I was so impressed with the work and the story of artist Christopher Marion Thomas, that I had to share it with the rest of you! This ALFG subscriber’s life and work have been documented in several national magazines and he has the distinction of being the only artist chosen in 2002 by the United States Postal Service to be featured in their national “Business Solutions” campaign, placing his likeness on posters and brochures in every post office in the country!
Check out his interview:
1. Tell us who you are and what you do as an artist/designer:
First let me take off my “wanna be” Holy hat and remember to talk plainly. Ok, now I am ready! My name is Christopher Marion Thomas, I am a Christian who has been blessed with the gift of creativity, so I wear many hats so to speak (I am trying to be like Bezalel). I have worked as a exhibiting Fine Artist (Painter), Illustrator (Advertising and editorial), Designer (print advertising), Art Director (advertising, promotions, tv, radio). By God’s grace, I have been able to do alot of different thing creatively.
2. Now tell us about your artistic/creative background:
I started out like so many others with comic books. Back in the day, I had hundreds of them and even made up my own characters. In elementary school I had a friend named Victor, together we would develop, design, draw and write our own books. One day I was sent to the Principal’s office for drawing in class. The Principal noticed my work and encouraged me and even let me sell some of my “little folded books” in her office. That day started my creative path. I continued to draw and write on my own throughout school. It was the only thing that I had consistently in my life, because my family was dysfunctional and my upbringing was tragic. I moved from place to place often during my elementary years, but Christ, oops! I mean art, was always there. Did I say that out loud? After some crazy years in high school, and a serious addiction to Chicago HOUSE music. I had my fist one man show at 21 years of age. The show sold out the night of the opening, about 18 or so paintings, all infused with a hunger to know God and to express His glory. I was deep back then! At that point, I knew all I wanted to do was paint, so I continued to pursue the calling of a painter in the best way I knew how.
Jonah
3. What role does God play in your life and in your work?
Christ is my life, and my most sincere desire is to create work that will bring God glory and edify His people (I Peter 4:10). In 1999, after years of showing my work, freelancing Illustration, and working in advertising as an Art Director, I prayed to God, “allow me to create work for You or not at all.” That has been my prayer ever since, that I would be used of God, as an instrument of His Glory. I want the work that comes through me to be a blessing to the Body of Christ, and an offensive weapon to the enemy. I want to be a “Body builder”, and the visual arts is my mission field. I gets me hype just saying it, CHARGE!!!!!! I want to take art back for Christ.
4. What advice can you give the rest of us?
1. John 3: 16-21
2. John 4: 23-24
3. John 5: 24-25
4. John 8:50
5. John 12:26
6. John 13:14-17
7. John 13:34-35
8. John 15:16-18
9. John 15:5
10. Joshua 1:9
11. I PETER 4:10
12. Genesis 1:1
5. What’s the latest project that you’re most excited about?
After more than 18 years of being a self-taught artist, I am stirring my gift in a mighty way. I am pursuing my BFA in Painting from Art Center College of Design. I pray to be the first in my family to graduate from college, and to continue in some form of Art Ministry when I graduate. He promises that our later years will be better than I former, so I am looking forward to Big, Big, Big things.
To God be the Glory!
Be sure to check out Christopher’s website here: www.ChristoperMarionThomas.com
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Brick and morter Mel
You have not heard of Art Center College of Design? Well thank you for the blessings man. I need all the help I can get.
Blessing to you as well.
Christopher
Very moving testimony. I like that you are pursuing your Degree. Is that an on-line or brick and morter school? Blessing upon your hands and brushes!
-Mel
Thank you Haili,
Half of the details can’t be seen in that reproduction. I really wanted to express and interpret the concept of Jonah’s story in a different way.
Jonah was essentially told to preach to his enemies, and he did not want to do it. I embedded these words within the surface of the painting directly under the hands of Jonah. It reads “I do not want to go” 3 times surround his hands. I often understand this feeling, because I have been trying to run away from ministry for some time now. I also imprinted 3 sea shells around the Whale (“Big fish”) in the background, this is a triple metaphor for The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, The 3 days that Jonah spent in the big fish and for the 3 days that Christ lay in the domb. You can see that I love things that come in 3s
Be blessed and thanks for the response
Christopher
WoW! Jonah is beautiful!!!
Brother Gimel,
It is an honor to be counted among the faithful who Love Jesus Christ as I do. I pray that we can all reflect Him in our work and our lives. You know Bezalel was called by name just as “YOU” and I are, so we have to show and prove! I encourage you today man, because ALFG has been a great encouragment to me. Let’s get the word out
Much love and respect Brother,
Christopher
Love your site, bruh.
I dig your expression.
I praise God for your faith.
BE LIKE BEZALEL!
I’m feelin’ it.
Amen.