Spreading the word in color

A Holiday artist lets Bible stories unfold in a wash of colors during school and prison visits.

By MICHELLE JONES
Published July 7, 2007

HOLIDAY - Stan Crookall shares his faith in Jesus Christ with a paint brush and palette.

"As an artist I am continually amazed by the acceptance and interest in our art from the Bible, " says Crookall, who is the founder and president of Bible Art Ministries. "No one recognizes more than I do that it is God who gives us favor."

For 31 years, Crookall has taken his art into thousands of schools in the United States, Canada, Ecuador, Colombia and other places around the world.

Crookall, a former art school teacher, started the ministry in Canada, and it now supports three full-time missionaries in Bogota, Colombia. He also takes the ministry into prisons.

"I taught at a correctional school in Canada, and one of my students from the prison went on to become a staff artist for Walt Disney Studios in California, " he said.

Before forming Bible Art Ministries, Crookall was an evangelist.

"I was happy doing that, " he said. "But then the Lord said, 'This is not what I want you to do.' I took time off and pondered and prayed, and after a week of prayer God showed me what to do."

Crookall says the art ministry brings him great joy and satisfaction because God ordained it.

The 85-year-old still travels and shares his faith.

When at home in Holiday with his second wife, Mary - his first wife, Gwen, died after 58 years of marriage - Crookall is an elder and associate pastor at Harvest Time Church on Buena Vista Lane in Holiday.

"He is a wonderful artist, " said the Rev. Leon Ellis, the church's senior pastor. "It is just a joy having him a part of our church."

Crookall's credentials include Salvation Army Officers Training College, Toronto Baptist Seminary, Ontario College of Art, Ontario College of Education (Teachers College) and Famous Artists Schools, Westport, Conn.

Crookall's paintings, which depict scenes and stories from the Bible, have been shown on television shows such as The 700 Club and 100 Huntley Street, among others.

Col. James Irwin, an astronaut who walked on the moon, told Crookall first-hand facts about space that have been added to the artist's presentations.

"It was my great pleasure to meet and be photographed with Col. James Irwin, who grew up in Holiday, " said Crookall.

The presentations, done in schools and prisons, provide lessons in art and the Bible.

"Having taught art in a correctional school for boys 14 to 18 years of age, I had to develop short cuts, innovative ways that brought speedy success, " he said. "These tips are passed on to the students who are challenged to learn that drawing can be fun."

He teaches that only six colors can be mixed to produce a beautiful balance. He also uses four basic shapes in all his drawings.

"To hold their attention, they had to learn fast, and the Lord gave me the ways to do it, " he said.

[Last modified July 6, 2007, 22:43:11]