Hear how Joni paints a happy angel in this program where she talks about the story behind that painting.
I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, your friend who paints with her mouth.
Yep, it’s what I do. My hands cannot hold brushes because of my quadriplegia, so I hold paintbrushes in my mouth. And I want to tell you about a special painting I did back in 1981. Back then I was always trying to find new ways to paint timeless themes. I would look at a subject and think, “Hmm, what new twist can I give this idea?” For instance, I wanted to convey that night above Bethlehem when angels burst through the sky to announce peace and good tidings of great joy! Luke chapter 2 describes it. It says, “Suddenly a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” Now, in many paintings of that subject, angels can look overly romanticized, and in others, they can look austere. But I thought, “If I were an angel announcing the incarnation of Jesus Christ, coming to save the world of their sins, I’d be excited, I’d be glad! Surely, they weren’t prim, proper, and straight-faced. They were happy!
So, how do you paint a happy angel? Well, first, I needed someone to pose as a model of a happy angel. And so, I asked my secretary, Susan, to drape herself in a white sheet, stand on a stool, hold an olive branch in one hand [that’s the peace on earth part], and then with her other arm, exuberantly stretch it out wide and stretch her fingers apart. “And dear Susan,” I instructed her, “you must do all this while laughing.” So, she posed this way and that and giggling and laughing, while a friend snapped scores of photos. From the collection of pictures, I was able to sketch a rough draft of my very happy angel! And part of its “happiness” is also in the shape of the wings. I studied the wings of dozens of birds [not vultures; birds of prey have feather-tips that curve downward. But the wings of a dove curve slightly upward, and that subtle suggestion conveys [you know, something “good,” not “bad” as with a vulture’s wings]. Okay, then I chose a fine-tooth illustration board and used pen and ink to outline the sketch.
From there, I filled in the wings and the angel with very pale watercolor. I bunched the robe around the Angel’s feet, making it look as though she were floating in air, like she was suspended in the sky. Then, I faintly filled in that sky with a pastel blue color. I also used pastels to fill in the angel’s hair [do angels have blonde hair? I don’t have any idea]. But as I worked at my easel, week after week, studying the photos, sketching, mixing paints and giving my design shape and color, my angel became clearer. And she looked exuberantly happy. Joy to the world.
And why not? I tell you, just painting that timeless theme; just thinking about angels stepping out of heaven and appearing in the night sky over Bethlehem; pondering their message that a Savior has been born. The rescue is happening. Healing is here. Deliverance is on its way. I felt as though I were as happy as the angel I just painted. And you can see it for yourself today at joniradio.org. I have posted a video in which I share this story, and you can see the entire painting at joniradio.org. [And the team has made Christmas cards of the painting as well. I think that’s pretty cool]. So, be happy. Joy has come to this world, the Lord of joy, our Savior. Celebrate that with me today at joniradio.org. And share the video with a friend. Again at joniradio.org. And those are your hope-filled words for today.
© Joni and Friends