|
Like children’s stories, Bible stories teach us lessons
about life. “I grew up in a small town and attended a Lutheran
grade school where I was taught many Bible stories at a very
early age,” says artist Scott Gustafson. “I think of
my approach to my artwork as a form of storytelling; and although
most of my work to date has been illustrating fairy tales, nursery
rhymes and other forms of literature, it all really comes down
to telling a story in pictures.
The story of Daniel is about a man who is punished for his
beliefs by a king who was swayed by vanity and bad advice. But
Daniel is also the story of true faith in the face of death and
of a man who had the strength of his convictions. I chose to
depict Daniel standing in a pool of mysterious light. Behind
and around him, lions lurk in the shadows—nearly brushing
his robes as they pace to and fro.Yet, these ravenous beasts
dare not lay a single paw on the seemingly vulnerable figure
who stands in their midst. In these turbulent times, the story
of Daniel seems very appropriate. For although his faith is the
reason he was thrown to the lions, it was also Daniel’s
faith that ultimately saved him.” |