Artist Statement

From the Renaissance Period until today, light has had an important significance in art. It has long symbolized hope, renewal, beauty, and life in painting, it creates movement, atmosphere, and emotional depth. For me, painting light is both symbolic and spiritual. Through color, contrast, and brushwork, light and darkness work together to create balance, mood, and meaning

One of the important features of the arts is that all of the arts are a form of communication. Whether it be musical or visual art. Art represents and records the history of the times it was created. Art lives, it speaks, it evokes emotion of the artist and the viewer/listener. It is therapeutic, it provides comfort and serenity or peace and it also can be extremely disturbing. In my work, I strive to focus on light. Light is my communication, a language of hope, faith, freedom, and peace. It reflects Jesus as the light of the world and reminds us to seek what is good and choose to shine the light in our own lives.

John 8:12 Jesus said: "I am the light of the world.. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

II Corinthians 4:6 " For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. "

Artist Bio

Sharla Van Cleave is a contemporary impressionist oil painter whose work explores the light, atmosphere, and beauty of both the Texas landscape, tropical coastal environments and nature in general. She loves all nature and especially animals and the ocean.

Sharla lives on a farm with her husband of 50 years and many animals.

She was born and raised in Abilene Texas and has taught piano for more than 50 years. At the age of 67 she enrolled in Milan Art Institute.

And frankly, there is something inspiring about a woman on a Texas ranch, teaching piano, enrolling in art school at 67, and building collections like Texas Nature and Tropical Islands.

She has an amazing determination and a lot of accomplishments.

She brings new life to the name “Impressionistic” with her

Impressionistic handling of light and atmosphere But also her strong atmospheric color palet and expressionism to capture the emotional aspects and character of the subject.

• Painterly brushwork

• Emotional response to a scene rather than photographic realism

• Contemporary subject matter and composition

• Decorative fine-art aesthetic suited to contemporary interiors

She states that she would rather paint raw emotion and atmospheric light than just copy a photograph as a source. Her art is painted from her own photos or remembrances (no source) themes of her real life experience's, love of adventures, nature and daily sunset watching.She enjoys plein aire painting and not being stuck into a source so she can allow the painting to guide her as to the direction she feels led. She states that she has an irresistible le urge to paint that developed upon on the death of her mother . She feels led by a spiritual power.

Our Mission

We're on a mission to change the world.

Our mission is to point the way to freedom through the light. “The light” being the light of the world Jesus Christ. This is our plan to do just that:

• Share the Light

• Shine the Light

• Be the Light

• Provide Hope, Love and a sense of visual peace.

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