The Art of J.L. Shively
"Sharing God's Word through Art since 1981"


"The Prodigals New Beginning Breakfast" by J.L. Shively
from his book The Art of J.L. Shively - Art with a Message"

About the Artist - Christian Illustrator and publisher, J.L. Shively, was born in 1949 in Wichita, Kansas. He started painting at the age of fourteen to help him escape from the turmoil in his family. He began by copying Old Master paintings with astonishing precision. As an adult, he made his living for a time as a pastel portrait artist, and his paintings were shown in several fine art galleries in Kansas, New York City and Virginia.

The artist discovered he had an aptitude for painting seascapes. He was determined to be the world’s greatest seascape painter, but God had other plans for his art and his ego. The young artist soon realized that he found more satisfaction painting for the Lord. He turned his art over to the Lord in 1977. Several years later he and his wife lost their house in a failed business venture. Soon the couple’s only home became an aging travel trailer. God turned their misfortune into a blessing and the couple began doing art shows as a ministry sharing J.L.’s paintings of Jesus in secular events across the country.

The couple’s experiences with homelessness changed the artist’s direction and he began illustrating, “The Least of These.” His drawings of street people and the needy soon began complementing the gospel message at their outreaches. Eventually J.L. began sharing his art and his testimony in churches from California to New England and Canada.

Now retired from traveling, the artist is currently sharing God's word and his art online, and through his new book, "The Art of J.L. Shively - Art with a Message."

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