"I would define 'Hidden Art' as the art which is found in the 'minor' areas of life. By 'minor' I mean what is involved in the 'everyday' of anyone's life, rather than his career or profession. Each person, I believe, has some talent which is unfulfilled in some 'hidden area' of his being, and which could be expressed and developed." Edith Schaeffer
It was after reading Edith Schaeffer's book The Hidden Art of Homemaking that I started to see and appreciate 'art' differently. Through the stories and examples in her book, my eyes where opened to see what beauty and creativity and 'art' is and where it can be found. Food, sketching, gardening, writing, painting, music, and decorating are a few of the areas she suggests that can help us fulfill the personal desire we have to be creative. Since very few of us are in a position to quit our 'day jobs' the expression of art can be possible in every area of our day to day living.
As she explains: "It is not that I feel the study of great art should be put aside, but simply that I feel it may be helpful to consider some of the possibilities all of us have of really living artistically, but which are often ignored. People so often look with longing into a daydream future, while ignoring the importance of the present. We are all in danger of thinking, "Some day I shall be fulfilled. Some day I shall have courage to start another life which will develop my talent", without ever considering the very practical use of that talent today in a way which will enrich other people's lives, develop the talent, and express the fact of being a creative creature."
Believing that God has created us in His image...and believing that He is the Creator of all beauty... helps us to realize why we have desires to grow in creativity, to find ways of expressing it, to see beauty and art in our everyday lives. For me, this art is found in carving. I see a finished walnut spoon as 'art'! And a freshly oiled breakfast board as an expression of beauty.
I have been inspired by Edith's practical examples of preparing food..."chosen to give pleasure, and to cheer people after a hard day's work, to comfort them when they feel down for some reason, to amuse them when things seem a bit dull, or to open up conversation when they feel silent and uncommunicative." I love the idea of using these simple pleasures as a way to serve each other. A little extra thought and effort put into simple moments to show our families what they mean to us.
