Beck, Sue. Joy Comes in the Morning (Genesis 1:7-8), 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 20 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

God made the sky, dividing the vapor above from the water below. This happened on the second day. (Genesis 1:7-8, The Living Bible) I love being near the ocean. When I stand on the shoreline, I truly feel God’s presence. I see his creation and the power and majesty and am filled with awe and the desire to just worship. It is in these moments that I feel so small and yet so connected with God; I hear the words he spoke to Job saying, “Who decreed the boundaries of the seas when they gushed from depths? Who clothed them with clouds and limited their shores saying, thus far and no farther shall you come, and here shall your waves stop?” (Job 38:8-9)

Burk, Courtney. The Creation of the World (Genesis 1:1-8), 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 20 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

I chose to do my piece on the Lord’s creation. I loved displaying the vast difference between night and day. Darkness and light, both referenced throughout Scripture. The use of texture was to represent movement and that nothing the Lord creates is “linear.” He makes everything with complex thought and detail. I pray this can remind us to find joy in the simplicities of his creation.

Fell, Melanie. Sun of God (Genesis 1:3-5), 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

What was “in the beginning . . .”? Darkness? Emptiness? We know God was there. He was creating everything out of nothing. It began with God speaking – Let there be light. And doesn’t this describe us – dark and empty . . . until we encounter God’s Light!

Grapengater, Susan. It Is Good (Genesis 1), 2023. Watercolor and ink on watercolor paper, 8.5 x 11.5 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

This shows the six days of Creation:

1.    Light and Dark

2.    Sky and Sea

3.    Land and Plants

4.    Sun, Moon and Stars

5.    Fish and Birds

6.    Animals and Man

Marshall, Maggie. Genesis (Genesis 1), 2011.

Acrylic on canvas, 59 x 95 in. Redeemer Genesis Series,

Tulsa, OK.

Inspired by Genesis, rather than focus on what was “created” and our own solar system (as we so often do), I decided to focus on the “process” of creation by painting more nebulous, abstract forms in space, as well as painting what may be outside our own solar system. God’s creation is much bigger than we can ever imagine. I also wanted to depict our own insignificance compared to God’s miraculous, glorious power and creativity.

Hohensee-Gualnam, Kimberly. The Original “Self-Care”, (Genesis 2:2-3), 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 20 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

God rested on the seventh day of creation. I wanted to paint something that would remind everyone, including myself, that we need to take time out to rest. God wants us to rest and by resting we are giving God glory. I couldn’t imagine a better place than the beach for the Creator of all things to take his first official rest.

Marshall, Riley. Darkness Fell (Genesis 3), 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 10 x 10 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

This painting depicts the tragedy of the fall in Genesis 3. The black liquid from the apple and the dripping sky represent the sin that devastated God’s perfect world. However, even because of this tragedy, we see a small glimmer of hope in Genesis 3:21; “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” To show this there is a sun in the painting even amid sorrow and desolation.

Reed, Kyla & Storms, Laura. A Broken Masterpiece (Genesis 3), 2023. Cardboard, magazine paper and modpodge on canvas, 24 x 18 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

The fall of man in Genesis 3 was the inspiration for our piece. We were inspired by the concept of how the Lord can take brokenness in the world and create a masterpiece. When sin originally separated us from the Father and distorted reality, grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross restored the Father’s relationship with his children

Marshall, Kevin. Terrifying Change of Direction (Genesis 6:1-7:24), 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 36 x 24 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

 I can’t begin to imagine how difficult and horrible the deluge must have been. Loss of creation of every kind, fear inside the ark and holding out hope that God would remember them. Adrift doesn’t describe what I imagine was more violent and harrowing.

Marshall, Kevin. What Have You Done? (Genesis 4:1-10), 2023. Acrylic on masonite, 24 x 18 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

While painting this I really began to understand more of the tragedy and emotion that unfolded in this story. The murder really hit home when I had to use my own hands to put the "blood" on the rock. Those are my fingerprints that signify the worst consequence of anger, jealousy, and rage, even between brothers. I used the caution tape to help make it current, as the same gruesome result occurs every day.

Geister, Emily. From Ark to Arch – God’s Sure Promises (Genesis 8-9), 2023. Acrylic and water-based oil on canvas, 24 x 36 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

From Ark to Arch...commemorates the moments after the flood once Noah’s ark has come to rest on the mountains. The animals have come out of the ark and God has set his rainbow in the clouds as a sure sign and promise that he will never again flood all the earth.

The specific flora and fauna included in the painting are intentional. The lion, the lamb, the ox, and the donkey are all symbolic of Christ and his character. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and the peacock, butterfly, and lilies are symbolic of the Resurrection and eternal life in Christ.

Yaeger, Cherie. Jacob Wrestles with God, (Genesis 32:22-32), 2023. Graphite and watercolor pencils, 18 x 24 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

What was I thinking? How can I draw a picture of Jacob wrestling with God if we don’t know what God looks like? My thought is Jacob wrestled with uncertainty in God’s promise being fulfilled. He wrestled someone to receive his injured hip. There are questions about God’s ways we won’t have the answers to . . . our faith and trust in our sovereign God’s will should suffice.

Beck, Sue. Go Joe (Genesis 37:3), 2023. Acrylic with Palette Knife on Canvas, 20 x 16 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

I’ve always been drawn to Joseph’s coat. The relationship between father and son, and siblings. Love, betrayal and then forgiveness: it is a powerful story!

Bellovich, John. The Coat (Genesis 37:3), 2023. Cardstock and button, 28 x 22 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

The coat of many colors is referenced in Genesis 37:3. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.” (ASV) The coat is memorable to us because of the deepest love a father can give to a child. The coat also fostered pride. Inspiration for this piece was taken from stained glass art, kaleidoscopes, and nature itself.

Roach, Tami. The Ties That Bind (Genesis 37, 42, 50), 2023. Silk paper piecing, 58 x 43 in. Redeemer Genesis Series, Tulsa, OK.

Textile artists don’t use acrylics or oils or watercolors. Their tools aren’t paints and brushes. Textile artists “paint” with fabrics and threads. Their palette is fabric. Since I am a quilter, my initial thought of “painting” Joseph’s coat of many colors involved using the large stash of my cotton fabrics. I have color-coded boxes full of fabrics exploding with all kinds of patterns and designs. But the more I thought about all those calico cottons the less I connected with Joseph’s coat of many colors. I didn’t want Joseph’s coat to look like a feminine calico cotton jacket you’d find on the farm! I wanted Joseph’s coat to be made of an ornate and luxurious fabric, a kaleidoscope of colors and a wild array of designs. A masculine Middle Eastern garment that stands out and makes a statement. And that’s when my “paints” became evident – men’s silk ties!

The jealousy of Joseph’s brothers led them to sell him into slavery. In so doing, they thought they had severed the ties with their dreaming brother. Little did they know that those very ties would save them years later.  Joseph knew what they meant for evil God turned into good. God tied it all together as only God can do!

Joseph’s coat of many colors came together thanks to the help of Redeemer men and their ties!