MICHIGAN CITY – While they may not be a Michelangelo, Fathers David Kime and Roque Meraz view their paintings as a reflection of God’s beauty.
For the months of May and June, a number of their paintings, along with Dr. John Wilhelm (a friend of Father Kime), are on display on the Queen of All Saints’ Legacy Center Gallery Wall.
The Legacy Center Gallery Wall allows guest artists to showcase their artwork. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the artwork benefits QAS.
Father Kime, pastor of QAS, and Father Roque, associate pastor at St. Paul’s parish, share a passion for painting nature and landscapes. While Father Kime prefers oil paints, Father Meraz finds acrylic paints pleasing to his palette. Both find the blending of colors to create their masterpieces as relaxing and fulfilling.
“It’s a relaxing time to try to get things in place and see how colors fit together. The mixing of the different colors, shades, and different lighting are mixed together. It becomes a way of meditation and prayer, thinking how God uses us to create pieces of art,” said Father Meraz.
Some of Father Meraz’s favorite paintings on display have special meaning, including one of red twig dogwood branches. “It’s unique for me. It speaks to me. A couple of the landscapes remind me of where I grew up,” he said.
The QAS Gallery Wall isn’t the first time Father Meraz has had his work on display. Father Meraz has enjoyed art from a young age. He said he began to take it more seriously while at college when he took a philosophy of art class. He recalled some of his artwork was displayed in the school’s art gallery.
Father Kime also started dabbling in art at a young age as well and credits two siblings for his interest in art. He recalled enjoying drawing and fingerpainting as a child, but while in second grade his brother, Steven, taught him to draw with perspective, 3-D drawing.
“I loved it and practiced it constantly. I thought it was super fun,” he said.
The love of art runs deeper in the Kime family than just the brothers. Father Kime’s sister, Andrea Bojrab, an artist who has crafted many masterful paintings, introduced him to painting.
Father Kime admittedly never seriously thought about painting until a friend, Dr. Wilhelm approached him about taking painting lessons. The two, joined by Father Meraz, soon found themselves taking lessons.
“The difference between drawing and painting is a fun difference because I love colors,” said Father Kime. It’s so fun working with colors. I feel like I’m a little kid again doing finger painting, mixing all the paints.”
Now with a passion for painting, Father Kime and his sister attend painting workshops. “It’s fun just being with my sister. She’s such a good artist, I’ve learned a lot from her. It’s nice to have that common element,” he said.
Father Kime said painting allows him to see the world differently. “You just look at the world differently. When I look at a scene, how would I create an impression, a painting of this vision in front of me. If I had all my colors on my palette, how would I get to a certain color? It is so fun.”
Father Kime added that while his daily duties as a priest are grace-filled, there’s “no external manifestation of the work you’ve done.” “So, now painting answers that. You can sit down for a couple of hours and at the end you’ve done something concrete, something visible. So that when you finish a painting you say, ‘I really like this. It’s beautiful and I made it.’”
Father Meraz sees things differently as well. “If I go for a walk and see a landscape or sunrise, I usually take a picture and stay there a little bit trying to take it in,” he said. “Things change so you have to work quickly. The clouds change, the direction of the sun changes, the colors begin to change, making it difficult to paint a landscape. I usually take a picture then refer back to it.”
While classes teach techniques, with painting it’s about feeling and letting the picture take its own shape, according to Father Meraz. “Sometimes you have a plan for something but then you have to trust the process and then just go for it. Keep practicing and practicing for a long time.”
Considering himself a novice painter and a long way to go to be very proficient, Father Kime said his goal is to “arrive at a point where I’m good enough people will enjoy looking at it as much as I enjoyed crafting it. If I gave someone a gift, they would actually want it.”
It’s apparent his work is appreciated as nearly all his work, as well as Father Meraz’s, on display has been sold.
Father Kime at times finds himself in awe of his work. “Sometimes I’m amazed when I look at something I painted that came from me because it’s so beautiful. Of course, it’s a reflection of God’s beauty in the end.”
Father Meraz admits he finds himself getting frustrated at times. “This is what I want it to look like. This is what I have in my head and sometimes the colors, the brushes, the paint, won’t cooperate. It’s like oh, I have this beautiful image that I want to paint, but I cannot. It goes back to maybe God does the same thing with me. He says, ‘I have a plan for you, but you’re not following it.’”
He continued, “I look at a painting and think this is not perfect. It’s not even good at all, but it's mine, and I love it, even if others don’t appreciate it. I think that God sees us in the same way. We may not like ourselves, people might not like us, but God loves us because we are His creation. We are His piece of art and that’s what matters.”