I'm in the ZONE!

After experiencing a dry spell, it's nice to spend a few consecutive hours painting where things are all "coming together". While I enjoy it for the most part, painting the pages for The Biggest Family in the World can seem like a marathon - so much detail to paint, where I am accustomed to painting big, fast and loose (unlike my lifestyle of course ;).

I was working on painting a Kenyan vehicle called a manatu - the "taxi" that Charles Mulli started his multi-million dollar business with. The vehicle is full of people being transported by a smiling Mulli - people sitting on top, hanging on the back, and chickens flying out of an opened cage...I'd show you a picture of it, but it would spoil the surprise...

To loosen up between long painting sessions, I've been working on some portraits that will "accompany" the book. The latest is a beautiful young girl who had been rescued by the Mully Children's Family. The original photo that inspired me is from one of the many photos Paul Boge (author of the book) took on his January 2013 research trip to Kenya.

The Biggest Family in the World - a new children's book based on the life of Charles Mulli, planned for publication in 2014. This is a blog chronicling the book's creation from the perspective of the artist.

Serenity - a painting

The idea for this painting began as a beautiful photo by Paul Boge on his January 2013 trip to Kenya. Of the hundreds of photos that he brought home, this was one of several that I put securely in my special file for future use in a "side" painting to accompany the paintings of the book, The Biggest Family in the World.

The face of the woman is not only beautiful, humble and serene, but it typifies the happiness and serenity of the children of the Mully Children's Family orphanage in Kenya. All of these children were rescued from street life -  prostitution, sickness, neglect, drug and alcohol and physical abuse by others. Each of their lives is a story of its own. The call of addiction and street life often lures the children back to their old way of life despite the comfort, safety and God-centred family atmosphere at the Mully home.

I wanted to paint this beautiful girl, not just as a portrait, but a way to demonstrate the lure and evil hold that an old way of life can have on one of the rescued children. Without the faith that has been offered to them, they are defenseless. The idea of groping hands surrounding her came to my mind's eye, and I decided to ask my drama team to do some "hand acting" as one of our meeting exercises.

I  waited until a day where I couldn't get this particular painting off of my mind, and began the piece. I showed the finished portrait to Martine (our drama team leader) to see if she interpreted the painting in the same way that I had intended. Her thoughts were right on. The focus (the face) embodies the name of the painting, but the chaos that she is oblivious to, represents the spiritual battle and temptations that lure behind the scenes. It is the girl's faith that shields and protects her.

To view more of my art, visit www.fayehall.com

Angel in a Plaid Shirt and Jeans

The Biggest Family in the World - a new children's book based on the life of Charles Mulli, planned for publication in 2014. This is a blog chronicling the book's creation from the perspective of the artist.

Today I find myself painting an "angel", so I had to quickly write down the experience. Specifically, I'm painting the young man from Charles Mulli's past who first invited him to church. The painting started out like any other - two men in a field, one gesturing to the church behind him, an inviting smile on his face, and teenage Charles looking skeptical.

It is one of the crossroads paintings for the storyline in the book, The Biggest Family in the World, where Charles makes one of the major decisions that changes the course of this Kenyan boy's life. On one hand there is the field of workers where he has been toiling to make a living. On the other hand is the invitation to attend a revival service. There is nothing remarkable about the young man who is inviting Charles, but as I painted the sunshine pouring down on his shoulders, he reminded me of an angel. It was God who used that particular young man at that moment in time to help Charles Mulli begin a new path that would change thousands of lives forever.

The "angel" also appears in a second painting, where Charles has accepted Christ, and is kneeling in front of the congregation of jubilant young people. The angel is in the front row, giving Charles a quiet "thumbs up" sign - a symbol of the future...


Fun Tidbit:

I didn't have quite the right gesture for the young man's face and hands, so I asked my friend Ed Ratzlaff to pose for me during one of our church drama rehearsals. Thanks, Ed!! (This photo is a small part of a larger, unfinished painting for the book.)

Dreaded "Painter's Block"

The Biggest Family in the World - a new children's book based on the life of Charles Mulli, planned for publication in 2014. This is a blog chronicling the book's creation from the perspective of the artist.

I've heard of writer's block, but in the last few years, the inspiration for painting has been flowing like a fountain for me - I guess I've taken it for granted.

Well, I've experienced my first "painter's block", sitting down to paint and just feeling weary, uninspired and uninterested. Time to pray.... Instead of giving in to my feelings of panic, I decided to sit down and re-think my time planning for working on the book paintings, and focus on praying for fresh vision, inspiration and God's will for this. Perhaps I was so excited for the project that I expected too much of myself. Perhaps outside stresses have seemed to magnify themselves, and beg me to give in to depression again. One thing I know for certain,  I can't do this in my own strength.

This is also a good time to reflect on how this project came into being. Paul Boge was in Africa in January of 2013, taking photos of places and people for the content of the paintings. One photo shoot was a mock revival service of the time when Charles Mully became a believer in Christ. This is how Paul described the moment:

Miracle Moment:

"You’d be surprised what can happen when you’re location scouting.

Charles Mulli re-enacted major events in his life so that I could take pictures of them so Faye Hall could use those pictures as information to help craft paintings for the children’s book.  In this particular scene, Mulli and I entered the assembly area at Mully Children’s Family Yatta.  He announced to the group of three hundred young people that an MCF boy was going to re-enact how he gave his life to Christ. The re-enactment went great. And right after that, Mulli told them that this didn’t have to be just a re-enactment – that those present could really give their lives to Christ.  And 9 teens got saved right that day. How cool is that?"                 - Paul Boge