Biblical Murals Are a Labor of Love

           
                                                    (Photos by the Publisher)

Betty Sue Putman, Genny Hendricks, and Yvonne Waters stand in front of the larger-than-life mural portraying Jesus Christ with children. They painted the mural in the preschool children's area of their church.


       Jesus beckons little children to come to him, baby Jesus is cared for by Mary and Joseph, and baby Moses hides among the bullrushes in the river. Larger than life murals depict Biblical scenes on walls of Rock Springs Baptist Church’s preschool children’s area downstairs in the newest sanctuary. The murals are three of several painted by members Genny Hendricks, Betty Sue Putman, and Yvonne Waters.
        “It’s rewarding to do something that other people can enjoy,” Hendricks told this writer, in an interview with The Christian View. “But it’s also a witnessing tool.”
        “It’s like a ministry,” added Waters.
        “It’s our way of teaching about Jesus’ love,” said Putman. “Like the picture of Jesus and the children—it’s encouraging parents to bring their children to church and teach them about Jesus. That’s really what we want to do.”

       
                                                        
        Yvonne Waters, Genny Hendricks, and Betty Sue Putman painted this mural of baby Moses in the preschool children's area of their church.


        Neither of the three women had begun painting until 1998, when Hendricks took her first art lesson from Doris Parsons in Easley. “I came to a women’s visitation at church and met Yvonne,” said Hendricks. “I told her how excited I was about painting, and she said she would like to take lessons.” Waters and Putman began taking lessons, and the threesome became a team.
        “We started out in acrylic and then went to watercolor,” said Hendricks. 
        “We didn’t have many lessons,” said Waters. “We’ve read a lot of books and have seen a lot of videos. I guess we’re what you call self-taught.”
        They painted their first mural at Rock Springs when Brenda Atkinson, then Director of Preschool and Children, approached the three. They painted a tree, Jesus with children, baby Moses (in the old nursery), Noah’s ark, and a vineyard (upstairs in the Christian Fellowship Center). 
        When asked by Sandra Collins, Nursery Coordinator, to paint murals in Rock Springs’ new building, they worked around the builders, who called them ‘the three wise women.’ 
        “They would critique,” said Hendricks. 
        “They were always interested,” said Waters, adding, “They were so helpful. Hobart (Satterfield) would unlock the doors and turn on the lights.”
        “They would offer us ladders and other things that we needed,” said Putman. “Most of the time, we brought our own.”
        The three had total support from their husbands, who would assist them by bringing whatever they needed. “Having the support of your family and whoever you’re working with, or for, helps a lot,” said Hendricks.
        When they began painting the murals in the new church building, the concrete floors did not yet have carpet, the building had no heat, and they brought their own lamps to see by. 
        Using a pattern on an overhead projector, they traced the outline to get their perspective. “We come up with our colors,” said Hendricks. “Sometimes, we paint it similar to the picture, but, a lot of times, we come up with our own. A lot of it is freehanded. The basket and baby Moses were the only things that were traced off much.”
        Also at their church, for a number of years, they have helped with the children’s bulletin boards. “The children design them, and then we put them on the overhead projector and paint them so that they’re very near the children’s work,” said Waters. 
        At the other end of the age spectrum, Hendricks and Waters facilitate about two dozen senior citizens, up to 89 years of age, at the Sears Shelter in Greenville on Wednesday mornings.
        They began the class after Judy Taylor, from whom they had taken drawing lessons, stopped teaching at the center.
        “They’re really sweet, nice seniors,” said Waters.
        “It’s like a ministry,” said Hendricks.
        “It is,” agreed Waters. “It’s really rewarding.”
        “Some of them don’t have family, and some have health problems,” said Hendricks. “They look forward to having us to talk to.”
        The seniors are involved in art shows, such as Art in the Park and Autumn in Easley and Arts Alive.
        Waters and Hendricks participate as a team in art shows, as well, both locally and out of state.
        The three also painted a mural at Wren High School, after requested by ROTC instructor Ed Schumacher, a member of their church. The long wall portrays the Battle of Iwo Jima; the mural includes soldiers, ships, and planes. “It was a challenge,” said Hendricks.
        Religious murals, however, remain their primary focus, and they are open to teaching others how to paint murals at their own churches, or painting the murals at other churches. 
        Painting, they said, is a gift that they were late in using, but one they will continue to use now that they know they have it. “We like the challenge and the creativity of it,” said Hendricks.
        “It’s rewarding when we hear a child say, ‘Meet me at baby Jesus,’” said Waters. “To see the children touching it, you know what it means to them.”
        “I’ve seen them standing by baby Moses and say, ‘Baby,’” said Hendricks. 
        “They start early, getting lessons on the Bible,” said Waters.
        “Their first impression when they walk in the children’s building, as they come down the elevator or through the door, is it’s not a blank wall,” said Hendricks. “It’s a Bible story, to get them in a frame of mind of thinking about what church is all about.”
        “We were honored that we were asked to do it,” said Waters.
        “God gave us the talent, and we want to use it for His glory,” said Hendricks.