The Story of My Art
It is difficult for me to explain my love for God and my need to etch, paint or draw the art that I do. I feel every minute of my life has been working towards this moment and that perhaps by sharing these images someone else will feel the love that God has for them and for all of us.
My name is Susan and I love God. I love the Hope that He stands for, I love the Peace that He promises. I love the opportunity to be a part of this world and to contribute, in a small way, something that may make a difference to others, thus bringing their hearts closer to God. I love that He loves us beyond reason and I love that we can be with Him long after we are finished here on earth, if we turn to Him while we are here on earth.
I pray that when you look at this art you are reminded of God and how wonderful He knows you are. Through flaws, challenges, bad decisions, mistakes, as well as happy times and loving, joyous times when you include Him in your life, I pray that you know He is here with you and that, no matter what, He never leaves you to be alone. Sometimes, we just don’t open our eyes and hearts enough to know that He is here!
How The Art Began
Through the years, ever since I was very young, I have drawn a rose and a dove on various letters, papers, etc. It is important to know this, because in many of the artworks, both etchings and canvases that I have painted, there is a hidden rose and/or a hidden dove.
In the early 1990’s I was given a piece of British Scraper Board. It is an art board that is used with a stylus to etch a picture. The board is black and when you etch away the top layer the white underlayment appears. I had the board tucked away for a couple of years, when one day in January 1994 I woke up after a dream and took out the scraper board. I etched a single “soul person” bowed down on his knees and humbly praying. (That figure is also in many of the paintings and etchings.)
Throughout the 1990’s I would wake up after having a wonderful “Angel Dream” and know that I had to do another etching. I couldn’t get away from the feeling and it would only relent when I would begin to etch another picture. The pictures became more and more detailed. The pictures were of Angels surrounding souls looking for God, sometimes being on track and going towards God… sometimes wandering a little farther away. There was always a lighted way to find their way back to God.
I kept these etchings tucked away and showed them to some of my friends but I never had any idea that they would travel outside of my house! I wondered many times about why my inclination to etch was so extremely strong and why I needed to do these. Honestly, there were many times that I wondered if I could just be imagining the visions that I thought I was getting. But when another came, there was no doubt.
In the year 2000 I was invited to participate in an event called “Hospice-tality” at Mullins Farm in Spotsylvania, VA. It was in support of Hospice Support Care, a volunteer Hospice group. There was an auction and I donated some of the children’s books I had written and I also offered to donate a lithograph made from one of the first etchings that I had done. That was the first time one of the works had been “made public”! It auctioned well and that was the beginning!
I was content working on my etchings, lithographs and participating in lithograph signings. But in 2001 I woke up with the need to do another kind of art. I wanted the art to have the same “etching-type look”, but I wanted to paint it with a full color background on canvas. I began to paint, and paint, and paint. What transpired was my first canvas. It was 36” x 48” and was entitled “A Message of Faith”.
After that, well, it is history! I often wake with up with a need to begin another canvas. I have learned to just accept it and to do the work that God gives to me. I make sure I fit it into my days and wonder about it in the night. I pray that it can make a difference and that I do not waste the wonderful time that God has given me. I pray that I can leave behind the spirit of love and faith that these pictures instill in my heart and I pray that they will lift your heart and spirit!
God Bless You,
Susan
susanmsablon@gmail.com