About the Author and how the artwork became a book.
Letter from Kelly Kaye Auker May 4, 2021
My Dearest Reader,
First, Thank you for coming and seeing how the Lord God slowly but surely procured me to create this book. I look back and it took him 50 years to get me in a position to actually start my pyrography art. But it was never about a book. It's about Jesus. 2000 years ago he was born.
Imagine, you tell others that God talks to you. And you talk back. Not a full-on conversation mind you. I talk… thinking happens, sometimes for days… then I talk back again. It goes in circles mostly, but the important part I’ve learned in 60 years, is listening. I ask myself, am I listening to what God says to me? I expect that God is listening to me when I pray even the littlest prayers. I surely hoped He is listening.
Ten years I’ve been on this journey, on this road. It wasn’t until I was four years in when I finally really started listening. Only, it took me quitting to really start hearing what God was telling me. Quitting is hard to admit, but honesty with you my readers it’s an important part of this message.
It was a day like any day in September except it wasn’t, because that day I faltered. I had transcribed over two hundred pieces of scripture at that point and my vision of putting the bible into art form was fading. I went outside, looked up and yelled, “THIS IS TOO HARD!”.
So Many people I had told of my journey said I was mistaken. They told me my mission was too big for one person, and I was starting to believe them. I wasn’t understanding what God wanted of me. I needed guidance. I needed an income. My artwork was not bringing in enough money to buy supplies.
I felt he wasn’t listening. I was disheartened. I was putting this project away. I went inside, cleaned up my desk and put all my tools away. Done. For two hours I cleaned and scrubbed my house while still talking at God through my rage, confusion and self-pity. I tried. I really thought I had tried my best. I hung my head in despair, feeling defeated. I decided to get away from my house and my thoughts, I headed to town to get away from my Lord.
However, before I could get off my country road my husband called. He said he wanted to go to town with me and run errands. Maybe get some dinner. Great! I needed that! But once I turned my car around and found myself headed back home, I shrunk.
I reluctantly went in my home. I stood in my kitchen for five minutes glancing into my art room all cleaned up. I quietly walked in, sat down at my desk and I placed the Holy Bible in front of me.
I spoke to Him again, “Lord help me see what you want of me, tell me what to do!” I sat silently, closed my eyes just like when I was a child. I open the Holy Bible somewhere past the middle, spun my finger around and landed. I curiously opened my eyes and saw the word “vision” within Habakkuk 2:2-3
My eyes scanned the verses, amazed at what he said to me.
And I read:
And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it: because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
I sat in disbelief. I looked the scripture up in every text I could find. I excitedly read each passage again and again written in different interpretations. My visions were not wrong. I smiled inside my heart. I started listening that day.
The very next morning upon waking, I knew that I was to open up the book of Matthew and start transcribing. I can’t tell you how I knew, but I knew like I knew my own name. From that day on, I have trusted in my Lord's voice. Even today I hear him speaking to me as I continue this path.
"Be Brave, I'm right here", He tells me as I speak to others of this book. My shyness and insecurities try to take over, and they are very strong. I again, feel myself shrink, and at that moment my Lord speaks again, "I have told you, I'm standing here with you. Stand tall, smile, and BELIEVE! " And I BELIEVE!
By the third chapter of Matthew the listening took another turn, this time in the form of feeling through Jesus Christ. I was spending hours in silence as I transcribed and listened to the story of Christ. I remember the morning I awoke realizing today I get to draw The Pearly Gates of Heaven. The feeling that little miracles were happening through my hands. I, who cannot write a shopping list without mistakes was burning scriptures into leather.
I was finally feeling that I was fulfilling the visions that the Lord had for me. You see I never saw myself as any kind of artist. I did not draw. I had never taken an art class. It was too hard. My dad and two brothers were artist so I never thought myself good enough to try. It wasn't until I was 43 that I believed Bob Ross when he told me I could paint. I love to oil paint. Thank you Bob Ross, you played a huge part in my artistic dreams.
Keep in mind, I have no idea of this book. None. I have all these pieces and I really have no idea what I shall do with them. I was thinking to give them to churches. But when I tried, they either did not respond or just no. One church flat out said "No Thanks, it doesn't go with our decor." So I held onto them, logging them in a book. Numbering them as I go. My pile of leather scriptures growing and growing and growing. It isn't until around chapter 23 that my Lord gives me an idea to put it all in a book. I have all the pieces. Hmmm," just a thought" he says. And then it flew away as I transcribed on.
Eventually, I came to "The Last Supper". Weeks I would spend on this piece alone, but time was not an issue. The Lord had told me so in Habakkuk 2:3. His timing shall be perfect. My job for now was to create what he envisions to me.
Finally day came to draw Jesus on the cross. The Crucifixion. I never in my life thought I would be able to draw many things, but of those things the face of Jesus Christ felt the furthest from my reach. Then to put it on the cover of a book for all to see. Well, it’s both terrifying and humbling. I remember while I transcribed this piece, the pain and suffering that I had felt . I was transcribing what Jesus experienced. It left me exhausted with tears rolling down my face. I wanted to rest after this piece, but I was not finished. I couldn’t stop and rest. I still had one more piece to burn, and I had to do it immediately.
"The Resurrection," is the piece that brought me so much peace. What I had needed wasn’t a break. I needed to walk with Jesus in his resurrection. The Resurrection of Christ, is one of my most joyous pieces.
So now that I have all these pieces, I try to see if I can get them displayed somewhere, but no gallery or museum will hear me. One did write back, Our committee does not believe it is something we are interested in. I can not get through by web or phone, of anyone interested in what I created with my Lord. It is then when the book bounces back again into my thoughts like lightening. A book of only pictures. Of Jesus's birth, life, death and resurrection.
And show it to the world with a book. Door to door if I must. There is a great need for our Lord here now.
That was two years ago. First I needed to choose a publisher. Then each piece photographed and formatted, only to have the first complete set of photo's rejected and useless. Not enough pixels. I am 60. I do not care about pixels. I do not want to be a photographer.
The things you must learn to get to your goal is astronomical. Faith is what kept me going. The strength God gives me each morning to choose to stand in the light. Physically and spiritually.
"Whatever it takes my Lord, I give you my all." And I stand a little taller and become braver.
Off to the stores to find a camera good enough to use for a book. Under $100, capable of lots of pixels my book advisor said.
He also suggested that I hire a photographer, but when I figured
236 pictures at maybe $10 each maybe. That's a minimum of $2,360 more dollars. Back to pixels.
The young man at the camera store laughed when I told him my budget. He suggested a pawn store. Note: Pawn stores do not know anything about pixels. I am now a photographer. At least enough to get this book to a printable format. And the endless things I must do to get it to the printer.
And finally, I am ready. My Lord is ready to show you, the reader, his prophecy.
You will find inside this book what God has asked of me. Truth. Honesty. Compassion. Love. This is the vision that the Lord gave to me. His words burned into leather in artform. It is a gift to my savior, Jesus Christ. I am honored to I invite you all to open these pages and share in this gift.
Kelly Kaye.