Fellowship of Christians in Portraiture

Bulletin Board

A Portrait by Member Steve Childs

Portrait of
The Rev. David Burr
by Steve Childs

e were impressed by this beautiful portrait by our member, the nationally-known portrait artist Steve Childs, when we saw it reproduced in Inspire, the magazine of Princeton Theological Seminary. The subject is The Reverend David Burr, who retired recently after twenty-four years as pastor of The First Presbyterian Church of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

About the Artist
Steve Childs was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He studied at the California College of Arts and Crafts and received his Bachelor of Visual Arts Degree in Illustration from Georgia State University. He received his Master of Fine Arts Degree from Utah State University. Since 1982, Steve has had countless solo and group exhibitions. Corporate collections include Neenah Paper, Yellow Freight Corporation, ESPN, North Carolina Dance Theater, Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum. He has painted many notable commissions, including author Garrison Keillor, former Lt. Governor of Alabama George McMillan, Jr, Music Director of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cincinnati Ballet, Carmon DeLeone, Senior United States District Judge Richard C. Erwin, and Liza Gusler, Curator at Historic Williamsburg, Virginia. Not surprisingly, Steve has been the recipient of dozens of prestigious awards.

Steve is always willing to share his gift and passion for art. Among his special projects are a recently completed portrait for the cover of musician Jim Morgan's latest CD Advent and fundraiser benefit exhibitions for both the Cincinnati Ballet and the North Carolina Dance Theater. The February/March issue of International Artist magazine carries a major article about Steve and his work. To see more of Steve's work, visit his website at www.stevechilds.com

May Your Life Be Like a Successful Painting…

The following verse was composed by a member of the Fellowship of Christians in Portraiture, who wished to be unidentified.

You start with a plan, some objective you are trying to achieve.
Arrange the elements of your life -- don't leave anything to chance.

The colors, lines, textures, and shapes of your future must be selected
carefully so they will be in harmony and set the mood for your life.

JOHN SINGER SARGENT
Carnation, Lilly, Lilly, Rose, 1887 - Oil on canvas,
68½ x 60½ inches
Tate Gallery, London

The design must follow some principles and not be scattered.

You can be formal or informal, but successful lives have a focal point.

Variety and contrast will keep your life interesting.

You will want to keep your own distinct
      personality as an accent.

Be original, don't copy others but use
     them for inspiration.

The dominant element which holds your life together is GOD;

Repeating the design of this element in your life will create
      unity with Him.

May the subject and content, the design and composition,
     and the mood and feelings in your life, work together
          to create the "masterpiece" GOD intended you to be.