Suzanne Seiler
Meet Suzanne Seiler.
My name is Suzanne Seiler. My mother told me I was born with a pencil and paintbrush in my hand, as art has been my passion since I was a toddler. I was always intrigued to accurately capture the beauty of Nature in my art. My calling remains today to reflect His Creation in my art. I earned my BA degree in Fine Arts, was married and started my family. When my children were all settled in school, I started “Artworks”, a brick and mortar art school, teaching children and adults techniques of drawing and painting; inspiring others to utilize their God given talents to capture His beauty of creation.
During this time frame I didn’t fully grasp my art as a ministry, but just the right thing to do. One highlight was my gift to Tulane Hospital by painting bright, colorful scenes in their children’s cancer ward to change the “environment” in an especially difficult situation.
I have been a Bible Study Fellowship student for over fifteen years and a member of Faith Bible Church for five years and have come to more fully understand the gifts Our Lord has given us can all be turned into ministry. I have come to more deeply appreciate just how does one glorify God through art. The simple answer is that by using your gifts to show His beauty and truth to the world you will glorify Him. While references to creation and worship are found on nearly every page of the Bible, some meaningful ones to me are: (1) “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known” Psalm 19:1-2. And (2) “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” Romans 11:29. Also, (3) “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” 1 Peter 4:10.
The call of the artist to glorify God is no different than the call of any other Christian to glorify God in their work. The aim of glorifying God through art is another facet of a biblical vocation.
With that backdrop, I belong to a volunteer group of artists called “Inspire” that reaches out to the community to share our gift of art through instruction and mentoring. Two years ago I was approached to be the lead teacher for a group of Special Needs Adults. In a small space in Conroe, we started with seven “Special Friends” students. As word spread, we quickly outgrew that space. We secured the new, spacious Glade Cultural Center as host. Recently we have taken as many as thirty-seven students in our self-funded program. The students continue to amaze us; so much so that on Friday November 30 we hosted an art show displaying their work and seventy-six pieces of their art were sold. Our hearts soar watching the students’ proud faces beaming over their accomplishments and the affirmation they receive from family and friends.
To be a part of their innocent eagerness and joyfulness as they create their art is their blessing to us. We are the ones being inspired.
My name is Suzanne Seiler. My mother told me I was born with a pencil and paintbrush in my hand, as art has been my passion since I was a toddler. I was always intrigued to accurately capture the beauty of Nature in my art. My calling remains today to reflect His Creation in my art. I earned my BA degree in Fine Arts, was married and started my family. When my children were all settled in school, I started “Artworks”, a brick and mortar art school, teaching children and adults techniques of drawing and painting; inspiring others to utilize their God given talents to capture His beauty of creation.
During this time frame I didn’t fully grasp my art as a ministry, but just the right thing to do. One highlight was my gift to Tulane Hospital by painting bright, colorful scenes in their children’s cancer ward to change the “environment” in an especially difficult situation.
I have been a Bible Study Fellowship student for over fifteen years and a member of Faith Bible Church for five years and have come to more fully understand the gifts Our Lord has given us can all be turned into ministry. I have come to more deeply appreciate just how does one glorify God through art. The simple answer is that by using your gifts to show His beauty and truth to the world you will glorify Him. While references to creation and worship are found on nearly every page of the Bible, some meaningful ones to me are: (1) “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known” Psalm 19:1-2. And (2) “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” Romans 11:29. Also, (3) “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” 1 Peter 4:10.
The call of the artist to glorify God is no different than the call of any other Christian to glorify God in their work. The aim of glorifying God through art is another facet of a biblical vocation.
With that backdrop, I belong to a volunteer group of artists called “Inspire” that reaches out to the community to share our gift of art through instruction and mentoring. Two years ago I was approached to be the lead teacher for a group of Special Needs Adults. In a small space in Conroe, we started with seven “Special Friends” students. As word spread, we quickly outgrew that space. We secured the new, spacious Glade Cultural Center as host. Recently we have taken as many as thirty-seven students in our self-funded program. The students continue to amaze us; so much so that on Friday November 30 we hosted an art show displaying their work and seventy-six pieces of their art were sold. Our hearts soar watching the students’ proud faces beaming over their accomplishments and the affirmation they receive from family and friends.
To be a part of their innocent eagerness and joyfulness as they create their art is their blessing to us. We are the ones being inspired.
Posted in Faces of Faith