statement- Some people want the experience of seeing the painting being painted, creating something from nothing, and yet others like the illustration aspect of helping to visualize the idea or theme of the lesson. Sometimes there is a strong narrative in the sermon (for example: a Bible story, Chronicles of Narnia, etc.) and other times there is a theme or idea that needs to be illustrated. Through much deliberation with the minister/pastor, I try to get the overall idea or theme of the lesson, I don’t want to re-create those paintings from children’s Bible illustrations, I want it to be contemporary and relatable as far as someone seeing themselves in the painting and realizing that could be them or has been them in the past. During services we use our senses: touch, smell and taste are used during communion, we hear music and we sometimes use sight for powerpoint or screen images during singing. The painting serves as an added tool for seeing or visualizing thoughts and ideas for the purpose of adding to the sermon/lesson in a positive way. Article describing a painting I did at Yale Divinity School, May 17-19, 2007 - click here to view article.

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