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There is something that comes up for artists all the time, and that is the gap between what we want to paint and what is on our canvas. It is especially relevant for prophetic artists who “see” an image and then try to re-create it, without understanding that the colours we “see” probably don’t even exist on earth. There are FAR more colours in heaven than on earth.

Even with 6,000 Sherwin-Williams or Dulux shades, you are physically not going to be able to reproduce what you “saw” in your vision with the paints you have in front of you. There will always be a gap between your mind’s eye and your canvas. Your spiritual eyes see far more in the colour spectrum than your physical eyes do. The glories of heaven are literally unimaginable.

Scientists at NNSA state, “The entire rainbow of radiation observable to the human eye only makes up a tiny portion of the electromagnetic spectrum – about 0.0035 percent. This range of wavelengths is known as visible light.” 

Therefore, can I encourage you to stop blaming yourself? As a prophetic artist, it is impossible not to see beyond the earthly realm. Embrace it!

Being disappointed that what you see in the spirit – your heavenly ‘download’ – isn’t what appears on your canvas can also manifest in an “imposter syndrome”, where you entertain the belief that your skills, talents, or accomplishments are not good enough and you are deceiving everyone. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people and is a particularly insidious method of the enemy to stop you in your tracks. It also manifests in perfectionism and a distrust of your self-worth, both of which do not belong in God’s Kingdom.

“The gap” is an essential part of the creative personality. There is always a gap between what we want to create and what we achieve. EMBRACE this. This is part of the creative process. When we create, we first experience ‘input’, that is, all the influences, images, colours, incidents, and imaginations that tumble inside our mind with no sense of order. It is who we are as creatives as we process all that we see, hear, and feel. We then come to the experience of ‘output’, that is, we create. As we come to the finish of our creating time we begin to evaluate. It is vital to understand that this moment is in fact the BEGINNING of the next stage of ‘input’. This is where we assess what works, what doesn’t work, what has potential, what disappoints, and what hits the mark so well that it’s worth celebrating. This is called WORK. Many quit at this stage because they do not recognise that this is the work of improving, learning, growing, and getting closer to your ambitions. Here is not the place to quit. Here is to recognise the gap for what it truly is – it is not your shortcomings – it is your greatest asset. The will to improve. Learn to embrace the gap without judgement.

Photo credit: Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash