses?

JW:     An artist always loves to hear when their work is appreciated in whatever form or fashion.  But the greatest affirmations have always been in person; to bear witness to the moment when someone sees an art piece for the first time. Some of my life’s most cherished moments have been in front of my pieces when the ground was turned holy by the response of others; people being moved to tears, overcome with goose bumps, and expressing how an art piece showed them about life, themselves, or God that they had never thought of before. This is where my role as artist has transformed into the role of a prophet by the power of God himself.

 

CJ:      How would you encourage some of us who are artistically challenged to incorporate art as a means of encountering God?

JW:     A reminder that I often give people, though they may not feel artistic or hold artistic gifts, that they are, indeed, creative. We were all made to be creative in one way or another. My father, for instance, could not draw a straight line with a ruler, but he is one of the most creative people I know.

That being said, incorporating art into your life might look like approaching art intentionally looking for God. Find Him in the details. Pause for its beauty. Share its message with others while reflecting on it for yourself. Connect with Christian artists; invest in their passion to create. Ask questions. Perhaps try your hand at something artistic, despite your apprehension.