Art professor shares how he has used his creative skills to glorify the Lord

Worship does not just start and end during a church service — it can involve honoring the Lord at any time with the talents that he has given you. This rings true for professor Todd Smith, the founding director of the Liberty University Art Museum and Permanent Collection and founding chair of the Department of Studio & Digital Arts. Smith’s journey through his artistic career is a testament to the Lord’s faithfulness in all things.

Smith started his artistic journey at Emmanuel University in Georgia, though he was studying to become a youth pastor at the time. He strongly desired to work with high school- and college-aged students and completed his first degree in religion. 

“I reluctantly went into the field of art. … (God) shaped my character,” Smith said. “God showed himself faithful. He opened all the doors for me to get a second bachelor’s degree in art. … It’s a beautiful story.”

Before becoming a professor, Smith worked as a freelance designer and artist while he conducted his doctoral research. He came to Liberty in the fall of 2002, where he has taught courses in graphic design and studio art for the past 22 years.

Aside from teaching, Smith has worked to create artwork under commission, including a sculpture for the chapel at Oxford University in 2011. He was asked to create a likeness of St. Hugh, which required a long process of sketches and models that worked to incorporate tangible personality into the clay work. The most important part of his artistic process, however, is connecting with the creator.

“When I create, I feel like it’s an act of worship. I feel like that’s what I was designed to do. I want to bring glory to the Lord through what I make,” Smith said. “It’s really
encouraging in the fact that I’m doing something that brought God pleasure because God’s the original designer.”

Smith explained that all his art is generated through prayer. Prayer is what ignites his creative passion and allows him to reflect God’s creativity and glory. Smith finds that the greatest joy that comes from his art is knowing that he is using his gifts to serve God well.

His journey has not been without challenges, however. During his second semester at Liberty, his wife Melody suffered a brain hemorrhage four days after the birth of their son Luke.

“All I knew to do was pray and rely on God’s providence,” Smith said. The story of Melody’s healing is incredible and a testament of God’s faithfulness and mercy.” 

At that time he made the decision to leave his doctoral studies and put family first. Then, in his early 30s, he began having issues with his eyesight. In 2017, he experienced both a vitreous and retinal detachment in his right eye. This caused him to lose sight in his right eye until he was able to have corrective surgery.

Shortly after, Smith also experienced a vitreous detachment in his left eye. He suffers from ocular headaches and struggles to see normally. His vision is often blurry and impedes his work, even with special eyeglasses.

“Through all of this stuff going on with my eyes, I have to depend even more on the Lord for things,” Smith said.

Despite physical setbacks, Smith has found new opportunities that he otherwise would not have had. Smith was able to help a student develop a dissertation that created 3D Braille printing for people who suffer from blindness.

“This has taken me down a path that I never anticipated that I would go,” Smith said. “It has really helped me to understand that when a person has some type of physical challenge, … the Lord can use it for good.” 

Even though problems with his eyesight slow down his artistic processes, he has been able to overcome these challenges to produce pieces that honor the Lord.

For his students, Smith recommends studying God’s creation in great detail.

“If I had the chance of working with some well-known artist, I would communicate with them and learn the skill sets that set them apart, ask them questions and watch every move their hand makes,” Smith said. “Christ is the divine artist of this universe, an artist I can talk to or interact with anytime.” 

Smith told students to view their art as an act of worship and to try to achieve excellence within it for that very reason. He believes that Christians need to be in the field of art to influence the culture for good.

Smith continues to sculpt and create other pieces while teaching at Liberty, whether they are for a special commission or simply for himself. Regardless of the motivation behind his work, the purpose remains the same.

“Seek to bring glory to the Lord and make his name known,” Smith said.

Graeber is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion