Interview with an artist
Trees, rocks, water, sky, wildlife - Sheila Van Delft paints refreshment for the soul
48x36 acrylic on canvas
Near Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island – Sheila finds the forest one of the places where she recharges the best. She is so grateful to live in the country with trees all around her – and the endless inspiration they provide!
The quiet cool of a forest trail brings inspiration to artist Sheila Van Delft. As an introvert, she finds she can recharge by breathing deeply in the midst of nature. And in her work, she brings that feeling to others, through haunting scenes of groves on Vancouver Island, fog-filled vistas of the West Coast Trail, or serene views of a lone eagle surveying his kingdom.
“When I think deeply about why it’s always nature ,” she says,
“I realize that I’m painting my longing for the new earth and fellowship with God. Adam and Eve in Paradise enjoyed perfect nature with God, and the renewed earth will also have landscapes and seascapes, trees, animals, and big skies – all perfected and even more incredibly beautiful than what we enjoy here because of the redeeming work of Jesus. I long for this, and dream of this, and in my own way, must paint it again and again.”
Sheila is blessed to be able to work in art full-time – part-time as an art teacher and the rest of the time in her home studio. A typical day for her might involve: catching up on email requests and admin tasks, painting, taking a break for household tasks, taking the dog for a walk, brainstorming the next twenty paintings, painting some more, reluctantly making dinner, and then painting the rest of the evening because, really, it’s her favorite thing to do.
36x24 acrylic on canvas
The artist’s granddaughter in a field near her home in Ontario
Van Delft has been an artist since she was a child, encouraged by her parents. Later, she studied graphic design, and then even later, as a mature student, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts. Through it all, she honed her skills, motivated by Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
“I sometimes have market customers tell me that they feel so at peace when they look at my work, or that they don’t want to leave because it’s all so beautiful. I marvel at this! How can it be that what I do can have this effect? It’s all God’s hand working through my hand.”
One of the things she’s most proud of is her work as a high school teacher. Through it, Sheila nurtures her students’ ability to use their talents to share beauty and truth. Students she never expected have come up to her and admitted she made them care about art, and that brings her a feeling of fulfillment.
“When I try capture emotions like awe, contentment, gratitude, harmony, joy, peace, and wholeness in my paintings, I think others can feel that too. And that’s why I paint, so others can also feel the hopeful anticipation of the better life that is coming. I’m trying to share a bit of Heaven.”
Learn more about Sheila Van Delft's work on her website, where you can also stay up to date about the markets and other events where you can view her work in person. And she shares her work on Instagram and Facebook.
Send Harma-Mae Smit suggestions for artists to profile at [email protected]
News
Saturday Selections – June 13, 2026
Brandon Lake's That's Who I Praise
Here's a whole bunch of people having a whole bunch of fun praising God!
I, Smartphone
Nearly 80 years ago economist Leonard Read made the point that the central planning necessary for socialism to succeed is beyond anyone. No one can possibly know enough to be able to understand what everyone is capable of, and interested in producing, and then plan for what everyone wants and needs. He made his point with an essay called I, Pencil, about how even something as simple as a pencil is beyond the abilities of any one person to make and produce – as he put it, no one on earth knows how to make a pencil.
So how then do pencils get produced... and without government planning? By everyone acting in their own self-interests, and in accord with God's law not to steal. The way this can, miraculously, produce what we want and need, and for prices far below what any government production would output, is sometimes credited to "the invisible hand" of the Free Market. But we know Whose hand it is, and, again, we know Who to attribute miracles to.
In this new take on Read's I, Pencil essay, Lawerence Reed makes the same point about the production of something we take for granted today – the smartphone.
Even among Christians, support for suicide is growing (10 min. read)
That's both sad, but means we have yet another reason to argue against euthanasia with overtly Christian, God-glorifying arguments.
What budding apologists can learn from Charlie Kirk
"Let me offer a ten-second overview to this piece: If I were asked what the best books or resources are available for the eager young Christian apologist, I would simply point them to any number of excellent videos of the late Charlie Kirk interacting with often hostile and pugilistic critics, atheists and others."
"Happy wife, happy life?" or, how passivity can destroy marriage
Headship can be twisted two very different directions, and the one we most often hear warnings about is the domineering husband who treats his wife like his own personal slave. I'm sure that's a warning worth sounding, but in my denomination, at least in this generation, the opposite error seems the more likely. In response to domineering men of the past, many a male – and this is among those who believe in male headship – will let his wife's wishes dominate family life. It's sacrificial leadership with an emphasis on the sacrificial, even to the exclusion of the leadership.
This bird is super cool
Think you should be praising God more? Then watch the cool birds He made and it'll just happen. (Its head just stays stock still - crazy!)
Today's Devotional
June 13 - Jesus’ first word on the cross
“And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do
."” - Luke 23:34
Scripture reading: Luke 23:18-34
Looking forward to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, I want to spend the next several days looking at the seven words of Christ on the cross. My prayer is that you will find and experience great joy in hearing and understanding them.
Today's Manna Podcast
Making use of your talents
Serving #1237 of Manna, prepared by Greg Bylsma, is called "Making use of your talents".
