I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello, and welcome
once again to 3ABN today.
00:01:07.10\00:01:10.23
We're so glad that
you are taking this time
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to share with us,
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and we have a special
and unique program today.
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I think you can tell by
the background behind me
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that this is
going to be something
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a little bit different.
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Before we begin, I want to read
a scripture to you if I may,
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because this will let
you know where we're going.
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This is Exodus 31, and
I'll begin with verse 1,
00:01:32.52\00:01:36.32
it says, "Then the
Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
00:01:36.36\00:01:39.39
"See, I have called by
name Bezalel the son of Uri,
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the son of Hur, and
of the tribe of Judah.
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And I have filled him
with the Spirit of God,
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in wisdom, in
understanding, in knowledge,
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and in all
manner of workmanship,
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to design artistic works,
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to work in gold,
silver and bronze,
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in cutting jewels for
setting, in carving wood,
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and to work in all
manner of workmanship."
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When God called
Bezalel he called him to...
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He called him for
the glory of the Lord
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to create artistic
works for the tabernacle.
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And He filled him
with His Holy Spirit,
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so that God would be
glorified through his work.
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We can sometimes
preach with words,
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we can, somebody can
give a sermon in a song,
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but sometimes
people give sermons
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through out their
artistic works, and that is who
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we're going to be interviewing
today is Nathan Greene.
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And, Nathan, just
thank you so much...
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Thank you. For being here.
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It is exciting,
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I have admired
you for so many years
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before I got to
meet you at an ASI,
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I remember I had
met you the first time.
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I remember.
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And I'm impressed by
your memory then as well,
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but it is such an
honor to have you here.
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Thank you.
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Because God has
given you such a gift
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but you use it for His glory.
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Thank you.
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How long have you been painting?
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Well it's
officially about 32 years
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as a professional
artist illustrator
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but to be honest with you,
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I started when I was
four or five years old.
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Yes.
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So it's like
many things, you know,
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if you're musician it's a
big advantage to start young.
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Amen.
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And the same
with art work. Amen.
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But we're very excited to
see some of the new pieces.
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We're gonna be talking
about some of your pieces today,
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but first we
have a music selection
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by another of our
favorite sons here at 3ABN
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and that's Reggie Smith
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and he is going to
be singing, Gethsemane.
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All the way from
Heaven's splendor
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Robed in flesh born in a manger
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Jesus came to set
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sin's captives free
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"Father, not my will
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but Thine be done"
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Was the prayer He prayed
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God's only Son
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So He drank the bitter cup
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for you and me
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He suffered Gethsemane
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Through blood, sweat, and tears
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Each drop of blood
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He shed Bought me
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a million years
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God's crowning Sacrifice
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His spotless Lamb
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Now risen from the grave
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He is the great I AM.
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All alone,
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He felt forsaken In the garden,
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His heart was breaking
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Yet He chose to die on Calvary
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Jesus, blessed Savior
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and Redeemer All to Him,
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I now surrender Could I do less
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after all He's done for me?
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He suffered Gethsemane
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Through blood, sweat, and tears
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Each drop of blood He shed
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Bought me a million years
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God's crowning Sacrifice
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His spotless Lamb
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Now risen from the grave
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He is the great I AM
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He could have left us to die
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in our sin Alone,
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forever lost
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But grace would change
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how the story ends
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Jesus' blood would pay the cost
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For He suffered Gethsemane
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Through blood, sweat, and tears
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Each drop of blood
00:08:02.71\00:08:06.38
he shed Bought me
00:08:06.41\00:08:09.55
a million years
00:08:09.58\00:08:14.32
God's crowning Sacrifice
00:08:14.36\00:08:18.86
His spotless Lamb
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Now risen from the grave
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He is the great I AM
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God's crowning Sacrifice
00:08:40.22\00:08:46.72
His spotless Lamb
00:08:46.76\00:08:51.03
Now risen from the grave
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He is the great I AM
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Now risen from the grave
00:09:06.57\00:09:12.35
Jesus is the great
00:09:12.38\00:09:16.58
I AM
00:09:16.62\00:09:20.76
Amen.
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Such a beautiful song
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that comes from
the Calvary Project,
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Calvary Love Found a Way.
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And we always enjoy our
dear brother Reggie Smith
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who sings with such sincerity.
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If you're joining
us just a little late,
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our special guest today is,
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I know he will blush
if I say he is famous,
00:10:02.73\00:10:05.53
but certainly
his works are famous.
00:10:05.57\00:10:07.24
If you don't know
his face and his name,
00:10:07.27\00:10:10.14
you will certainly
recognize his works
00:10:10.17\00:10:13.24
because he is renowned artist,
00:10:13.27\00:10:15.18
a spirit filled artist
who gives God all the glory,
00:10:15.21\00:10:19.48
and I'm speaking
of Nathan Greene.
00:10:19.51\00:10:21.38
Nathan, we're so
glad you're here today.
00:10:21.42\00:10:23.72
And we want to
get before we look at,
00:10:23.75\00:10:28.09
take a closer look at
some of your new works,
00:10:28.12\00:10:30.66
we would like to get to
know you a little bit better.
00:10:30.69\00:10:34.10
You said that from
childhood you wanted to,
00:10:34.13\00:10:37.47
you enjoyed arts,
you enjoyed drawing,
00:10:37.50\00:10:40.84
but how did you actually know
00:10:40.87\00:10:44.61
that this was going
to be your life's path?
00:10:44.64\00:10:47.41
Well, I didn't know for
sure as I was growing up,
00:10:47.44\00:10:50.51
but I always, I love
to draw, I love to paint.
00:10:50.55\00:10:52.71
My mother did
landscape painting as a hobby,
00:10:52.75\00:10:55.28
and so that just
fascinated me to watch her work
00:10:55.32\00:10:58.09
and to smell the oil paints
and linseed oil and everything,
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it just was very appealing.
00:11:00.89\00:11:02.52
But as I was growing up, I
also wanted to be a doctor,
00:11:02.56\00:11:04.59
you know, and so I had this
kind of dual track of interest.
00:11:04.63\00:11:08.83
But when I was 17,
00:11:08.86\00:11:10.20
I was a student at Cedar
Lake Academy in Michigan.
00:11:10.23\00:11:13.67
And someone came to
the academy to visit
00:11:13.70\00:11:17.04
and they knew Harry Anderson,
00:11:17.07\00:11:19.31
who is a very well
known Christian artist
00:11:19.34\00:11:21.51
and Seventh-day
Adventist artist.
00:11:21.54\00:11:24.05
And they thought I
might make a good apprentice
00:11:24.08\00:11:25.81
for Harry Anderson.
00:11:25.85\00:11:27.52
And so they flew myself
00:11:27.55\00:11:28.88
and my art teacher Tom
Turner out to meet him.
00:11:28.92\00:11:31.29
He lived in
Connecticut at the time.
00:11:31.32\00:11:33.15
And the idea of being apprentice
00:11:33.19\00:11:34.69
never developed but
we became good friends.
00:11:34.72\00:11:37.33
And he gave me some wonderful
advice that day we visited.
00:11:37.36\00:11:40.56
But the next day when I
came back to the academy,
00:11:40.60\00:11:43.16
I was sitting on campus outdoors
00:11:43.20\00:11:45.53
with the friend of mine
00:11:45.57\00:11:46.90
telling him about my experience,
00:11:46.94\00:11:48.44
and I found myself with this
00:11:48.47\00:11:51.31
overwhelming feeling of
God's spirit surrounding me.
00:11:51.34\00:11:53.68
Amen.
00:11:53.71\00:11:55.04
It was an incredible feeling
00:11:55.08\00:11:56.41
and I found
myself telling my friend,
00:11:56.44\00:11:59.11
I don't know what it
is about my experience
00:11:59.15\00:12:01.25
of meeting the
Andersons but I have the feeling
00:12:01.28\00:12:04.05
it has something
to do with my future.
00:12:04.09\00:12:05.95
And in many ways as time
would tell it definitely did.
00:12:05.99\00:12:11.29
So did you launch immediately,
00:12:11.33\00:12:14.03
I mean, how does
one begin in art career,
00:12:14.06\00:12:17.30
because some of these
paintings take quite a while
00:12:17.33\00:12:22.10
through the research and
just the actual mechanics
00:12:22.14\00:12:25.57
of putting a picture together.
00:12:25.61\00:12:27.58
Were you commissioned early on
00:12:27.61\00:12:30.28
or how did you actually
get started down the road
00:12:30.31\00:12:32.65
know that, not only
could you bring God glory
00:12:32.68\00:12:35.22
but you could feed...
00:12:35.25\00:12:36.72
You feed yourself. Yeah.
00:12:36.75\00:12:38.39
Well, yeah, and the
whole thought of well,
00:12:38.42\00:12:40.62
I need to feed myself,
I want to have a family
00:12:40.66\00:12:42.62
and I need to make a
living and, you know,
00:12:42.66\00:12:45.26
everybody knows
that being an artist
00:12:45.29\00:12:46.63
is not an easy path
financially necessarily.
00:12:46.66\00:12:49.93
So I actually was a
pre med student in college
00:12:49.96\00:12:52.20
thinking maybe I'll be a
doctor or a medical illustrator,
00:12:52.23\00:12:54.84
but I went to
the American Academy
00:12:54.87\00:12:56.27
of Art in Chicago,
00:12:56.30\00:12:57.84
just visited
there on a lot kind of.
00:12:57.87\00:13:00.21
And discover this,
this wonderful school
00:13:00.24\00:13:03.35
is still taught
traditional skills.
00:13:03.38\00:13:05.41
And when I met there with
president of American Academy,
00:13:05.45\00:13:07.88
we were going
through my portfolio,
00:13:07.92\00:13:09.25
I looked up on the
wall behind his desk,
00:13:09.28\00:13:10.85
and there is an
illustration by Harry Anderson.
00:13:10.89\00:13:14.09
And to me it was almost
like God was telling me,
00:13:14.12\00:13:17.03
yeah, this is where I
wanted to be, you know,
00:13:17.06\00:13:19.03
and we ended up
discussing Harry,
00:13:19.06\00:13:21.00
and the path he chose to
become a Christian artist.
00:13:21.03\00:13:25.10
And again I realize I
was telling the president
00:13:25.13\00:13:27.70
of the academy, I think I
might take a similar path.
00:13:27.74\00:13:30.77
And so, so I studied
there for couple of years.
00:13:30.81\00:13:33.51
I started as an
illustrator in Chicago,
00:13:33.54\00:13:35.98
carrying my portfolio around.
00:13:36.01\00:13:37.65
I actually went
freelance right from the start,
00:13:37.68\00:13:41.02
because some of my
friends who worked in studios
00:13:41.05\00:13:43.32
in Chicago burned out very fast.
00:13:43.35\00:13:46.45
They don't treat them
very well in the beginning.
00:13:46.49\00:13:48.92
So for the first
maybe eight to ten years,
00:13:48.96\00:13:51.99
I did a lot of book
and magazine illustrations
00:13:52.03\00:13:54.56
for many published series
00:13:54.60\00:13:55.96
that people would
probably recognize, you know,
00:13:56.00\00:13:58.90
World Book Encyclopedia,
00:13:58.93\00:14:00.94
Billy Graham Christianity Today,
00:14:00.97\00:14:02.64
Tyndale House, Focus
on the Family, you know,
00:14:02.67\00:14:06.68
I went out to the east coast
00:14:06.71\00:14:08.44
and work for NASA
and National Wildlife,
00:14:08.48\00:14:10.68
Ranger Rick magazine
was one of my favorite.
00:14:10.71\00:14:12.15
Yes, yes.
00:14:12.18\00:14:13.52
And so that's
really how I got started
00:14:13.55\00:14:15.22
as an illustrator where I knew
00:14:15.25\00:14:17.25
I was going to get a paycheck.
00:14:17.29\00:14:19.25
But there did come a
time where I realized
00:14:19.29\00:14:21.72
I wanted to do some
more substantial paintings
00:14:21.76\00:14:24.36
that would last more
than the length of a magazine,
00:14:24.39\00:14:27.70
you know, which is here today
and in the garbage next month.
00:14:27.73\00:14:30.13
And so I was actually,
00:14:30.17\00:14:32.43
I called up my mile long prayer,
00:14:32.47\00:14:33.84
I was out running one day
which I do a lot more then,
00:14:33.87\00:14:36.81
I still run a little
bit but I'm getting old so,
00:14:36.84\00:14:40.01
but I was praying that God
would give me the opportunity
00:14:40.04\00:14:43.31
to do more
permanent larger oil paintings
00:14:43.35\00:14:46.65
'cause I felt like
I had the ability now
00:14:46.68\00:14:48.82
and just needed the opportunity
00:14:48.85\00:14:51.92
and it wasn't but
a few months later
00:14:51.95\00:14:53.62
that I got a call from
Versacare Corporation who own
00:14:53.66\00:14:56.62
several Adventist
hospitals at the time,
00:14:56.66\00:14:58.63
one in Hialeah,
one in California.
00:14:58.66\00:15:01.30
And they said, "We
called Harry Anderson
00:15:01.33\00:15:02.86
about doing two
paintings for us."
00:15:02.90\00:15:04.43
And he says, "Well, I'm retired,
00:15:04.47\00:15:06.23
but here is Nathan
Greene's phone number,
00:15:06.27\00:15:07.94
call him he'll
do the job for you."
00:15:07.97\00:15:10.34
And those two paintings
00:15:10.37\00:15:11.71
were Chief of the Medical Staff,
00:15:11.74\00:15:13.61
a painting of Christ
guiding the surgeon's hand.
00:15:13.64\00:15:15.74
And other painting
called the Family of God
00:15:15.78\00:15:17.68
which just shows
Christ holding the little girl
00:15:17.71\00:15:19.58
and He's surrounded by
people from all over the world.
00:15:19.61\00:15:22.02
And once those paintings
were published in a magazine,
00:15:22.05\00:15:26.29
my career
changed almost overnight,
00:15:26.32\00:15:29.09
then I started getting
request from, you know,
00:15:29.12\00:15:31.56
big institutions,
hospitals, and universities
00:15:31.59\00:15:35.16
to do large paintings.
00:15:35.20\00:15:37.37
And so that's pretty
much what I've done since.
00:15:37.40\00:15:39.13
I still do a few book covers
00:15:39.17\00:15:41.20
and rarely
magazine illustrations,
00:15:41.24\00:15:44.97
but mostly large
traditional oil paintings.
00:15:45.01\00:15:47.98
And your paintings are I know
00:15:48.01\00:15:49.64
at the General Conference
00:15:49.68\00:15:51.01
of the Seventh-day
Adventist church and hospital.
00:15:51.05\00:15:53.85
You also have, I've got
one of a print of course,
00:15:53.88\00:15:58.05
I've got the one
of Mary at His feet.
00:15:58.09\00:16:01.09
Yeah, at Jesus' feet.
00:16:01.12\00:16:02.52
Yes, and I just
love that picture.
00:16:02.56\00:16:05.09
When people walk into our house
00:16:05.13\00:16:06.83
is one of the first
things people comment on.
00:16:06.86\00:16:08.80
Yeah.
00:16:08.83\00:16:10.17
So you were already
married before you launched out.
00:16:10.20\00:16:15.27
How did your wife
feel about you switching,
00:16:15.30\00:16:19.11
of course, if you're doing
freelance I guess she felt that
00:16:19.14\00:16:22.54
you were wise enough to know
or that if it's not going well,
00:16:22.58\00:16:26.08
you can go back to that.
00:16:26.11\00:16:27.45
But was your wife supportive
of your career choice?
00:16:27.48\00:16:30.72
Actually she supported me.
00:16:30.75\00:16:33.82
My wife is a
dietician, registered dietitian
00:16:33.86\00:16:36.62
and we got married,
00:16:36.66\00:16:37.99
she had one more
year of schooling
00:16:38.03\00:16:39.39
for that at Andrews University.
00:16:39.43\00:16:42.43
And then we moved to Chicago,
00:16:42.46\00:16:43.90
it was a good
place to start my career.
00:16:43.93\00:16:45.57
She was a dietitian
for Hinsdale Hospital.
00:16:45.60\00:16:47.10
Yes.
00:16:47.14\00:16:48.47
And so when I have
young art students,
00:16:48.50\00:16:50.74
they ask me, how
did you get started?
00:16:50.77\00:16:52.54
One of the first
things I tell them,
00:16:52.57\00:16:54.51
marry a spouse that's
gonna support you for few years
00:16:54.54\00:16:57.71
'cause that helps a lot.
00:16:57.75\00:17:00.02
You know, I've never
really lacked for work,
00:17:00.05\00:17:02.48
I think it was only
one, two week period
00:17:02.52\00:17:04.19
where I didn't have any work
to do and that was early on.
00:17:04.22\00:17:07.16
But financially
it's not an easy path
00:17:07.19\00:17:09.49
and it takes a long, long times
to turn that square snowball
00:17:09.52\00:17:12.96
into a round snowball, you know.
00:17:12.99\00:17:14.90
And I would imagine doesn't
it take, you know I wanted...
00:17:14.93\00:17:18.47
There are so many
questions in my mind
00:17:18.50\00:17:19.83
that I want to ask
you about your inspiration
00:17:19.87\00:17:22.44
for all these
different projects and things,
00:17:22.47\00:17:24.01
but when you're first beginning,
00:17:24.04\00:17:26.74
did you know if you are creating
00:17:26.78\00:17:29.34
a large picture by commission,
00:17:29.38\00:17:31.65
did you have any
idea how many hours
00:17:31.68\00:17:33.92
would actually be in that
to know how to price even?
00:17:33.95\00:17:39.35
Yeah, in the
beginning like those first two
00:17:39.39\00:17:41.52
from that were passed
on from Harry Anderson,
00:17:41.56\00:17:44.79
I didn't really
know how to price them
00:17:44.83\00:17:46.33
and prices sometimes
are based on precedent set
00:17:46.36\00:17:49.76
before so I just guessed
how much time I would need
00:17:49.80\00:17:53.10
and how much
money would be required,
00:17:53.13\00:17:55.10
but it's ever been
easy, I always underestimate
00:17:55.14\00:17:57.74
how long some
thing is going to take.
00:17:57.77\00:17:59.77
I have a friend, a
good friend Lars Justinen
00:17:59.81\00:18:02.14
who is another
Adventist illustrator
00:18:02.18\00:18:04.18
who you've
probably had here before.
00:18:04.21\00:18:06.21
And he and I laugh about this
00:18:06.25\00:18:08.95
because he has told me
that he never likes to spend
00:18:08.98\00:18:11.45
more than maybe four,
five days on a piece of art,
00:18:11.49\00:18:14.32
because they were driving crazy.
00:18:14.36\00:18:15.99
Somehow I tend to gravitate
00:18:16.02\00:18:17.66
towards these
long complex scenes.
00:18:17.69\00:18:21.30
And it does get tedious
00:18:21.33\00:18:23.20
but I like it, I
like the research,
00:18:23.23\00:18:25.47
I like to have something
that's it's really gonna be
00:18:25.50\00:18:28.50
long lasting and complex,
and really draw the viewer in.
00:18:28.54\00:18:32.07
Okay, so talk about research
00:18:32.11\00:18:33.74
because this is
something people don't realize
00:18:33.78\00:18:36.24
that each project you
have to do a lot of research
00:18:36.28\00:18:40.15
if you're going to make
this look very realistic.
00:18:40.18\00:18:42.28
Yes, I should say I
don't have to but I want to
00:18:42.32\00:18:45.22
because I believe
people will recognize
00:18:45.25\00:18:49.09
if things were not authentic
and not real and believable.
00:18:49.12\00:18:52.59
And so like for the
painting behind us here,
00:18:52.63\00:18:55.46
this is a painting called
"The New Birth of Freedom."
00:18:55.50\00:18:57.83
It represents Abraham
Lincoln entering Richmond
00:18:57.87\00:19:00.74
just maybe 36 hours
00:19:00.77\00:19:02.27
after the
confederate government fled,
00:19:02.30\00:19:04.37
and Robert E. Lee's army fled.
00:19:04.41\00:19:07.28
The town was still on fire,
00:19:07.31\00:19:08.94
it was very
dramatic moment really.
00:19:08.98\00:19:11.58
And what was really
special about this moment
00:19:11.61\00:19:14.32
was that there were
group of nearly freed slaves
00:19:14.35\00:19:17.99
working down by the James River
00:19:18.02\00:19:19.55
when they
recognized Abraham Lincoln,
00:19:19.59\00:19:21.46
they started flocking
around and within minutes
00:19:21.49\00:19:24.06
there were hundreds
and then thousands of them
00:19:24.09\00:19:25.83
celebrating and thanking him
for his role in their freedom.
00:19:25.86\00:19:30.00
But I knew that
there would be historians
00:19:30.03\00:19:32.73
who would look at
this, and if it's not real
00:19:32.77\00:19:35.34
and believable
and well researched,
00:19:35.37\00:19:37.91
it could just be a
figment of my imagination,
00:19:37.94\00:19:40.18
I didn't want that, I
wanted to be authentic.
00:19:40.21\00:19:41.98
So I went to
Richmond, I did research,
00:19:42.01\00:19:44.15
I interviewed a lot of
people, I even, you know,
00:19:44.18\00:19:46.72
looked at the church
steeples that are still there,
00:19:46.75\00:19:49.35
that you know,
what color are they?
00:19:49.38\00:19:51.49
And then I have
people that I consult with,
00:19:51.52\00:19:54.32
you know, people
in the movie industry,
00:19:54.36\00:19:56.02
people that are reenactors
00:19:56.06\00:19:57.79
that know what is
authentic and historians.
00:19:57.83\00:20:00.70
So I actually had costumes made
00:20:00.86\00:20:02.63
to fit the
different navel officers.
00:20:02.66\00:20:05.10
I bought a Sharps
and Hankins navy carbine
00:20:05.13\00:20:08.40
with leather covered barrels
then you know, let's say,
00:20:08.44\00:20:10.67
they were issued on the
admiral porter's flagship,
00:20:10.71\00:20:14.31
hence I had to buy an original
00:20:14.34\00:20:15.94
because there were
no reproductions of it,
00:20:15.98\00:20:17.45
you know.
00:20:17.48\00:20:18.81
And so I went all
out to make it authentic.
00:20:18.85\00:20:22.42
I don't want a
historian looking at my painting
00:20:22.45\00:20:24.45
and saying, this guy
didn't know what he was doing,
00:20:24.49\00:20:26.15
I don't want them to...
00:20:26.19\00:20:27.56
I think that's very special
because I think most people
00:20:27.59\00:20:29.52
think that artist just sit
down and start and some do...
00:20:29.56\00:20:32.46
From their imagination.
00:20:32.49\00:20:33.83
Yeah. Yeah.
00:20:33.86\00:20:35.20
You know, if you're
Picasso nobody ever would
00:20:35.23\00:20:36.56
what you've said, what
you're trying to say, all right.
00:20:36.60\00:20:38.00
Depends on the genre of
art but there is certainly
00:20:38.03\00:20:39.87
is that type of art
where you don't have to do
00:20:39.90\00:20:42.70
the research
but what I've become
00:20:42.74\00:20:44.97
known for requires a great
deal of realism and research.
00:20:45.01\00:20:48.94
And I think that's why
your works are so popular
00:20:48.98\00:20:51.18
it's because
they speak to people
00:20:51.21\00:20:52.58
and there is that
authenticity in them.
00:20:52.61\00:20:56.08
Now for a picture like
this, what is this, 8 feet by...
00:20:56.12\00:21:01.12
This is a reproduction.
00:21:01.16\00:21:02.49
It's almost as
large as original.
00:21:02.52\00:21:03.93
The original was
about 8 or 8.5 feet long.
00:21:03.96\00:21:07.03
This is a little
bit, maybe a foot
00:21:07.06\00:21:08.40
or foot and a half shorter.
00:21:08.43\00:21:09.76
Okay. Yep, you
were going to ask?
00:21:09.80\00:21:11.57
I was just going
to ask for something
00:21:11.60\00:21:13.47
like this about
how long did it take
00:21:13.50\00:21:17.54
to do this marvelous painting?
00:21:17.57\00:21:19.41
Because of the, all
the research involved,
00:21:19.44\00:21:21.34
it took more than year.
00:21:21.38\00:21:23.08
The actual painting time
was approximately nine months,
00:21:23.11\00:21:25.81
but the research and
photography of models,
00:21:25.85\00:21:28.68
all the models are photographed
individually in my studio.
00:21:28.72\00:21:31.95
And just finding
models takes time, you know.
00:21:31.99\00:21:34.72
And I...
00:21:34.76\00:21:36.32
It's kind of like
typecasting a movie set
00:21:36.36\00:21:38.19
where you're
looking for characters
00:21:38.23\00:21:39.83
that fit a certain, you know,
00:21:39.86\00:21:41.56
image of my mind of
how they should look.
00:21:41.60\00:21:44.27
For one thing they, everybody
was pretty lean at the time,
00:21:44.30\00:21:47.10
this is near the
end of the war 1865,
00:21:47.14\00:21:49.67
there were food
shortages in the south,
00:21:49.70\00:21:51.67
so I had to find
people that looked lean enough
00:21:51.71\00:21:55.38
to be appropriate for the time.
00:21:55.41\00:21:57.15
That's interesting.
00:21:57.18\00:21:58.51
Was this painting
commissioned or...
00:21:58.55\00:22:00.82
It was commissioned by
a good friend Brad Colson
00:22:00.85\00:22:03.69
from Washington State.
00:22:03.72\00:22:05.22
He has also commissioned
00:22:05.25\00:22:06.59
several other
American history pieces.
00:22:06.62\00:22:08.52
Okay.
00:22:08.56\00:22:09.96
And you might wonder why
and I'm known as an artist
00:22:09.99\00:22:13.09
who does portraits
of Jesus primarily.
00:22:13.13\00:22:15.63
Absolutely.
00:22:15.66\00:22:17.00
And why would I launch
off into American history.
00:22:17.03\00:22:20.30
And there is
multiple reasons just happens
00:22:20.34\00:22:23.24
that for years as I work,
00:22:23.27\00:22:24.77
I listen to books on tape or CD,
00:22:24.81\00:22:27.88
and most of those
books are history,
00:22:27.91\00:22:29.81
'cause I've always
loved to study history.
00:22:29.84\00:22:32.31
And some are biographies,
00:22:32.35\00:22:33.82
I've been going
through biographies
00:22:33.85\00:22:35.18
of various presidents
for last several years.
00:22:35.22\00:22:38.29
But I wanted to do, I
really think it's important
00:22:38.32\00:22:40.62
to feature people
in art nation's history
00:22:40.66\00:22:44.83
who demonstrated the character
of Christ and their actions,
00:22:44.86\00:22:47.93
and how they dealt
with that situation
00:22:47.96\00:22:49.63
through rough times
that they went through.
00:22:49.66\00:22:51.57
Abraham Lincoln, I think
is a special example of that.
00:22:51.60\00:22:55.37
He was human like we all are,
00:22:55.40\00:22:57.71
but I think he
truly was a great man.
00:22:57.74\00:23:00.31
And I think that
as the war went on,
00:23:00.34\00:23:02.88
he became more and
more deeply spiritual
00:23:02.91\00:23:06.65
and realize
00:23:06.68\00:23:08.02
that until they fully
address the issue of slavery,
00:23:08.05\00:23:11.32
they would not have the victory
and the war would not be over.
00:23:11.35\00:23:14.66
And he also realize
00:23:14.69\00:23:16.09
as he put it the
hand of providence
00:23:16.12\00:23:18.49
in the events of the day.
00:23:18.53\00:23:20.30
And I think it's
important to have a president
00:23:20.33\00:23:22.56
that recognizes those issues.
00:23:22.60\00:23:24.27
Absolutely.
00:23:24.30\00:23:25.67
And so, some people
would like to tear it down,
00:23:25.70\00:23:29.04
you know, American heroes
00:23:29.07\00:23:30.71
and make them just as,
00:23:30.74\00:23:33.14
you know, bad as
all, everyone else,
00:23:33.17\00:23:35.24
and I think it's important
one that is a good example
00:23:35.28\00:23:38.38
to hold them up
as a good example,
00:23:38.41\00:23:40.32
and to set them up as a
goal that we should all strive
00:23:40.35\00:23:44.09
for that kind of
character and integrity.
00:23:44.12\00:23:46.45
Absolutely.
00:23:46.49\00:23:47.82
Well, let's go,
00:23:47.86\00:23:49.19
our time is
almost half way gone.
00:23:49.22\00:23:51.36
I can't believe this.
00:23:51.39\00:23:53.13
I'd like to go
through some of the paintings
00:23:53.16\00:23:56.46
and we'll talk about,
00:23:56.50\00:23:57.83
you have a
couple of new ones here
00:23:57.87\00:23:59.20
or several new ones.
00:23:59.23\00:24:00.64
But I think what
was the first painting,
00:24:00.67\00:24:04.11
first of all, the very first
00:24:04.14\00:24:06.37
were the ones for the
medical out for Loma Linda.
00:24:06.41\00:24:09.94
But what was the
first picture then
00:24:09.98\00:24:12.25
that you become famous for?
00:24:12.28\00:24:16.32
When did that happen
and how did it happen?
00:24:16.35\00:24:19.29
Well, I think of the
Chief of the Medical Staff
00:24:19.32\00:24:21.92
one of Christ
guiding the surgeon's hand
00:24:21.96\00:24:24.56
had to be that
00:24:24.59\00:24:25.93
and probably still is the
one that's been most published
00:24:25.96\00:24:28.33
and I get most feedback from.
00:24:28.36\00:24:30.70
It was originally done
just to encourage surgeons
00:24:30.73\00:24:32.93
in a surgeon's
lounge at Hialeah Hospital
00:24:32.97\00:24:35.24
to remember
Christ by their side,
00:24:35.27\00:24:37.31
but it very
rapidly became something
00:24:37.34\00:24:39.71
that patients were
really encouraged by.
00:24:39.74\00:24:43.24
For a number of years,
00:24:43.28\00:24:44.61
Florida Hospital was giving
a postcard of that painting
00:24:44.65\00:24:47.28
to each of their
surgical patients
00:24:47.32\00:24:49.32
as the went into surgery
00:24:49.35\00:24:50.69
and many wonderful
stories have come from that
00:24:50.72\00:24:53.59
'cause they're comforting
to them just to see that,
00:24:53.62\00:24:56.83
so I think like
I mentioned early
00:24:56.86\00:24:58.73
once that was published
00:24:58.76\00:25:00.10
that led to many
other opportunities.
00:25:00.13\00:25:03.16
And occasionally
00:25:03.20\00:25:04.67
the opportunity to
just create paintings
00:25:04.70\00:25:06.27
that I wanted to create,
00:25:06.30\00:25:08.20
so I told the publisher once,
00:25:08.24\00:25:09.60
you know, my
father-in-law is a sheep farmer
00:25:09.64\00:25:12.01
and he raises black...
00:25:12.04\00:25:13.61
Well, Suffolk sheep
that are little beautiful
00:25:13.64\00:25:15.94
cute little black
lambs when they're born.
00:25:15.98\00:25:18.51
And I always see
paintings of sheep or shepherd,
00:25:18.55\00:25:20.85
Christ as a
shepherd with a white lamb
00:25:20.88\00:25:22.75
which is wonderful and
it has symbolism of its own.
00:25:22.78\00:25:25.99
But the symbolism
of the black sheep,
00:25:26.02\00:25:27.89
why don't we do
some paintings like that?
00:25:27.92\00:25:29.76
So my publisher
said well, let's do it,
00:25:29.79\00:25:31.59
we'll finance them.
00:25:31.63\00:25:32.96
And that led to a
series the Lamb of God.
00:25:32.99\00:25:35.46
Yeah, I've noticed on your set,
00:25:35.50\00:25:37.23
the Lamb of God has been
here for a number of years.
00:25:37.27\00:25:39.90
Absolutely, I love this picture.
00:25:39.93\00:25:41.37
It's probably our
most popular print,
00:25:41.40\00:25:44.11
because I think a lot
of people are reminded
00:25:44.14\00:25:47.01
of Christ love for everyone,
00:25:47.04\00:25:49.01
even though instead feel
like they don't deserve it,
00:25:49.04\00:25:51.68
you know, like
they've left and they've...
00:25:51.71\00:25:53.08
And I think that
there is more people
00:25:53.11\00:25:54.65
who identify
with the black sheep
00:25:54.68\00:25:56.35
than being with the white sheep.
00:25:56.38\00:25:57.82
Yeah, I think so, I'm
sure. That's very beautiful.
00:25:57.85\00:26:00.26
I think the Lamb of God is
one of my favorite pictures.
00:26:00.29\00:26:04.03
I could say that probably
00:26:04.06\00:26:05.46
we'll have
everything you've done
00:26:05.49\00:26:06.83
but I always thought
that you only worked in oils
00:26:06.86\00:26:12.17
and you've actually done
a number of water colors.
00:26:12.20\00:26:16.57
You said you prefer water color,
00:26:16.60\00:26:18.37
why? I do.
00:26:18.41\00:26:19.74
When I left art school,
00:26:19.77\00:26:21.11
I think that's the medium that
I felt the most in control of
00:26:21.14\00:26:24.81
because that's the one
I used most in art school.
00:26:24.85\00:26:27.32
And so when I get...
You saw him forgiving?
00:26:27.35\00:26:29.78
Yeah, it's very unpredictable
00:26:29.82\00:26:32.32
and I compare it to painting
by the seat-of-the-pants,
00:26:32.35\00:26:35.26
you don't know if
you could have a disaster
00:26:35.29\00:26:37.36
that would ruin the painting.
00:26:37.39\00:26:38.83
But it makes a kind
of fun to, you know,
00:26:38.86\00:26:41.70
but there is also what
we call happy accidents,
00:26:41.73\00:26:43.90
sometimes things happen
water color with, you know,
00:26:43.93\00:26:46.17
pigment and water
pulling and mixing and stuff
00:26:46.20\00:26:48.54
that can be really
beautiful when they work well.
00:26:48.57\00:26:51.41
So, and I think it's
just fun and it's faster,
00:26:51.44\00:26:53.98
it's a pretty quick technique.
00:26:54.01\00:26:56.04
I can do a water
color painting in a week
00:26:56.08\00:26:57.68
or an oil painting
might take me three months.
00:26:57.71\00:26:59.58
You know. Okay.
00:26:59.61\00:27:00.95
So that's another
advantage, it's just fun.
00:27:00.98\00:27:03.15
One of the reason
I brought that up is
00:27:03.18\00:27:04.55
because you've got a number...
00:27:04.59\00:27:06.05
Now, the Lamb of God's
such a beautiful, picture
00:27:06.09\00:27:08.86
but you also have
one called the Rescue
00:27:08.89\00:27:10.83
that is a water color.
00:27:10.86\00:27:12.19
Yes.
00:27:12.23\00:27:13.56
And you brought
picture of that today.
00:27:13.60\00:27:14.93
Where do you get your
inspiration for these?
00:27:14.96\00:27:18.57
Well, the lamb
series as I mentioned
00:27:18.60\00:27:21.34
from my
father-in-law's sheep farm
00:27:21.37\00:27:23.44
started that series
and once the Lamb of God
00:27:23.47\00:27:25.51
was published and
seemed very popular,
00:27:25.54\00:27:27.48
we went on and
did another series.
00:27:27.51\00:27:30.61
But the inspiration,
00:27:30.65\00:27:31.98
I mean there is
many ways to answer that
00:27:32.01\00:27:33.35
but the primary one is
through reading scripture.
00:27:33.38\00:27:35.02
Amen.
00:27:35.05\00:27:36.38
And when I go through
the gospels especially,
00:27:36.42\00:27:38.19
and I read some of the
parables that Christ told.
00:27:38.22\00:27:41.42
As an artist and I
think everybody does this,
00:27:41.46\00:27:43.43
we picture scenes
in our mind as we read.
00:27:43.46\00:27:46.59
And I think it's just a way
00:27:46.63\00:27:47.96
we operate our
hands work that way.
00:27:48.00\00:27:50.00
I like to think about how
would I portrait that scene
00:27:50.03\00:27:52.97
that I'm imagining.
00:27:53.00\00:27:54.34
Sometimes I imagine
it from different angles
00:27:54.37\00:27:56.14
and then I have to choose
which would be the best scene.
00:27:56.17\00:27:58.97
So do you do a lot of
praying when you're doing,
00:27:59.01\00:28:01.94
when you've been
commissioned to do a work?
00:28:01.98\00:28:03.45
I do, I mean,
00:28:03.48\00:28:04.81
I always start a
painting that way for one thing,
00:28:04.85\00:28:07.08
but the greatest
amount of praying occurs
00:28:07.12\00:28:10.55
when I'm struggling.
00:28:10.59\00:28:11.92
Sure.
00:28:11.95\00:28:13.29
Which is human nature again too,
00:28:13.32\00:28:14.66
but there have been times
when I've painted especially
00:28:14.69\00:28:17.49
when it comes to
painting the face of Christ,
00:28:17.53\00:28:19.73
because most other
aspects of the painting
00:28:19.76\00:28:22.26
I don't struggle with, but
painting the face of Christ
00:28:22.30\00:28:25.37
is really the focal
point of every painting.
00:28:25.40\00:28:27.80
And if that's not right,
then the whole painting can...
00:28:27.84\00:28:30.74
But also you're
trying to represent
00:28:30.77\00:28:32.37
not just a human model,
you're trying to represent
00:28:32.41\00:28:36.24
a loving, compassionate, caring,
00:28:36.28\00:28:39.81
divine being not
just a human, so.
00:28:39.85\00:28:42.18
Well, Nathan, God
has gifted you in that
00:28:42.22\00:28:44.15
because every
picture, that every painting
00:28:44.19\00:28:47.56
that you've done with
Christ and we hear it every time
00:28:47.59\00:28:51.53
where somewhere your
works are on display or
00:28:51.56\00:28:53.93
when people come into our
home and see the panting itself.
00:28:53.96\00:28:57.93
People are always just,
00:28:57.97\00:28:59.83
it's like they say
you're so drawn to him.
00:28:59.87\00:29:02.90
You know, you're drawn to Christ
00:29:02.94\00:29:04.61
because you get, there is love,
00:29:04.64\00:29:07.84
there is an
expression of love in his face.
00:29:07.88\00:29:12.21
And a lot of women want
to know who the model is too,
00:29:12.25\00:29:16.42
so he's a good looking Jesus.
00:29:16.45\00:29:18.82
Now let's go
through a few of the others,
00:29:20.02\00:29:23.32
because I don't
want to run out of time,
00:29:23.36\00:29:24.96
I want to get to your new ones.
00:29:24.99\00:29:26.70
But Jesus Light of the World
00:29:26.73\00:29:28.33
is also something that
has been a very famous.
00:29:28.36\00:29:31.53
And I'm sure our
viewers have seen
00:29:31.57\00:29:33.34
this picture in
many, many places.
00:29:33.37\00:29:37.31
This one, did
you do this together
00:29:37.34\00:29:39.51
with the Ever
Interceding as the series?
00:29:39.54\00:29:41.54
Yeah, those two well,
I've had a desire as well.
00:29:41.58\00:29:45.21
I mentioned Lars
Justinen and I think he also has
00:29:45.25\00:29:47.12
this desire to create new art
for evangelism for the church.
00:29:47.15\00:29:50.42
Yes.
00:29:50.45\00:29:51.79
And because so
much of it's dated from
00:29:51.82\00:29:53.36
you know, 30, 40, 50, years ago.
00:29:53.39\00:29:55.69
So these two were done together,
00:29:55.72\00:29:57.73
there are an oil wash
mixed media technique.
00:29:57.76\00:30:01.30
And I wanted to like the
one Who Lighted the World,
00:30:01.33\00:30:04.47
that started out with
an idea of just showing
00:30:04.50\00:30:06.67
Christ with a lamp,
00:30:06.70\00:30:08.27
like Herodian
lamp with one flame,
00:30:08.30\00:30:10.57
and I pose the model for that
00:30:10.61\00:30:12.07
but it just wasn't
dramatic enough so...
00:30:12.11\00:30:14.34
Let's bring that
if I get to group to
00:30:14.38\00:30:17.11
in the control room to
bring that picture back up
00:30:17.15\00:30:19.25
one more time Who
Lighted the World.
00:30:19.28\00:30:20.88
So instead of that
my, Danny Houghton,
00:30:20.92\00:30:24.02
the son of my
agent Dan Houghton,
00:30:24.05\00:30:26.35
he suggested why not
have just intense bright light
00:30:26.39\00:30:29.56
coming from his hand.
00:30:29.59\00:30:30.93
Yes.
00:30:30.96\00:30:32.29
And so I did that, I
was actually to be honest
00:30:32.33\00:30:33.66
I was little concern
that some people might think
00:30:33.70\00:30:35.03
that looks too supernatural
or too new agey or something.
00:30:35.06\00:30:38.17
And Mark Finley
hearing that concern he said,
00:30:38.20\00:30:40.40
no there is a verse in Habakkuk
that describes that very thing,
00:30:40.44\00:30:43.51
light rays
coming from his hands.
00:30:43.54\00:30:45.04
Yes.
00:30:45.07\00:30:46.41
And so now that's the scripture
00:30:46.44\00:30:47.81
we have on the
back of the repose card
00:30:47.84\00:30:49.38
of that picture.
00:30:49.41\00:30:50.75
Wonderful.
00:30:50.78\00:30:52.11
And the one Ever Interceding
00:30:52.15\00:30:53.62
actually was
inspired by my agent
00:30:53.65\00:30:55.62
taking trip to Brazil.
00:30:55.65\00:30:57.49
And he saw a
little black and white
00:30:57.52\00:30:59.02
drawing for a Bible study
that somebody has done it,
00:30:59.05\00:31:01.09
it was a very
amateur strong hesat
00:31:01.12\00:31:02.59
but the idea of
showing Christ prostrate,
00:31:02.62\00:31:05.19
praying over the
earth, that scene he saw had
00:31:05.23\00:31:07.73
the three crosses
behind, but he said
00:31:07.76\00:31:09.43
if you could do
something like that
00:31:09.46\00:31:10.83
in more sophisticated version,
00:31:10.87\00:31:12.93
that would be wonderful,
00:31:12.97\00:31:14.30
and that led to
ever interceding.
00:31:14.34\00:31:15.77
Well, that's beautiful.
00:31:15.80\00:31:17.14
Now Reaping the Harvest,
00:31:17.17\00:31:19.34
this is another one
of your water colors.
00:31:19.37\00:31:21.08
Yes. And this is so realistic.
00:31:21.11\00:31:27.12
You've obviously
mastered this medium
00:31:27.15\00:31:29.05
in an incredible fashion, but...
00:31:29.08\00:31:32.95
This was actually a book
cover for Russell Burrill
00:31:32.99\00:31:35.62
called Reaping the Harvest
00:31:35.66\00:31:37.43
about church growth
and church planting.
00:31:37.46\00:31:39.39
And yeah, it was a water color.
00:31:39.43\00:31:41.90
Now water colors can be
approached in many ways.
00:31:41.93\00:31:44.93
I was taught to do
it in a much looser or
00:31:44.97\00:31:46.97
more impressionistic way,
but when I left art school,
00:31:47.00\00:31:50.27
I figured the rules
were meant to be broken,
00:31:50.31\00:31:52.91
so I tend to
paint, I tend to gravitate
00:31:52.94\00:31:55.91
more towards detail,
00:31:55.94\00:31:57.55
but I have great
admiration for artists
00:31:57.58\00:32:00.25
who can paint in a more
loose painterly way as well.
00:32:00.28\00:32:02.42
I was saying and I
have great admiration
00:32:02.45\00:32:04.05
for people who
can put that detail in
00:32:04.09\00:32:05.85
because it makes it come alive.
00:32:05.89\00:32:07.76
It was actually Norman Rockwell
that I read one of his books
00:32:07.79\00:32:10.83
where he one
that he wrote himself
00:32:10.86\00:32:13.16
where he described details
being an important element
00:32:13.19\00:32:15.93
that often we leave out,
00:32:15.96\00:32:17.37
but that's a texture of
life, and so it's important.
00:32:17.40\00:32:20.97
Yes, it's beautiful.
00:32:21.00\00:32:22.34
So then another one that,
does Light over Bethlehem,
00:32:22.37\00:32:25.47
does that, they
kind of go together,
00:32:25.51\00:32:27.48
they're both water colors?
00:32:27.51\00:32:28.84
Yeah, this is not part
of the original four series
00:32:28.88\00:32:31.51
of the Black Lamb,
00:32:31.55\00:32:32.88
but I wanted to do
some Christmas scenes
00:32:32.91\00:32:35.48
and so this is a
shepherd boy holding a lamb,
00:32:35.52\00:32:38.35
and this too was a water color.
00:32:38.39\00:32:40.96
Yeah. That's beautiful.
00:32:40.99\00:32:43.09
Now the next one
that we want to show
00:32:43.12\00:32:46.19
is something that when I
saw, the first time I saw,
00:32:46.23\00:32:50.27
I just told my
husband I have to have this,
00:32:50.30\00:32:52.00
because he always
calls me his Mary that
00:32:52.03\00:32:55.30
I'm at the feet of Jesus
00:32:55.34\00:32:56.67
and this one is
called At His Feet.
00:32:56.71\00:32:58.71
Yes. Beautiful oil painting.
00:32:58.74\00:33:01.64
And it's
something that is even...
00:33:01.68\00:33:04.05
For some reason
it's more spectacular,
00:33:05.28\00:33:07.45
everything is more
spectacular once they're framed,
00:33:07.48\00:33:09.18
aren't they?
00:33:09.22\00:33:10.55
Yeah, that's
true. But it's such...
00:33:10.59\00:33:13.19
His face is so amazing.
00:33:13.22\00:33:16.06
Now do you, your models,
00:33:16.09\00:33:18.86
do they sit for you for hours or
00:33:18.89\00:33:21.50
how to you go about
00:33:21.53\00:33:22.86
when you're composing a picture?
00:33:22.90\00:33:26.07
What do you paint from?
00:33:26.10\00:33:27.64
Well, I
actually take photography
00:33:27.67\00:33:29.87
of each model individually
00:33:29.90\00:33:31.47
and I may take 100 or
more shots of each model,
00:33:31.51\00:33:34.91
you know, for each pose,
00:33:34.94\00:33:36.91
and choose the best
elements for each one.
00:33:36.95\00:33:39.68
The days of
painting on live models
00:33:39.71\00:33:41.75
for me in a way it's
very hard to get over it...
00:33:41.78\00:33:44.89
It's very hard to get
people to pose for days on end.
00:33:44.92\00:33:48.32
But one thing
the model for Jesus
00:33:48.36\00:33:50.16
is extremely expensive,
00:33:50.19\00:33:51.73
so it would be cost prohibitive.
00:33:51.76\00:33:53.76
But now I do photography
for the second coming painting
00:33:53.80\00:33:58.50
for example, I had
over 13,000 photographs
00:33:58.53\00:34:01.74
that I took of all
the various models.
00:34:01.77\00:34:04.14
And then I pick and choose
the best elements of each.
00:34:04.17\00:34:06.81
For the one of Mary and
Martha at the feet of Jesus,
00:34:06.84\00:34:11.08
that each, again each
model is posed in my studio,
00:34:11.11\00:34:14.68
but the scene is created
partially from imagination,
00:34:14.72\00:34:17.85
partly from
research of what, you know,
00:34:17.89\00:34:20.32
houses in from that
time period would be like.
00:34:20.36\00:34:22.79
I happen to live
near Andrews University
00:34:22.82\00:34:24.66
where there are archaeologists,
they're very helpful to me,
00:34:24.69\00:34:27.66
and so they allowed
me to take checkout,
00:34:28.03\00:34:30.60
borrow 2,000 year old pottery
and bring it to my studio,
00:34:30.63\00:34:34.60
to do photography of,
00:34:34.64\00:34:35.97
so that scene
actually has cups, bowls,
00:34:36.00\00:34:39.77
the big water pot are
from the time of Christ.
00:34:39.81\00:34:43.31
The dresses that Mary and Martha
00:34:43.35\00:34:45.01
are wearing are
actually Bedouin dresses
00:34:45.05\00:34:46.78
purchased in Jordan by
some of the archaeologists.
00:34:46.82\00:34:50.15
We don't know if they had that
intricate embroidery back then.
00:34:50.19\00:34:54.69
There is no evidence of
that, but I like the thought
00:34:54.72\00:34:57.43
that when Jesus came to visit
Mary and Martha and Lazarus
00:34:57.46\00:35:00.80
that the ladies were
to put on their very best.
00:35:00.83\00:35:02.63
Absolutely.
00:35:02.66\00:35:04.00
And plus it makes,
00:35:04.03\00:35:05.37
artistically it
makes a beautiful painting.
00:35:05.40\00:35:06.84
And then you can
get your detailing.
00:35:06.87\00:35:08.30
Yeah, exactly.
00:35:08.34\00:35:09.67
Now you've done a new one that
00:35:09.70\00:35:11.04
I've not yet seen but
it's, is it a water color,
00:35:11.07\00:35:13.27
Women at the Well
or it's another oil?
00:35:13.31\00:35:14.84
No, it's another oil.
00:35:14.88\00:35:16.51
This is called yeah, the
Women at the Well and this,
00:35:16.54\00:35:19.18
the dress that
the woman is wearing
00:35:19.21\00:35:21.08
is actually from Syria
00:35:21.12\00:35:22.68
brought back by one
of the archaeologist.
00:35:22.72\00:35:25.89
And again I wanted to
create a very realistic scene,
00:35:25.92\00:35:28.76
the well is from
one that actually was
00:35:28.79\00:35:30.73
from Middle East.
00:35:30.76\00:35:32.49
By the way I
haven't been there yet,
00:35:32.53\00:35:33.90
but my wife and I
were about to go in 10 days
00:35:33.93\00:35:35.73
we're gonna leave.
00:35:35.76\00:35:37.10
Oh, you're gonna love it. Yeah.
00:35:37.13\00:35:38.47
You, as an artist
you are going to...
00:35:38.50\00:35:40.64
I'm gonna tell
you, you're gonna go
00:35:40.67\00:35:42.00
through the roof
when you get there.
00:35:42.04\00:35:43.37
I can't wait.
00:35:43.41\00:35:44.74
It does seem like, you
know, the artist who paint these
00:35:44.77\00:35:47.04
scenes of Bible
lands and Bible times
00:35:47.08\00:35:49.01
should at least once in their
lives go and see it, you know.
00:35:49.04\00:35:52.01
It's a life changing experience.
00:35:52.05\00:35:54.48
Yeah. Really it is, it is.
00:35:54.52\00:35:56.65
But both paintings,
00:35:56.69\00:35:58.55
the Women at the
Well and At Jesus Feet
00:35:58.59\00:36:00.89
are kind of reflect my desire
to do a series of paintings
00:36:00.92\00:36:05.09
featuring great
women of the Bible.
00:36:05.13\00:36:07.20
And hopefully there will be time
00:36:07.23\00:36:08.83
to do that in the
next coming 10 to 20 years.
00:36:08.86\00:36:13.10
Let's pray that
Lord keeps you healthy.
00:36:13.13\00:36:16.84
How many hours a
day can you work?
00:36:16.87\00:36:19.37
I don't think people realize
00:36:19.41\00:36:20.74
how physically
demanding this is.
00:36:20.78\00:36:25.28
Yes, when I was
younger, it was much easier.
00:36:25.31\00:36:28.92
I'm aging about,
00:36:28.95\00:36:30.29
I don't have quite
the same energy levels
00:36:30.32\00:36:32.05
but I don't work
very well in the morning,
00:36:32.09\00:36:35.12
so I really get going
probably right after lunch.
00:36:35.16\00:36:39.13
I probably
average eight hours a day,
00:36:39.16\00:36:42.53
but there are some
days that I might work late
00:36:42.56\00:36:45.00
when the spirit
moves me, you know.
00:36:45.03\00:36:47.07
I might finish it at midnight
or 1 or 2 in the morning.
00:36:47.10\00:36:49.50
I'm trying not to do that
00:36:49.54\00:36:50.87
'cause I know it's
not good for my health,
00:36:50.91\00:36:52.24
so trying to cut
back on that, but...
00:36:52.27\00:36:54.44
I won't give you the sermon of
00:36:54.48\00:36:56.01
how every hour before midnight
00:36:56.04\00:36:57.38
there is worth 2
hours of sleep...
00:36:57.41\00:36:59.25
I know, I'm well aware of it.
00:36:59.28\00:37:00.98
But you know, it's hard,
sometimes it's hard to get in
00:37:01.02\00:37:04.05
where artists call the zone.
00:37:04.09\00:37:05.42
Yeah.
00:37:05.45\00:37:06.79
And when you're in
it, it's hard to leave it.
00:37:06.82\00:37:08.16
Absolutely. Yeah.
00:37:08.19\00:37:09.52
Well, I mean I do the same thing
00:37:09.56\00:37:10.89
when I'm writing so I
understand completely.
00:37:10.93\00:37:12.63
So tell us about
the one that is titled
00:37:12.66\00:37:15.96
For I was Thirsty.
00:37:16.00\00:37:17.67
Yes, For I was Thirsty is again
it's a historic painting in it,
00:37:17.70\00:37:23.74
like I mentioned earlier
my desire to show scenes from
00:37:23.77\00:37:27.24
American
history that have people
00:37:27.28\00:37:30.35
who demonstrated the character
of Christ and they're actual...
00:37:30.38\00:37:32.75
Now there is a sermon in this...
00:37:32.78\00:37:34.28
Yes. I think for certain.
00:37:34.32\00:37:35.65
This is based on a
true story that occurred
00:37:35.68\00:37:38.45
at the first
Battle of Fredericksburg.
00:37:38.49\00:37:41.26
A young 19 year old
sergeant Richard Kirkland
00:37:41.29\00:37:43.83
from South Carolina, all
night long he heard the cry
00:37:43.86\00:37:47.43
of the wounded on Marye Heights.
00:37:47.46\00:37:49.86
There was 8,000 killed
or wounded union soldiers
00:37:49.90\00:37:52.63
on that hill, none of them got
within four yards of the wall
00:37:52.67\00:37:55.70
that the
confederates were behind.
00:37:55.74\00:37:57.57
And so the next
morning he went to his
00:37:57.61\00:37:59.01
commanding officer and he said,
00:37:59.04\00:38:00.38
"Sir, I can't stand
here, these poor fellows cry,
00:38:00.41\00:38:02.31
can I take them some water?"
00:38:02.34\00:38:04.15
And he said,
"Well, you'll get a bullet
00:38:04.18\00:38:05.51
in your head if I
let you go over the wall
00:38:05.55\00:38:06.88
and we can't call it truce
00:38:06.92\00:38:08.25
would send the wrong message."
00:38:08.28\00:38:09.62
And he said, "Well, I'm
willing to take that chance."
00:38:09.65\00:38:11.49
And so he filled
this, he had permission,
00:38:11.52\00:38:13.05
he filled as many
canteens as he could hold.
00:38:13.09\00:38:15.76
And he went round and
gave water to wounded.
00:38:15.79\00:38:19.09
Wow, that just
makes my eyes tear up.
00:38:19.13\00:38:20.46
I know it's just
an incredible story
00:38:20.50\00:38:22.30
and when the union
sharp shooters realized
00:38:22.33\00:38:24.87
that he meant no
harm what he was doing,
00:38:24.90\00:38:27.27
they ceasefire.
00:38:27.30\00:38:28.64
In fact one account
read that they, they...
00:38:28.67\00:38:30.87
The whole federal
army led out to cheer,
00:38:30.91\00:38:33.88
then the whole confederate
army led out to cheer
00:38:33.91\00:38:35.64
and for an hour and half
there is this unofficial truce
00:38:35.68\00:38:38.35
while this one man
went back and forth
00:38:38.38\00:38:40.18
filling canteens
and giving water.
00:38:40.22\00:38:42.68
Kirkland was killed at
the Battle of Chickamauga
00:38:42.72\00:38:45.32
nine months later.
00:38:45.35\00:38:46.69
And just a incredible young man,
00:38:46.79\00:38:49.19
he just turned 20 at the time.
00:38:49.22\00:38:50.93
Oh, how precious. What a story.
00:38:50.96\00:38:53.93
So now take us through
some of your Lincoln pictures
00:38:53.96\00:38:57.00
'cause you've got a whole series
00:38:57.03\00:38:58.43
that you were
commissioned for this,
00:38:58.47\00:39:00.10
and I think the
first one is called
00:39:00.14\00:39:01.47
Nowhere Else To Go.
00:39:01.50\00:39:02.84
Nowhere Else To Go is,
it's one of Lincoln in prayer
00:39:02.87\00:39:08.41
and it was,
there was only one time
00:39:08.44\00:39:11.01
that I could
find where he stayed
00:39:11.05\00:39:12.58
in a military tent
for multiple nights,
00:39:12.61\00:39:14.48
it was right after
the Battle of Antietam
00:39:14.52\00:39:16.18
when he came to
visit General McClellan
00:39:16.22\00:39:18.02
and try to
encourage them to keep moving.
00:39:18.05\00:39:20.26
And I like to think about
00:39:20.29\00:39:22.52
what he might
have been thinking,
00:39:22.56\00:39:24.03
what he might have
done at the end of the day
00:39:24.06\00:39:26.43
of visiting the wounded
00:39:26.46\00:39:27.80
and seeing where
the battle took place.
00:39:27.83\00:39:29.16
I mean Lincoln
had great compassion
00:39:29.20\00:39:30.87
and I know it hurt him deeply
to realize what was going on
00:39:30.90\00:39:35.04
and all the pain and suffering.
00:39:35.07\00:39:37.61
And he was seen on
number of occasions
00:39:37.64\00:39:40.64
reading from the
small soldier's pocket Bible
00:39:40.68\00:39:43.38
by his bodyguard.
00:39:43.41\00:39:44.75
His wife said he
read the Bible every day,
00:39:44.78\00:39:47.12
every morning he
started the day with that.
00:39:47.15\00:39:49.48
And so I like the
thought, there is no record of
00:39:49.52\00:39:51.12
what he did that night.
00:39:51.15\00:39:52.59
When he came back to his tent,
00:39:52.62\00:39:53.96
the though that
he might have prayed,
00:39:53.99\00:39:56.73
that he might have read
from this little pocket Bible.
00:39:56.76\00:39:59.96
So I did two paintings of that,
that same setting one called
00:40:00.00\00:40:04.57
Nowhere Else To Go and this
one called In The Darkest Hour.
00:40:04.60\00:40:08.00
Lovely.
00:40:08.04\00:40:09.77
And then let's go
through, I want to kind of
00:40:09.80\00:40:12.01
go through the
New Birth of Freedom
00:40:12.04\00:40:15.31
rather quickly.
00:40:15.34\00:40:16.68
Sure.
00:40:16.71\00:40:18.05
So that we can get to
some of the others before
00:40:18.08\00:40:19.41
we've only got
like 10 minutes left so.
00:40:19.45\00:40:20.78
Oh, yeah.
00:40:20.82\00:40:22.15
So here the New Birth of Freedom
00:40:22.18\00:40:24.69
is the one we first
began talking about,
00:40:24.72\00:40:26.86
also one of the Lincoln series.
00:40:26.89\00:40:28.92
And it's, you
know, God has given you
00:40:28.96\00:40:33.36
a great masterate for light.
00:40:33.40\00:40:35.50
I have noticed that
and that's what makes
00:40:35.53\00:40:38.37
paintings look so realistic is
00:40:38.40\00:40:40.27
when you can capture the
light, and the shadows...
00:40:40.30\00:40:43.10
The great deal
of what artist study
00:40:43.14\00:40:44.47
is the effect of
light and shadow,
00:40:44.51\00:40:46.37
and different color,
temperatures of light.
00:40:46.41\00:40:48.84
Yes. What time of day it was.
00:40:48.88\00:40:50.75
So this is called a
New Birth of Freedom.
00:40:50.78\00:40:54.78
Now did you... When you...
00:40:54.82\00:40:56.85
I've note on my list here,
we're going to talk about crops
00:40:56.89\00:40:59.85
A.B.C.D.
00:40:59.89\00:41:01.96
What are these smaller
pictures of the same picture
00:41:01.99\00:41:06.16
or we just cropping it out?
00:41:06.19\00:41:07.66
Now these are close
ups of the same painting
00:41:07.70\00:41:09.66
showing different scenes.
00:41:09.70\00:41:12.23
It's important to know, I mean,
00:41:12.27\00:41:14.04
we don't have time to
go through all the details
00:41:14.07\00:41:15.77
but each of the
officers that attended,
00:41:15.80\00:41:18.31
by the way this
is my dog Peach Pit
00:41:18.34\00:41:20.08
who made a last minute.
00:41:20.11\00:41:21.64
I was reading an article about
00:41:21.68\00:41:23.28
Richmond at the time of the war
00:41:23.31\00:41:25.75
and some of the
stories reflected dogs
00:41:25.78\00:41:28.15
that were in town.
00:41:28.18\00:41:29.52
And I thought well,
00:41:29.55\00:41:30.89
my dog is kind of
a mix breed mutt so.
00:41:30.92\00:41:32.92
And so I put Peach Pit in there,
00:41:32.95\00:41:34.52
so she's famous now for that.
00:41:34.56\00:41:35.89
Amen.
00:41:35.92\00:41:37.26
But Lincoln traveled
often with his son Tad.
00:41:37.29\00:41:41.16
And so that little boy
beside Lincoln was Tad Lincoln.
00:41:41.20\00:41:44.27
He had 12 sailors to protect him
00:41:44.30\00:41:46.27
in an area that wasn't fully,
00:41:46.30\00:41:48.24
you know, under
union control yet.
00:41:48.27\00:41:51.17
One of the
account said that he...
00:41:51.21\00:41:53.61
If we can hold it on
this scene right here,
00:41:53.64\00:41:55.91
Admiral David Dixon Porter
00:41:55.94\00:41:57.45
is the one that led
Lincoln to Richmond.
00:41:57.48\00:41:59.51
But one account
said that he stopped
00:41:59.55\00:42:01.48
and an older black man
00:42:01.52\00:42:03.28
who was with the
group first met him
00:42:03.32\00:42:05.45
was the first one to
come up and talk to him,
00:42:05.49\00:42:07.26
and he tipped
his hat to Lincoln.
00:42:07.29\00:42:09.26
And then they said that
00:42:09.29\00:42:10.63
Lincoln stopped and
tipped his hat back,
00:42:10.66\00:42:12.79
which may not sound
like a big deal to us now
00:42:12.83\00:42:14.96
but at that time
00:42:15.00\00:42:16.56
for a white man to tip
his hat to the black man
00:42:16.60\00:42:18.73
has almost unheard of and
for the president to do it.
00:42:18.77\00:42:21.84
It said something about
00:42:21.87\00:42:23.20
Lincoln's
character and his maturing
00:42:23.24\00:42:25.54
and his understanding of
race relationships largely
00:42:25.57\00:42:28.38
because of his friendship
with Frederick Douglass.
00:42:28.41\00:42:30.88
He had this great
ability to keep growing
00:42:30.91\00:42:34.18
and
understanding of these issues.
00:42:34.22\00:42:37.09
And so, and that black
man that was tipping his hat,
00:42:37.12\00:42:40.49
he's a farmhand that I
saw often driving a tractor
00:42:40.52\00:42:43.83
where I ran through
the orchids everyday.
00:42:43.86\00:42:45.69
And finally got
enough courage to ask him
00:42:45.73\00:42:47.50
if you'd model for me.
00:42:47.53\00:42:48.86
Wonderful. I think we...
00:42:48.90\00:42:50.23
Have we gone through all
of those crops that we have?
00:42:50.27\00:42:52.03
We'll move on to
The Blessed Hope...
00:42:52.07\00:42:54.24
Okay.
00:42:54.27\00:42:55.60
Which is a picture that
we actually use a painting
00:42:55.64\00:42:57.77
that we've used on
our Calvary Project.
00:42:57.81\00:43:00.14
Yes.
00:43:00.18\00:43:01.51
And this has been
on our background,
00:43:01.54\00:43:02.88
and people love this picture.
00:43:02.91\00:43:04.25
Tell us about this one?
00:43:04.28\00:43:05.91
Well, for number of
years, I knew sooner or later
00:43:05.95\00:43:09.78
I'd be asked to do a
painting of the second coming
00:43:09.82\00:43:11.92
as an Adventist artist.
00:43:11.95\00:43:13.29
And one day I
was walking through
00:43:13.32\00:43:15.56
hotel lobby at a
ministerial conference
00:43:15.59\00:43:17.43
with Mark Finley,
and I ask him, Mark,
00:43:17.46\00:43:19.19
if there is one thing I could do
00:43:19.23\00:43:21.16
as an Adventist artist
00:43:21.56\00:43:22.90
contribute something
important to our church,
00:43:22.93\00:43:24.70
what would it be?
00:43:24.73\00:43:26.07
And without skipping a beat
00:43:26.10\00:43:27.44
he said a new
painting of the second coming,
00:43:27.47\00:43:29.40
and so it was
perhaps a year later that
00:43:29.44\00:43:33.01
the funding was
found, a private funder.
00:43:33.04\00:43:35.44
And it took me
about a year to paint.
00:43:35.48\00:43:38.48
It was done in time
00:43:38.51\00:43:39.85
for the General
Conference session in Atlanta.
00:43:39.88\00:43:42.08
But there are several
scenes in the painting
00:43:42.12\00:43:43.85
that I think are
important to point out.
00:43:43.89\00:43:46.52
When I knew I
had the opportunity
00:43:46.55\00:43:48.09
to paint a scene
of the resurrection.
00:43:48.12\00:43:51.79
I have as many of us
do friends, friendships,
00:43:51.83\00:43:55.30
people who have
lost children, you know,
00:43:55.33\00:43:58.63
that I wanted to
honor them and remind them
00:43:58.67\00:44:01.94
that death is not
a permanent thing.
00:44:01.97\00:44:04.77
Yeah, so I think we got
some crop pictures that we can,
00:44:04.81\00:44:07.38
okay so here is one
that has a great story.
00:44:07.41\00:44:09.94
This family David
and Carrie Grimond,
00:44:09.98\00:44:11.85
they were
missionaries in Sierra Leone.
00:44:11.88\00:44:13.58
And their young
daughter Christie became ill,
00:44:13.62\00:44:16.99
and so they brought her
back to Michigan for treatment.
00:44:17.02\00:44:20.92
Turns out she had neuroblastoma,
00:44:20.96\00:44:22.59
and she struggled
for little over year.
00:44:22.62\00:44:25.36
She passed away when
she was four and a half
00:44:25.39\00:44:27.30
and we knew them and
they're very dear friends
00:44:27.33\00:44:29.23
and Christie was
just this bright,
00:44:29.26\00:44:30.60
wonderful,
energetic little girl.
00:44:30.63\00:44:32.73
And I did a portrait
of her two years later
00:44:32.77\00:44:35.10
for the family
but then years later
00:44:35.14\00:44:37.11
when I was asked to
do the second coming,
00:44:37.14\00:44:38.51
I thought, what a
wonderful opportunity
00:44:38.54\00:44:40.78
to remind David and Carrie
00:44:40.81\00:44:42.84
they'll see their
little girl again,
00:44:42.88\00:44:44.28
they'll have a
chance to raise her
00:44:44.31\00:44:45.71
fully to adulthood,
and so I put them in here
00:44:45.75\00:44:49.42
and that's
Christie, David and Carrie.
00:44:49.45\00:44:51.55
And I think you have another one
00:44:51.59\00:44:53.09
on the next crop
portion of the...
00:44:53.12\00:44:55.22
We also have another
couple friends of ours
00:44:55.26\00:44:58.29
who had a miscarriage.
00:44:58.33\00:44:59.69
I think they might have
had several miscarriages.
00:44:59.73\00:45:02.16
And I know this
is a common thing,
00:45:02.20\00:45:03.77
many couples experience this.
00:45:03.80\00:45:05.17
My wife and I did,
00:45:05.20\00:45:06.53
our first pregnancy
ended in miscarriage.
00:45:06.57\00:45:09.00
And I know how
difficult it can be
00:45:09.04\00:45:11.51
because I
witnessed it firsthand.
00:45:11.54\00:45:14.18
But again I wanted
them to be reminded
00:45:14.21\00:45:16.98
that they may have a chance
to raise that child again,
00:45:17.01\00:45:19.85
I think wouldn't
that be just like
00:45:19.88\00:45:21.42
God to give
couples that opportunity.
00:45:21.45\00:45:24.09
Amen. Amen.
00:45:24.12\00:45:25.75
That's just beautiful,
00:45:25.79\00:45:27.12
so let's bring
that picture back up.
00:45:27.16\00:45:28.76
Oh, here. We've
got to talk about this.
00:45:28.79\00:45:31.23
Yes, well, when I was
posing all the models,
00:45:31.26\00:45:33.80
I was standing on
the ladder to pose them
00:45:33.83\00:45:36.00
for a higher perspective.
00:45:36.03\00:45:37.40
I asked my wife to have
some of the Korean mothers
00:45:37.43\00:45:41.10
from Andrews University
area bring some children
00:45:41.14\00:45:43.71
so she asks his mother,
she says, yes, I'll bring some,
00:45:43.74\00:45:45.21
how would you like?
00:45:45.24\00:45:46.57
How many would you
like? She said, may be six.
00:45:46.61\00:45:48.31
So when they came
there was may be six mothers
00:45:48.34\00:45:50.48
and about 24 children
and most of the children
00:45:50.51\00:45:54.05
didn't speak Korean, you know,
00:45:54.08\00:45:55.88
probably their
fathers are in the seminary,
00:45:55.92\00:45:57.42
you know, and they are
just here for few years.
00:45:57.45\00:45:59.82
They didn't speak English?
00:45:59.85\00:46:01.19
No, and some of them
did, but most of them didn't,
00:46:01.22\00:46:03.32
so I had a hard
time communicating,
00:46:03.36\00:46:04.73
it was fun and exciting,
00:46:04.76\00:46:06.16
there is also
little bit stressor
00:46:06.19\00:46:07.53
so at one point I thought,
00:46:07.56\00:46:08.90
well, let's take a break
for a few minutes, you know,
00:46:08.93\00:46:10.80
so I had them all move to side.
00:46:10.83\00:46:13.00
And this one little girl
just stayed in the middle
00:46:13.03\00:46:14.64
with the ribbon
and just was spinning,
00:46:14.67\00:46:16.20
and twirling and
looking so joyful
00:46:16.24\00:46:18.61
that I just stood on the
ladder and just with my camera,
00:46:18.64\00:46:21.04
click, click, click, click.
00:46:21.08\00:46:22.41
And she turns out to
be my favorite character
00:46:22.44\00:46:25.21
in the whole
painting, so you'll notice that
00:46:25.25\00:46:27.02
I cleared at the
space around here
00:46:27.05\00:46:28.72
so there is
nobody overlapping her.
00:46:28.75\00:46:30.49
And she looked
like pure joy and that's
00:46:30.52\00:46:32.72
what I think will
feel and experience.
00:46:32.75\00:46:34.79
So okay, we saw
the crop of her then.
00:46:34.82\00:46:37.43
Let's look at her once
again in the full picture on
00:46:37.46\00:46:41.50
The Blessed Hope
and then we'll see,
00:46:41.53\00:46:43.33
I wanted to see, I
didn't notice how you had...
00:46:43.37\00:46:45.50
Yeah, now it's hard to see
00:46:45.53\00:46:46.87
because it's
such a large painting.
00:46:46.90\00:46:48.24
She's up on the right
up high in that group.
00:46:48.27\00:46:53.31
Okay. And yes, she's.
00:46:53.34\00:46:55.38
She's there by herself.
00:46:55.41\00:46:56.75
If she'd ever like to
see the original it hangs
00:46:56.78\00:46:58.91
at the General
Conference headquarters,
00:46:58.95\00:47:00.65
it's 8 feet wide, 5.5 feet tall.
00:47:00.68\00:47:02.95
That's amazing. Then
that's an amazing thing.
00:47:02.98\00:47:05.52
So now let's talk
about the two new ones,
00:47:05.55\00:47:08.72
other new ones that you
have here in our studio,
00:47:08.76\00:47:11.99
because they are
both, I just can't take
00:47:12.03\00:47:15.06
my eyes off this
picture on the paralytic.
00:47:15.10\00:47:19.00
Yeah. Tell us about that one?
00:47:19.03\00:47:20.57
Now the paralytic of
Bethesda, this isn't quite new
00:47:20.60\00:47:23.87
but I brought it
for special reason
00:47:23.91\00:47:25.34
and I want to
mention in a moment.
00:47:25.37\00:47:27.08
I did it perhaps
seven, eight years ago
00:47:27.11\00:47:29.14
for Loma Linda Medical
Center for their rehab hospital,
00:47:29.18\00:47:31.98
I think they call it
the East Campus building.
00:47:32.01\00:47:34.75
It was a first of what I
wanted for years to do a series
00:47:34.78\00:47:39.15
on the healing
miracles of Christ.
00:47:39.19\00:47:41.66
Just recently, just
this last year, you know,
00:47:41.69\00:47:43.86
Loma Linda
Medical Center is building
00:47:43.89\00:47:45.29
an entirely new hospital.
00:47:45.33\00:47:47.20
And my dream has come true.
00:47:47.23\00:47:49.43
For 30 years I
wanted to do a series of
00:47:49.46\00:47:51.37
the 12 healing
miracles of Christ.
00:47:51.40\00:47:53.87
And they called me and
they would like me to do
00:47:53.90\00:47:55.77
those 12 paintings
for the new hospital.
00:47:55.80\00:47:57.97
So you've already got
one down, eleven to go.
00:47:58.01\00:47:59.81
Yeah.
00:47:59.84\00:48:01.18
Well, this won't be included,
there will be 12 others.
00:48:01.21\00:48:03.91
There are approximately
00:48:03.95\00:48:05.28
I believe 20
specifically mentioned.
00:48:05.31\00:48:07.98
I mean there is
implications that there were
00:48:08.02\00:48:09.78
hundreds and
thousands of miracles
00:48:09.82\00:48:11.35
but I chose 12 that
I most wanted to paint.
00:48:11.39\00:48:14.39
Some of them are little similar
and perhaps we've done it.
00:48:14.42\00:48:17.43
So it will take me almost
nine years so between that
00:48:17.46\00:48:21.80
and a new commission to
do the seven days of creation
00:48:21.83\00:48:25.97
and several more for a client
in Prague, in Czech Republic.
00:48:26.00\00:48:30.61
I have about 22 commissions,
00:48:30.64\00:48:32.27
it will take me
nine years to do.
00:48:32.31\00:48:34.18
That's amazing. So yeah.
00:48:34.21\00:48:35.54
But now I do know
that this one is real
00:48:35.58\00:48:37.55
which is laying behind me.
00:48:37.58\00:48:38.91
That is new. I try
to get out of the way.
00:48:38.95\00:48:41.25
This one is
called the Resurrection.
00:48:41.28\00:48:43.79
And every one in this
studio, it's behind me
00:48:43.82\00:48:46.92
but as we've
been getting prepared,
00:48:46.96\00:48:49.76
everyone in this studio has said
00:48:49.79\00:48:51.13
they cannot take
their eyes away from this.
00:48:51.16\00:48:54.23
It is astounding, and what,
00:48:54.26\00:48:56.30
how you were
inspired to do this one?
00:48:56.33\00:49:00.24
Well, you now, again by reading
00:49:00.27\00:49:03.20
the biblical
account of the resurrection.
00:49:03.24\00:49:07.11
I try to imagine and picture
what it might have look like,
00:49:07.14\00:49:11.91
I've never seen a
depiction of Christ
00:49:11.95\00:49:15.28
with an angel putting the cloak,
00:49:15.32\00:49:18.32
or and the tunic on Christ.
00:49:18.35\00:49:20.36
But it made perfect
sense when the disciples,
00:49:20.39\00:49:23.73
when Mary came to the tomb
and they saw two angels with
00:49:23.76\00:49:26.80
the linen that they wrap a body,
00:49:26.83\00:49:28.26
and I don't believe
Jesus walked in town
00:49:28.30\00:49:30.90
wearing nothing that, you know,
00:49:30.93\00:49:32.83
and that could be supernaturally
00:49:32.87\00:49:34.40
this tunic and robe appeared
but I like the idea that
00:49:34.44\00:49:37.84
the same angel that rolled
the stone away from the tomb
00:49:37.87\00:49:41.31
would have put the
robe on Christ, so.
00:49:41.34\00:49:44.95
That's a beautiful thought.
00:49:44.98\00:49:46.45
Thank you. Beautiful thought.
00:49:46.48\00:49:47.82
So I think it just adds drama,
00:49:47.85\00:49:49.68
you'll notice that that
angel is of taller stature.
00:49:49.72\00:49:52.85
Christ came as the
people were at the time
00:49:52.89\00:49:55.49
and probably didn't
tower over every one.
00:49:55.52\00:49:57.83
But I think of angels
as being powerful beings
00:49:57.86\00:50:01.30
and the thought that
he might have been taller
00:50:01.33\00:50:03.57
made sense to me.
00:50:03.60\00:50:04.93
He's almost hovering,
you don't see his feet there.
00:50:04.97\00:50:07.10
There are certain
things that you might notice
00:50:07.14\00:50:09.40
unless you look closely
that you don't see feet.
00:50:09.44\00:50:12.41
He's kind of there, just there.
00:50:12.44\00:50:15.21
But also it gave
me an opportunity to
00:50:15.24\00:50:17.18
indulge in
something I really enjoy.
00:50:17.21\00:50:19.01
I actually do enjoy the
research part of everything
00:50:19.05\00:50:21.85
and striving for
historical accuracy.
00:50:21.88\00:50:24.29
Well, anyone who is
prepared to go to medical school
00:50:24.32\00:50:26.96
I knew, you
would enjoy research.
00:50:26.99\00:50:29.12
Yeah, it's fun and
much my wife Chagrin,
00:50:29.16\00:50:32.33
it caused a bit sometimes
00:50:32.36\00:50:34.50
to purchase costume
and armor and helmets
00:50:34.53\00:50:36.87
but I discover that there
are Roman reenactment groups
00:50:36.90\00:50:40.80
a number in Europe,
France, Germany, England,
00:50:40.84\00:50:43.97
and there are
several in United States that
00:50:44.01\00:50:46.61
do reenactment and they're
obsessed with authenticity.
00:50:46.64\00:50:49.88
So I purchased
helmets, and plate armor,
00:50:49.91\00:50:54.45
and chain mail,
and wall clothing
00:50:54.48\00:50:57.05
and stuff that
would be very authentic
00:50:57.09\00:50:58.85
for the Romans at the time.
00:50:58.89\00:51:00.76
We'll see once again
if you could just see,
00:51:00.79\00:51:04.36
you just have to
see these in person
00:51:04.39\00:51:06.56
because the
lighting from the armor.
00:51:06.59\00:51:08.56
Yes.
00:51:08.60\00:51:09.93
The lighting from the fire,
00:51:09.96\00:51:11.30
this picture
looks alive behind us.
00:51:11.33\00:51:13.44
It really does. Thank you.
00:51:13.47\00:51:15.00
It's just incredible.
00:51:15.04\00:51:16.37
And it must be so exciting
to do what you're loving,
00:51:16.40\00:51:21.84
what you love to do
but to know that God,
00:51:21.88\00:51:25.25
just like you said
one of the physician
00:51:25.28\00:51:28.52
with the guiding hand,
what is the name of that?
00:51:28.55\00:51:30.42
A Chief of the Medical Staff.
00:51:30.45\00:51:31.79
Chief of the
Medical Staff. Yeah.
00:51:31.82\00:51:33.36
To know that the work
the Lord inspires you to do
00:51:33.39\00:51:39.13
is touching so many people's
lives in bringing comfort,
00:51:39.16\00:51:43.00
bringing hope,
how exciting is that?
00:51:43.03\00:51:46.17
Do I have time to
tell you a story about
00:51:46.20\00:51:47.94
Chief of the
Medical Staff? Sure.
00:51:47.97\00:51:49.57
Because that like
I mentioned before,
00:51:49.60\00:51:51.17
we probably get more feedback
from that than the other but,
00:51:51.21\00:51:54.68
there are several
that I particularly like
00:51:54.71\00:51:56.11
but one
especially there is a couple,
00:51:56.14\00:51:59.08
she was a Christian,
he was an non-believer.
00:51:59.11\00:52:02.58
She had prayed
for him for years.
00:52:02.62\00:52:04.32
And they were visiting
Disney world in Florida.
00:52:04.35\00:52:07.69
And he had a heart attack.
00:52:07.72\00:52:09.16
And so they rushed
him to Celebration Health
00:52:09.19\00:52:11.33
which is a Florida Hospital,
00:52:11.36\00:52:12.69
Disney collaboration
near the town of Celebration.
00:52:12.73\00:52:15.66
And as they were taking him in,
00:52:15.70\00:52:17.37
someone showed him a card
with Chief of the Medical Staff,
00:52:17.40\00:52:21.54
Christ God and
the surgeon on it.
00:52:21.57\00:52:23.20
He went in for bypass surgery,
a quadruple bypass surgery
00:52:23.24\00:52:27.61
and he survived and
in the recovery room
00:52:27.64\00:52:30.11
he asked his
wife, would you go down
00:52:30.15\00:52:31.88
to the gift shop and
get 20 of those cards.
00:52:31.91\00:52:34.22
And she brought them back
00:52:34.25\00:52:35.58
and he wrote to 20 of his
closest family and friends.
00:52:35.62\00:52:38.35
This is where I was,
this is who is with me.
00:52:38.39\00:52:40.36
Oh.
00:52:40.39\00:52:41.72
And it meant so much to
her as you can really imagine,
00:52:41.76\00:52:43.99
you know, that really,
and I'm thrilled with the idea
00:52:44.03\00:52:48.80
that especially
in hospital settings
00:52:48.83\00:52:51.17
where people may never
step foot in the church
00:52:51.20\00:52:53.20
but they're
dealing with things perhaps
00:52:53.23\00:52:55.30
that are very
serious and you realize that
00:52:55.34\00:52:57.77
we're all mortal,
we don't live forever.
00:52:57.81\00:53:00.11
And what a great
opportunity to have a painting
00:53:00.14\00:53:04.48
it's like a sermon.
00:53:04.51\00:53:05.85
It's like a sermon on the wall,
00:53:05.88\00:53:07.22
you don't have to preach a word
00:53:07.25\00:53:08.58
but there is this
picture that communicates
00:53:08.62\00:53:10.65
how deeply God
cares, and what God is like?
00:53:10.69\00:53:13.25
Well, Nathan, we want to
give people an opportunity to be
00:53:13.29\00:53:16.99
in touch with you.
00:53:17.03\00:53:18.36
If you would like to
get in contact with Nathan
00:53:18.39\00:53:21.86
or to know how you
can get his paintings,
00:53:21.90\00:53:24.67
prints of his paintings,
here is the information.
00:53:24.70\00:53:27.90
If you would like to
contact Nathan Greene
00:53:33.04\00:53:35.24
or find out how to
purchase his products,
00:53:35.28\00:53:37.65
you can call
him at 800-487-4278.
00:53:37.68\00:53:42.18
That's 800-487-4278.
00:53:42.22\00:53:46.19
You can also reach
him at 760-723-8082.
00:53:46.22\00:53:51.69
That's 760-723-8082.
00:53:51.73\00:53:55.96
You can also visit his website
00:53:56.00\00:53:57.93
and order his products
online at NathanGreene.com.
00:53:57.97\00:54:02.54
That's NathanGreene.com.
00:54:02.57\00:54:07.71
Call or visit him online today,
he'd love to hear from you.
00:54:07.74\00:54:11.21