Interview with Angel Series Bible Illustrator Anne Neilson

Anne Neilson is a nationally renowned artist whose beloved Angel Series paintings now adorn a new series of Bibles from Zondervan.

Bible Gateway recently got to speak with Anne about her artistic process, her creative calling, her favorite Bible verse, and much more.

On the Creative Process

This is your first line of illustrated Bibles. What was it like framing your designs around passages in Scripture, specific biblical themes, and the Gospel message?

First of all, it is a humbling experience to be asked to partner with Zondervan to create beautiful Bibles with the Angel Series. My love for God’s Word goes way back to my early twenties when I discovered that God’s Word is “alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12).

Some people look at this very large book and feel a little intimidated. I mean, where does one start?

My response is to just pick it up and start reading, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart. God’s Word is a love letter to his people, inviting each of us to have an intimate relationship with him.

Almost every time I pick up a brush to paint, I ask the Holy Spirit to flow out from the depths of my soul and onto the blank canvas, creating these ethereal angels. My hope is that every brushstroke in this Bible would quietly speak to your heart as you meditate on God’s Word. He is faithful to his Word, and we can trust him to come through on his promises. 

What do your written reflections in the Bible mean to you? Can you compare them to your art or your creative process?

Well, looking at me from the outside, you might think that everything in my life is neat and tidy. But that’s not true. Sometimes my life is messy and chaotic; it’s me stumbling and falling. I share those moments in the reflections that are sprinkled between the pages of Scripture.

I think it is important to know that we don’t have to come to God all tidied up. He loves us no matter where we are. Jesus died on the cross for our messes, and once we grasp that concept, we are able to receive God’s love. It frees me to know that God loves me (messes and all) and because of his blood shed on the cross, I am covered in his righteousness.

I am a very messy painter. Very messy. But my painting mess is a reminder that when I surrender to God, he takes my mess and creates a beautiful masterpiece. 

Getting to Know God

Sometimes as believers we are tempted to put God in this imaginary box based on what we grew up believing or currently believe. How would you encourage someone feeling like they don’t really know God? 

I would tell people that we serve a big and mighty God. Sometimes we keep him in a small box because we think we can control our lives, our mistakes, and our future. And sometimes (especially when we are not digging deep into his Word) we cover up or “hide” just as Adam and Eve did in the garden after they ate from the forbidden tree.

I love that story in Genesis 3 . . . 

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (vv. 8–10). 

Adam and Eve had an intimate relationship with God. They freely talked with him and unashamedly walked through life. I also love verse 21 where God made garments of skin to cover them — God had to sacrifice an animal to atone for their sin. This foreshadows Jesus — the Lamb of God who atones for our sin. 

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. — Gen. 8:21 (NIV) 

My advice to know God is to start talking to him. Start confessing. Start surrendering. Start trusting. God is relational and gently pursues our hearts. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He loves us with an unending love. Talk to him, pray without ceasing, and most importantly, open his Word and start meditating on his promises. 

Why Angels?

Angels have shown up in your artwork time and time again and have become a kind of trademark of yours. What brings you back to this subject?

Great question. After the first year of selling the angel paintings and gaining attention, my husband asked how long I was going to paint angels. My response was, “Until God tells me to stop!”

Painting is a form of worship for me. I paint to praise music, and I often get lost in worship as I mix my oils and create a painting. Many times, I don’t even remember mixing certain colors or blocking in the subjects — the angels just appear on the canvas!

Several years ago, I was getting ready for a show in Florida. A lot of angel paintings were being prepared for the show and I remember having a conversation with God about how I did not want to just “crank out” these angels. I wanted them to have meaning. I wanted them to “speak” to the viewer or collector.

The night of the show, a young lady came around the room to find me with tears streaming down her face. She told me that her father had just passed away and she had never had art “speak” to her before. She said that as she was leaving the gallery, the painting by the front door stopped her in her tracks and spoke to the depths of her soul.

That is why I keep coming back to painting these angels. I want them to bring comfort, hope, and peace in people’s lives.

I often remind people that we do not worship the angels . . . we worship a God who created the angels for a specific purpose on this earth. 

Recognizing Your Calling and Pursuing Your Passion

Discovering our God-given gifts is hard. What are three tips for someone trying to discover and pursue their passion? 

I’m going to God’s Word to answer this question!

Early on, one of my favorite Scripture verses was Psalm 37:4, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

My first tip is to find ways to delight in the Lord. Reading and memorizing Scripture, being involved in a Bible study, listening to praise music, and finding time to sit still before God are all ways to delight yourself in the Lord.

My second tip is to surrender your dreams to God. I often tell my team this: When we have surrendered hands, and a surrendered heart, watch and see what God will do.

My third tip is not to cling to the word “No” in your life. Trust and believe that God has a plan for you.

I love this quote by a dear friend of mine, Manny Ohonme, “Participation leads to passion . . . Your passion determines your purpose . . . Your purpose determines your legacy. If you struggle finding your purpose, go back and figure out your passion. The answer lies within you!” 

When did you realize you had a calling to art? 

As a little girl, I loved to doodle and create things. In the third grade I wrote a paper about what I wanted to be when I grew up. The title of my paper was “Artist” and in three short sentences, I expressed that that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up — an artist.

I was not the greatest student — doodling took precedence over any notetaking or homework. I earned a D- in 10^th grade art. I think I was coloring outside the lines! And I flunked out of college (though I did eventually go back and earn a degree in elementary education).

But the “No’s” in my life were drowning my dream of becoming an artist. It’s a long story you can read in my memoir The Brushstrokes of Life, but eventually when I let go of trying to control everything and truly surrendered everything to God, he gave me the desires of my heart. 

Listen to the Word — and the Spirit

Do you have a favorite passage from the Bible that uniquely inspired you when designing these Bibles? 

Yes, Ephesians 3:20 which says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” That verse pops up on my phone every day at 3:20 PM to remind me that God can do immeasurably more than I could ever ask or imagine.

When I started painting these angels over 20 years ago and my husband asked, “How long are you going to paint angels?” I had no idea the plans that God had for my art. It’s completely humbling.

I love God’s Word and cling to it every day. It brings me to my knees to know he planned this before I was ever born. He knew through all the trials and tribulations in my life that he would use my art to draw others into his Word.

I think about the legacy that this leaves for the generations behind me. Having my great, great, great grandchildren reading God’s Word with my angel paintings . . . a part of me that is a part of them! We serve a God who is bigger than we could ever imagine.

You give so much back to others, and your generous spirit is inspiring. Why is that need to give back so important to you? What advice do you have for the person who is longing to be more generous but maybe isn’t sure how?

My main advice is to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to your heart every day. Don’t let the noise of the world drown out his voice.

I started oil painting 20+ years ago. It was a hobby. My children would head to school and I would head into my sunny studio off my kitchen.

One of the most powerful days of my life was while I was volunteering at the local homeless shelter. I was in the kitchen at the homeless shelter preparing the physical food while over 200 homeless people were in the gym receiving spiritual food. A pastor was preaching, and worshipers were singing. Most of these homeless neighbors were sleeping under bridges with no shoes, no coats, nothing . . . and yet, they were praising God as if they had everything.

I was an emotional mess driving to my brand-new home in my brand-new Suburban. I cried out to God, “What am I to do?” My passion was to paint, but my heart wanted to serve. I wanted to be a great wife and mom, but I didn’t know how I was going to do everything and do it well.

I heard the Lord whisper, “Paint and give back.”

I got home and went to our kitchen counter where the answering machine sat. I rewound it to listen to the messages and there was a message from a lady who owned a gift store selling my small paintings. She said, “Hi Anne. I wanted to let you know that a lady came in today and bought all of your paintings!” I knew that God was telling me to use the gift he had given me to give back to others who were less fortunate than me. I want to be a light in this world!

Journal Along with the Spirit

Who do you hope will pick up one of these Bibles? 

I hope that everyone will pick up these Bibles. You can’t have too many Bibles!

I have so many Bibles scattered throughout my house. I also have my favorite Bible that is marked up, tattered, and torn from being read. But I am so excited to dig into this new edition, journaling and highlighting God’s promises for my life, my family, and our world! 

Plus, I am thinking that these will make a great gift for someone who loves art, or someone who needs a little encouragement but hasn’t opened a Bible in a while! 

What do you hope readers gain from using these Bibles in their personal study? 

My prayer is that people who are intimidated by the Bible will be drawn into it by the Angel Series and by hearing some of my journey in the reflections. God’s Word is life changing.

I love the fact that these are journaling Bibles, with space along the margins of each Bible for you to write your thoughts and questions. It’s a great way to read the Bible, listen to the Holy Spirit, and reflect on your life . . . journaling prayers, praises, joys, and losses. Over time, you can look back to see how faithful our God is! 

Experience the warmth and beauty of Scripture with art and reflections to flourish in your faith. Discover the various covers and editions of Anne Neilson’s Angel Series Bibles from Zondervan.