Tag: artist

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Sometimes you have to grow into a role…

Sometimes you have to wait a long time to get the work that you want. We may not understand the waiting time, but it has a purpose. In 2009, I decided to do some extra training to further my career so that I could widen my work portfolio; so I started a course in Life Coaching with a view of coaching and mentoring artists and creatives. I loved the training, passed the course and then started advertising for new clients. For years, there was a small stream of clients and then it would fizzle out, a cycle that repeated itself many times. I even joined forces with a business partner but the project never got off the ground. I was continually frustrated that this didn’t take off, and that the work was patchy and inconsistent. 

However, what I didn’t realise was that I was being prepared for this work. Over the last 17 years, I have been through many professional and personal situations that have given me a deeper experience of the artistic journey and life. Not only have I gained experience, but God was working on my character to make me into the artist that he wants me to be. Every project, performance, sale, failure, and success was giving me insight that would build my character and integrity not just in the creative world but in my spiritual life too.

Fast forward 17 years on, I received an unexpected email asking if I would like to mentor Christian artists. To be fair, the answer to the request was a no brainer, but as I reflect on my journey, I can see that I was being developed and prepared in response to a prayer that I prayed many years ago. And that’s the truth we don’t always want to hear: the answers to our prayers can often take decades because we need to become the person who can withstand the weight of the responsibility we are asking for. 

I also believe that there is a unique timing for this work too. We are coming into an era where Christian artists are needed more than ever, to express God’s love to a world in chaos. It is a privilege to be able to help artists hone the craft and develop projects that will bring joy and peace to many people. 

Development doesn’t happen quickly and God often develops our character in the dark. It’s the challenging times that can lead to the greatest growth as we wrestle with ourselves and our human nature. Like the process of a clam making a pearl, the waiting time though fractious, creates an irritant that produces something priceless and unique in us. By seeing the waiting time as a necessary training ground, we can become ready to receive the answers to our prayers. 

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There’s nothing wrong with being a multidisciplinary artist! Here are some of my thoughts on being a multidisciplinary artist and how we can truly be the artists that God has called us to be. It’s important to not be led by the opinions of others but to listen to what Jesus is saying to us. Also there’s an update on my latest projects including a jazz gig, my adventures with watercolour painting and my trip to Oxford to hear Amie McNee speak.

Read the blog: Becoming an artist, becoming you… https://helensandersonwhite.com/2019/05/15/becoming-an-artist-becoming-you/

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Painting: Breakthrough by Helen Sanderson-White (Copyright 2025 Helen Sanderson-White. Do not reproduce without permission). 

At some point in our lives, we all need breakthrough in a situation. A new beginning, season or provision for projects and plans. Whatever the circumstance, there comes a breaking point where things must change so that life can move on and grow. There are various situations that I have prayed about for years and in some cases decades. Back in 1997, God made me some promises about things to come in my life and over the last 28 years I have seen various parts of these promises come into fruition.  

Promises unfold slowly over time through regular prayer and holding into what God has said. If he said it, it will happen in his timing. But that’s the key: timing. God’s timing is different than our own, and requires patience and a willingness to partner with him in the process of breakthrough. He longs for relationship with us, and this is more important than receiving breakthrough. The journey is more important than the destination because of our growth and development come from knowing God more deeply.  

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 

Hope is the route to breakthrough, and breakthrough breeds more hope. The two are inextricably linked together and intertwine to become powerful. If you are waiting for a breakthrough, it can feel like waiting for a wall to crack or a barrier to come down. It can feel like there is partition blocking the way ahead; you know the end result, but you don’t know how to get there. Only God can make the way ahead possible.  

A while ago I had a picture of a glass ceiling shattering to reveal the rainbow colours of God’s promise breaking through. The different size dots representing the hopes both large and small that we carry through life, and also his long term promises to me. This greatly encouraged me that breakthrough is on the way and that God’s plan for my life is happening. The rainbow colours also express God’s love for us and the beauty of his promises which blossom throughout our lives. Only God’s love for us can shatter obstacles and bring the hope and amelioration we require.  

Breakthrough can be continuous rather than a one-off event. Sometimes we need the big moment of change that ushers in a season of smaller breakthrough moments, whilst in other seasons the changes are smaller but they bring momentum that accelerates change. The answers to our prayers can be unexpected and leftfield because God’s knowledge of how to bring our situations in line with his will is far greater than our own. 

If we keep moving forward with God, trusting him and his plans for us, he will bring the moments of breakthrough, small, big, quiet and loud when we least expect it. The breakthroughs are great testimonies to tell others, and as we share the stories, God’s glory is shown to others around us.  

The painting is acrylic on canvas and was exhibited in the Destination Hope art exhibition at Gold Hill Baptist Church in April 2025. I am currently working on a piece of music to accompany this painting. Check my website for details of when this piece will be released.  

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Sketch: Breakthrough by Helen Sanderson-White (Copyright 2023 Helen Sanderson-White. Do not reproduce without permission). 

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There comes a point in every artist’s life where you come to a crossroads; a fork in the road, a separation from your current life, a change in scenery. Sometimes this change can be unexpected, unwelcome and sudden, and other times it can creep up slowly without us realising that change is taking place. 

Separation from people who we thought were for us can be painful. The saliant point here is that we thought these people were for us but in reality they weren’t. It may be they never had the same vision as us; we were mislead and distracted by something that they offered that on the surface looked good but ultimately wasn’t. Equally it may be the that season of running together has come to an end; some relationships have a temporary purpose but they are not lifelong commitments. It’s not that the relationship is bad, it’s just that it no longer serves its purpose and that both parties need to head off on new ventures and paths in order to find fulfillment and their God given destiny. 

The artistic journey can be lonely. Most artists experience being misunderstood or overlooked. They are considered to be dreamers, unrealistic, irrelevant or avant garde. Artists are prophetic voices in an impaired and self-absorbed world. They voice disturbing truths, they speak out against the injustice and challenge cultural norms. They are consumed by a message that they must convey and express in a unique and profound way. Change makers and pioneers rarely have a large group of close acquaintances; their friendship groups tend to be small as few understand and support the message that they carry. 

If we don’t let go of people who aren’t meant to be walking through life with us, we can miss out on seasons, experiences and relationships that are part of God’s plan. The wrong people may delay our calling, hinder progress or distract us from doing God’s will. This can lead to a detour that we do not need to make. Obedience to God’s plan can look like everything is disintegrating, whereas from God’s point of view, he is rearranging our lives to reflect his plan for us. With God, a loss eventually becomes a gain. Nothing can withstand God’s divine alignment for our lives if we submit to the changes that he takes us through. Certain things must end, so that better things can begin. As people leave, we make room and clear a path for the new; a preparation time for what’s to come. 

Not all relationships end well and that can be distressing; however, for God’s message of love to be spread further afield, separation is a good thing. In Acts 15:36-39, Paul and Barnabas disagree over whether John Mark should come with them on a mission trip, the disagreement is so sharp that they split up and head off in different directions. The result of this disagreement and separation is that the gospel is spread further afield. The disagreement led to a positive spiritual outcome. Jesus takes the difficult and unexplainable things in our lives and turns them around for our good. 

If you are going through a season of people leaving and line up changes, it might be that God is changing your relationships to enable you to grow, develop and go further than you can imagine. What seems like a period of emptiness could lead to a time of fullness, fulfilment, and contentment; a period of time where the vision is refined and honed. He is clearing out what is no longer useful or needed, so that healthy, productive relationships can begin. If you want the creative message you carry to go further, submit to the clearing out process and allow God to reshape your life, in doing so your artistic work will have a greater impact. Wait for the season to change and for God to bring the right people to you. People who care for you, support your vision and have your best interests at heart. With the right team in place, you have a promising future. Not everyone can come with you on the journey…

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We live in a world that loves to rush around. A world that encourages busyness and never having enough time to do everything on our list. We are constantly goal seeking and looking to the next thing; racing rather than resting. The need to always be present, online or looking busy can be draining. I meet many artists from all backgrounds who mention their exhaustion, disrupted focus, and unmet deadlines that eventually lead to disillusionment and burn out. The fear of missing out or not having enough work leads to having stakes in too many projects and can leave a feeling that we haven’t given our best.  

In Genesis, a clear pattern of work and rest is displayed in the creation story. It’s not just a pattern but a rhythm that continues infinitely. God works for six days of the week, then on the seventh day he rests. This continuous divinely inspired rhythm invites us to foster a lifestyle that is sustainable, that protects our health and well-being and gives us space to enjoy our lives. It also gives us room to enjoy our relationship with God and to spend time with him. God’s attitude to rest is so important that it’s highlighted in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible; it is part of his design for humanity right from the word go. 

Genesis 2 verses 2-3 says 

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.1 

We learn from this story that God ordained the completion of work and the time to rest as holy. Holy meaning sacred, set apart, consecrated, to be treated with reverence and respect. I know for many artists at the end of a project we begin to rush into the next, never fully giving ourselves time to rest, reflect and recharge ourselves for the new. We start the next project half empty without respecting our basic need to just be rather than to do. If our artistic work is for the Lord whether Christian or secular, following God’s pattern will help us to make creations that are holy and reverent, and we will be physically, mentally and spiritually ready to do the work.  

Creativity is a rhythm, a lifestyle, a choice. Yes there are times when it flows freely and we want to make the most of the ideas; however if our creativity takes over our lives and doesn’t allow us to be, then this is counter-productive. Creativity should not control our lives, it should enhance it. Creativity should draw us nearer to God rather than moving us further away. 

1 New International Version (NIV) 

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® 

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Twenty years ago, I lived in London and worked teaching music with churches and further education colleges. Most of my work was with underprivileged young people living in areas of deprivation and poverty. Wealthy, salubrious neighbourhoods bordered these city areas, yet for most of the teens and young adults I worked with, this lifestyle was out of reach. They had become accustomed to accepting that their career path would be crime. Shootings and violent attacks in the area happened with alarming regularity, gangs and drugs became an easy option for a living. 

As I reflected on this culture, I wondered how I would express the Gospel to young people who had never heard of Jesus. How would I explain the cross and resurrection to them? As I discussed this with my church youth group, the breakthrough moment came when one of the young people said that the highest honour in gang culture was to take a bullet for a friend. That was the way in for me to explain to an unchurched community what Jesus did for us through his death on the cross and the resurrection: he took the bullet for us, so that we can live with him forever.  

Sometimes we need to understand the culture we are living in so that we can explain the Gospel using a vernacular that our community can relate to; a contemporary example that connects people with the divine. As we go about our week, perhaps we should ask ourselves, in what ways do my community need to hear about Jesus? 

At thirty years old there were words in his head 

He didn’t know where they would lead to 

The burning words, well they all signalled red 

But somehow he had to see it through 

He took the bullet for me, He took the bullet for me 

At thirty years old he took a trip out of town 

He knew he had to speak the truth 

The scholars and vagrants, they branded him a clown 

They didn’t want to see the living proof 

He took the bullet for me, He took the bullet for me

At thirty-three years they put a gun to his head 

They knew they had to end his reign 

What they didn’t know when they left him for dead 

Is that he’d come to reign again 

He took the bullet for me, He took the bullet for me

Copyright 2007 words & music by Helen Sanderson White 

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Amazon has released a new film called You Hurt My Feelings starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tobias Menzies as an under-confident couple who struggle with finding fulfilment in their work. Julia’s character overhears her husband (Menzies) telling her brother-in-law that her latest book isn’t her best artistic work, and the revelation shatters her. The film details how the couple explore being honest with each other and learning to let go of their co-dependent affirmation.

Should it be a given that our closest loved ones like our work? Before I get into this topic, I want to say that there are no clear answers to this question. When God calls people together it is holy and sacrosanct. Each relationship is between those people and God. 

I meet creative people all the time who are surprised or hurt by the fact that their partner or friends and family don’t like their art. Thinking back over my relationships and previous partners, some were supportive of my creativity while others were not. Needless to say, the relationships where there was little or no support did not last. Why? Because we weren’t united in the same vision. To my cost, I learnt that we need to be running in this same direction, having the same ambition for the things of God. Without this, there will always be compromises that lead us away from God’s vision for us and the things he is asking us to do. If we’re called to serve God together, then we need to be moving in harmony together, and there needs to be unity in our God-given vision and mission in life.

If we constantly need the affirmation of other people, we are driven by our insecurities rather than our faith in God. The need for admiration and love gets in the way of why we are creating. Our focus should be on following Jesus as looking for affirmation will only lead to building our ego and not our faith. Accepting encouragement is good for our wellbeing, but an unhealthy need for validation can distract us. 

There are some positives about negative criticism: someone not liking or “getting” our work gives us the opportunity to evaluate and analyse the piece and learn from it. We can see the project from a different point of view, learn more about our audience and how to communicate with them, as well as analysing the message or media used. Our work isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and this is a good thing because a small group of strong supporters is better than a large group of apathetic followers. Negative criticism from our closest loved ones is more challenging because it is hardest to hear from those we love. However, if the message is delivered to us in love and grace, we can benefit by reflecting and learning from it. We need to distinguish the difference between an unhealthy relationship that is hindering our calling and healthy criticism which sharpens and refines our work.  

Whenever we’re offered feedback, it’s important not to be dismissive but to filter what’s relevant and what’s not helpful. Finding a mentor or trusted colleague to review our projects with is a good way to gain perspective and grow in confidence. If your partner does not like a piece of your work, it’s not the end of the world but an opportunity for discussion. Loyalty is not superior to honesty, the two should work in harmony. 

Balance is a key factor to relationship stability. You’re never going to please everyone all the time. Learning to filter and reflect on criticism can lead to greater maturity and working relationships and helps us understand more about ourselves. Maturity is accepting that others are entitled to their opinion, whilst being secure in our own viewpoint. So should my partner like my creative work? If you’re depending on the praise to boost your confidence, then no, but if you’re settled in who you are and what you do, then any praise is a bonus. My personal feeling is that it is better to surround myself with people who will support and encourage but also be honest about my work, than to be with someone who always agrees, or worse, someone who discourages and is moving in a different direction. As artists, it is important to become resilient and use criticism to better ourselves, so that we can persevere and endure in our creativity. 

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A few weeks ago, Paul Gibbs from NoteSpire radio interviewed me about faith and being creative. We discussed using life experiences in our songwriting in order to help others, the post creatives blues, creating the Thaw painting and the role of music teaching. We also talked about my song I Won’t Rush You which you can find here.

NoteSpire radio is based in the USA in York, Pennsylvania, so we had challenge with the time difference, and the interview was recorded at midnight here in England. However I was wide awake!

The interview is being broadcast live on the radio station from Wednesday 7 June, however it is also available as a podcast to listen to now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all main podcast sites. Grab and a cup of tea and enjoy!

Listen here

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